Germany-based Hahn Air celebrated the acquisition of its first Citation Sovereign this week at NBAA 2015. The 2007 midsize twinjet, S/N 142, was formerly a part of Cessna’s CitationAir fractional fleet. Under the terms of the agreement, the OEM refurbished the twinjet to meet FAA and EASA standards for commercial air transport, with capacity for eight passengers, as well as two pilots and a flight attendant.
According to Captain Daniel Rudas, Hahn Air’s general manager and COO, the specific requirements for airline service, including a lockable cockpit door, modification of emergency path lighting, illuminated exit signage, caution markings on external protuberances such as the pitot tube and static discharge wicks, as well as the updating of the emergency information card at each of the seats, cost approximately $250,000.
It will be delivered to Hahn Air’s hub at Dusseldorf International Airport later this month and will enter service in December. The Sovereign will join the company’s pair of CJ4s in scheduled and charter service and will support Hahn Air’s plans to further develop its flight operations to medium- and long-haul destinations. Its range of more than 3,200 miles allows the possibilities of non-stop charter flights to Canada and UAE.
The purchase furthers Hahn’s more than decade-long relationship with Cessna, and the airline is proud of its role as a promoter of the company’s products to the airliner world, according to Rudas. Chris Hearne, Cessna’s vice president of jet and interior engineering, noted Hahn is the only operator of its aircraft to meet IATA standards.
Hahn Air is currently constructing a new FBO hangar at its Frankfurt Egelsbach Airport headquarters, which when complete in April will be able to accommodate three aircraft, up to the Citation Latitude, along with office space. According to Hearne, the airframer will also base a mobile repair unit staffed with two technicians, able to handle scheduled maintenance and AOG situations at the facility. It will be directed as a satellite unit from its Dusseldorf service center.
