Hawker Pacific is looking at new fixed-base operations opportunities in China following the success of its joint venture FBO with the Shanghai Airport Authority at the Chinese airport, which was opened last year.
The initial FBO is performing better than expected with a large potential for growth, says the Australian aerospace sales and product support company's chief executive Alan Smith. A new maintenance, repair and overhaul capability at the Shanghai centre is expected to be fully operational in May.
"We've seen a fairly rapid development of business aviation in China. We envisage China is capable of supporting a network of regional FBOs," says Smith. The company has a dedicated business development manager in China looking at new opportunities in the country, with Hawker Pacific having had an office in Beijing since 1984.
Meanwhile, Hawker Pacific has submitted an offer with Indian partners to operate the FBO and MRO facility at Delhi, with evaluation of the bids under way. It is also entering a joint venture with Malaysia's Subang Skypark to operate Skypark's FBO. For the past three years Hawker Pacific has operated the FBO at Skypark under a joint venture with Execujet, but Execujet left the partnership at the end of last year.
A new deal with Subang Skypark is expected to be concluded by the end of this month.
Meanwhile, Hawker Pacific has delivered the first Beechcraft King Air 350C into aeromedical services in Australia as part of a five-aircraft deal, comprising two King Air 350Cs and three King Air B200Cs with the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
The aircraft are being delivered to the service's South Eastern Section which will operate the aircraft under contract to the Air Ambulance Services New South Wales.
The King Air B200C primarily operates aeromedical services in the country, but Hawker Pacific says the King Air 350C, with its utility, versatility, larger cabin and economics, is well suited to such special operations missions.
The aircraft is modified with an aeromedical interior and ex-factory cargo doors at Hawker Pacific's maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Cairns.