Asia Embraces Business Aviation
This is where companies such as Universal Weather and Aviation come in. Universal recently opened a center in Manila, in the Philippines, to provide scheduling services for operators throughout the Asia Pacific region. Universal has personnel all over the area so flight crews get the latest, most accurate information on airports, customs, hotels, permits and fuel pricing.
One great concern is what happens if you find yourself in need of a charter operator once you’re in Asia. “In the U.S., we have extensive audit services that will tell you everything about a charter operator you’re considering,” said Debra Fanjoy, senior vice president of Hays Companies, a Chicago-based insurance and risk-management firm. “The problem is that most of the audit services have limited capabilities to review flight operations in Asia.
“Even if there is an audit of an Asian flight operation, it probably will not have been done on site,” Fanjoy continued. “Someone will do only a ‘desk audit’ by making some phone calls and asking some questions. In that case, you really want to stick with the big-name international charter operators to be sure of getting the safety and quality we’re used to in the U.S.”
Tremendous Improvements
Chuck Woods, CEO of Macao-based Jet Asia, said he has seen tremendous improvements over the past several years but stresses that significant problems remain throughout the region. “Hong Kong has become very business-aviation friendly and the Hong Kong Business Aviation Center is a first-class FBO,” he said. “Singapore now has economic incentives for business-aviation-related companies to help stimulate growth there and we’re seeing FBOs there as well as in Beijing and Shenzhen.” Woods added, however, that “it still takes too long to get permits, there aren’t enough landing slots and there’s still very little infrastructure.”
JAS (Jet Air Services) of Tokyo, a global freight forwarder and aviation services provider founded in Italy, has renovated a facility at Haneda/Tokyo International Airport, which includes a crew and passenger lounge and reception area. It also has available a new crew and passenger vehicle. The company plans to provide similar facilities at other airports in Japan, including Narita, Kansai and New Chitose.
After the new airport opened in Nagoya, the Aichi Prefecture purchased and rededicated the old Nagoya Airport as a business aviation and regional airline facility. Nakanihon Air Service, a general aviation company headquartered there, has a small business aviation facility that offers private customs, immigration and quarantine so those arriving on private aircraft don’t have to wait in long lines with airline passengers. The facility allows aircraft to taxi right to the entrance and there is a ground-side carport.
