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The international group Aim of Emperor continues to invest and increase its presence in the Russian business aviation market
The international group Aim of Emperor continues to invest and expand its presence in the Russian business aviation market. As it became known to BizavNews, Sky Light Airlines, a member of the Aim of Emperor group, received a Russian operator certificate from the Federal Air Transport Agency (FAVT) on January 28, 2020. As noted in the company, international investors from Aim of Emperor, whose portfolio includes the European airline Emperor Aviation, highly appreciated the certification mechanism and interaction with the Russian aviation regulator. According to the Aim of Emperor, the registration procedures for airlines in Russia are being harmonized with European standards.
Two Airbus Helicopters H130 helicopters, which belong to the Makhachkala International Airport and will be operated throughout the North Caucasus region, have already been delivered under the flag of the new Russian Sky Light airline.
In the near future Aim of Emperor plans to bring to the Russian market with a fundamentally new aviation project. Now the Russian certification of business jet HondaJet HA-420 and HondaJet Elite is in full swing. According to BizavNews sources, the domestic type certificate will be received no later than the second half of 2020.
The Honda Aircraft Company is in no hurry to comment on the certification of HondaJet and HondaJet Elite in Russia, however, they note that the business jet has very good prospects in the Russian market, citing its own marketing research. “The business aviation market in Russia and the CIS countries is an important market for us, which has great potential in the future. It has a vibrant business environment and a large number of high-income people. These wealthy people, who are mostly businessmen, usually live in urban areas and often travel long distances for work and play. Russians and residents of Eastern Europe in general are increasingly traveling the world for leisure and business. Owning or chartering a HondaJet Elite will allow them to fly on their own schedule, avoid crowds at commercial airports, protect themselves, and provide them with increased comfort, luxury and privacy, “- said specifically for Bizavnews.ru in the press service of the Honda Aircraft Company. The company also adds that in addition to the convenience and flexibility of the HondaJet Elite, Eastern European customers will also be attracted to the aircraft's significant fuel efficiency compared to all other aircraft in its class. The HondaJet Elite is approximately 15% more fuel efficient than any other aircraft in its category, which means a significant reduction in operating costs.
By the way, according to the latest report from GAMA (General Aviation Manufacturers Association), in 2019 the HondaJet again became the most delivered business jet in its class (VLJ – very light jet). At the end of the year, Honda Aircraft delivered 36 aircraft to customers from all over the world. It is noteworthy that in 2017 and 2018 HondaJet also topped the rating in the class of ultralight business jets. In just over four years, 141 HondaJet aircraft were delivered worldwide.
Aim of Emperor, which is a “part-time” dealer of HondaJet aircraft (Authorized Sales Representative of HondaJet Central Europe in Russia and CIS) and sells the latest innovative Japanese business jet in the Russian and CIS markets, has a wealth of experience in operating the aircraft, but in the Maltese register. The company does not hide the fact that after the Russian certification of the HondaJet, the aircraft will be included in the Russian AOC and will receive the RA prefix. This will make it possible to carry out short flights within Russia without problems, the demand for which has already been formed. In the future, Aim of Emperor plans to put three more HondaJet aircraft under RA-registration.
But back to the Sky Light. As noted by Irakli Litanishvili, the owner of the Aim of Emperor group of companies, taking into account the group's experience in creating a European air carrier, the management sees that the registration procedures for airlines in Russia are harmonized with European standards. “Taking the Sky Light certification as an example, we can say with confidence that a favorable climate for attracting aircraft to the Russian register, including through the efforts of the Federal Air Transport Agency, has been created,” says Mr. Litanishvili.
The entry into the Russian market of European investors with a new airline is explained by the high potential for the harmonious and transparent development of business aviation, primarily as a commercial transport, in Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union. According to Aim of Emperor, the time for the launch of a new commercial operator was not chosen by chance: in the context of a real transformation of the market, the efforts of the Russian aviation authorities to improve the investment climate are becoming obvious and attractive.
In order to resolve personnel issues, the Aim of Emperor group is consulting on the creation of a training environment for training Russian pilots for business aircraft at one of the flight schools in Russia. Attracting young professionals and investing in their professional growth is the key to the healthy development of the entire industry and one of the priorities of the Aim of Emperor, the company notes.
The emergence of a new Russian airline on the business aviation market will open up additional opportunities for business jet owners seeking to operate their aircraft in the Russian registry. For them, the Sky Light operator offers such services that are in demand today, such as aircraft management, airworthiness services, charter flights, aircraft purchase and sale services, and consulting services. The operation of business jets under the Russian flag will enable corporate clients to establish transparent tax reporting for transportation costs. Sky Light Airlines is also open for joint programs with foreign operators.
