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Africa's rulers fly to new highs in jets fit for kings
Despite the cost of about $35-million, manufacturers are confident of sales, writes ROGER MAKINGS
So says a southern African agent for a large international manufacturer of corporate jets who, for obvious reasons, will not be named. "I won't say those countries don't have a use for them - they need to get around when looking for aid money or attending conferences, and usually they take large entourages with them, including family members," says the agent. And it is not unusual for a country's president, like Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, to commandeer airliners from the national carrier to go on jaunts, stranding fare-paying passengers. "Obviously these people need their own transport. I suspect many of their airlines would gladly pay for it - but there is no way they are going to opt for the cramped, short-range, but affordable smaller jets which are more time-consuming, less user-friendly and need to refuel at what can sometimes best be described as glaringly deficient African airports." With these facts in mind, there seems to be a trend towards larger, long-haul corporate jets - with price tags of over $30-million for the basic "green" aircraft and another $5-million-odd to furnish them. Both Boeing and Airbus Industrie have seen the market gap and will soon launch their versions of large corporate aircraft to join Bombardier's Global Express and the Gulfstream V. Although the SA market is relatively small - its 80-odd corporate jets comprise just 2% of the world market - there is a tendency in the country to move to the larger corporate jets. "This is because of the globalisation of the world's economies and the fact that South Africans are doing business further afield since our new-found political acceptance," says the agent. "There are about 10 large-cabin aircraft in SA right now, but I think this number will increase significantly in the next few years, with even those companies that can afford them, but think they are too ostentatious, changing their stance." The private jet is the ultimate status symbol and is often described as a flying office, but the last word in airborne work stations now comes equipped with private bedroom and en suite shower, conference room and even an exercise bike if required. Needless to say, such a corporate jet is going to be the biggest and most expensive available, but Airbus Industrie, which is building the A319CJ, is confident of securing half the annual market of 24 large airline business jets a year. At about $40-million, is the A319CJ value for money? Airbus thinks it is. It says the CJ is a bone fide airliner which, if so configured, would seat 124 passengers. With a range of about 11 600km (that's comfortably Johannesburg non-stop to London or Rio, Dubai and Singapore) and a cabin three times larger than traditional jets, it can carry up to 40 passengers in quiet luxury. So who would buy such a large aircraft? Airbus, which also builds the four-engined A340, A330 and twin A320 range of airliners, expects to sell its product to governments, corporations and wealthy individuals. Aside from the de rigueur satellite phones, fax machines and galleys to be found in most larger business jets, the A319CJ can also be used as a company base at remote locations, providing hotel-like accommodation. Up front, the fly-by-wire cockpit is identical to that of the A320, which SAA uses on its domestic routes. So finding already trained pilots for the aircraft should not be a problem. However, Airbus happily provides training if required and its worldwide support network makes finding trained technicians and spares, at the right price, a cinch.
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