News
Flying Colours meets the challenge in the Middle East

ExecuJet Middle East accepted a Challenger 850 on behalf of a private customer in June. This is the first time that Flying Colours has delivered this type of aircraft to the region. “We have already experienced some success with our Execliner CRJ conversion in the Middle Eastern market, but this is the first time we have delivered a green Challenger 850 to a customer there. We anticipate this will be the first of many as we understand Middle Eastern clients prefer larger aircraft, and our specialist skill-set enables us to complete them to their demanding standards,” says Sean Gillespie, Director of Sales and Completions. The recently finished aircraft featured luxurious and elegant interior furnishings, including euro-burl veneer, customized gold inlays, and the finest leathers and fabrics. A full selection of in-flight connectivity included the installation of True North Simphone Broadband Wi-Fi capability and iPad functionality.
 
A second completed Bombardier Challenger 850 was delivered to Russian aviation business Ak Bars Aero in late July. Both aircraft were certified into the specific countries in conjunction with the particular operators and completed at the company’s head office in Peterborough, Canada.
 
International Presence Strengthened
Flying Colours Corp. has seen a steady rise through 2011 in international interest for its interior completion and conversion services on new and pre-owned business aircraft.   A further four Challenger 850s are undergoing completion with three in process at the Peterborough, Ontario facility, and one undergoing work at the JetCorp facility, Flying Colours’ US location in St Louis, Missouri.  All four are destined for delivery to Asia in the next 12 months. “We anticipate that each aircraft will take eight months to complete. However this depends on their specific requirements such as installation of our stylish stone floor veneers and increasingly complex connectivity requirements,” says Gillespie.
 
In the run up to NBAA in Las Vegas, Flying Colours Corp. is also converting three regional CRJ airlines to Execliner format for US based customers, all of which are private buyers. The first will be delivered in September, the second is scheduled for delivery in late 2011 and the third will be ready for delivery in mid 2012. Each of the aircraft has been very highly specified with one currently specified to include an aft cabin with a full size bed and installation of a Tailwind 500 satellite TV system. “This demonstrates that there is continued demand for conversions as the market recognises the economic and practical value of converted aircraft,” says Gillespie about the recent orders.
 
Flying Colours continues to offer maintenance support to all clients and has a full team of trained technicians at both the Peterborough and St Louis plants. Each team can perform both major and minor maintenance inspections on Learjet, Challenger, Global, Hawker, Cessna, and Falcon models.  The business also has capability to complete full and partial avionics installations at its St.Louis facility which specialises in component overhaul. Focusing on increased demand for communications technology requirements, JetCorp has managed to significantly cut the downtime required for the Wi-Fi installation through careful planning and proper staging This downtime requirement is based upon utilizing standard installation parameters for both equipment and locations and has reduced installation times by as much as 10 days in some instances.
 
The company will be exhibiting at America’s premier business aircraft show NBAA in Las Vegas during 10 – 12 October.  Stand No N5500 whichwill also feature a mini-kiosk demonstrating the LIST stone flooring product.