Business aviation support company Hawker Pacific is enjoying significant growth in the Asia Pacific, as the region’s broadly strong economy continues to grow at a faster pace than other areas of the world. Asian Sky Group’s annual fleet report will not be out until March, but for 2014, it identified 15 percent growth in the regional business jet fleet, to 744 aircraft, with Singapore, China, Hong Kong and Indonesia enjoying higher than average rates of growth.
“Broadly speaking, the business aviation fleet in Southeast Asia has grown steadily over the past five-to-eight years, and we are positive about the present state of the industry,” said Sydney-based senior marketing manager, Blake Irwin. “This is a very specific market and, coupled with the growth of the fleet, Hawker Pacific is well positioned to provide ongoing support for existing operators and new owners.”
Hawker Pacific (Booth F75, Chalet CD13) provides the aviation community in Asia Pacific with MRO services, modifications and upgrades, and other support services for a wide range of aircraft. Its Singapore facility maintains approvals from 18 national aviation authorities, and also accreditations as an avionics installer, an engine line-servicing center and a wheels and battery inspection/repair center.
“Our facility also offers aircraft sales, management, spares distribution, a dedicated paint shop, VIP customer lounges and aircraft handling services,” said Irwin.
“In Singapore, the company is authorized to work on 77 models of aircraft. These include Dassault Falcon, Embraer Executive Jets, Beechcraft, Hawker, Cessna, Bell and Daher aircraft. Bombardier and Gulfstream products within the Asia Pacific region are also supported by their respective service centers.”
Hawker Pacific has operated in the Southeast Asia region for more than 30 years and invested heavily in service centers, tooling and training to OEM approved standards as well as FBO facilities and the development of an aircraft management business that addresses the day-to-day concerns of owners in managing their aircraft. This includes everything from regulatory and insurance support to hiring pilots and managing maintenance.
“The industry in the Southeast Asia region is still relatively young. With so many new owners entering the market, demand for infrastructure, skilled professionals and experienced organizations continues to grow,” Irwin said.
“The development of appropriate infrastructure that meets the specific needs of business aircraft operators has begun, but it will still take time to be at the same level as more mature markets. While there are many challenges faced by a developing industry, progress to address the issues has been significant.”
Some owners are choosing to keep their aircraft longer than the traditional five-year period in the current economic cycle, and to invest in interior, exterior and avionics retrofit options to preserve the integrity of the aircraft and enhance overall usability and value.
With retrofits, repainting and interior recompletion work, Hawker Pacific assists aircraft owners and operators who have plans to sell their aircraft, which increases the sales value. “The effect of austerity measures is also observable in [the level of] aircraft ownership,” said Irwin. “As owners refrain from buying factory-new aircraft, they consider pre-owned aircraft and then opt for retrofits and upgrades.”
In December, Hawker Pacific announced that it had signed a major contract with Pilatus Aircraft for the MRO support of 49 Australian Defence Force (ADF) PC-21 trainers under Project Air 5428. “This contract signing is a significant component of the ‘Team 21’ delivery of the new ADF Pilot Training System partnership between Lockheed Martin, Pilatus and Hawker Pacific,” the company said.
Hawker Pacific officials at its Singapore base at Seletar Airport said the company now has eight aircraft under management in the Asia Pacific region and expects to add three or four this year. Aircraft on the company’s Australian AOC are on Part 135 charter, while there are a number of private owners running their aircraft on a Part 91 basis out of Singapore.
The company said business aviation is still regarded as a “luxury” in the region, rather than a business tool. With the exception of places like Indonesia, where increasing business use is seen in the private jet fleet around its different islands, most see general aviation as off-limits.
“The market has not matured yet, so private jets aren’t seen as business tools. It’s still more of a luxury product. Asia is lagging behind in terms of the maturity of the business aviation market. It’s not reached the level we have seen in the U.S. and Europe yet. It’s going to take a while for people to understand that they can use it as a business tool.”
Little is seen of the traditional BBJs and ACJs that make up the market elsewhere. “Gulfstream [represents] about 50 percent of the market, including China, while obviously you have Bombardier and Dassault lagging behind,” concluded Irwin.
