BAE Systems Regional Aircraft has sold an Avro Business Jet (ABJ) VIP conversion of a late-model RJ100 airliner to the Amiri Flight of Abu Dhabi.
To be delivered in April, the aircraft will join a VIP RJ70 already operated by the Flight. BAE will also buy back an executive charter-configured RJ85 owned by the Flight and operated under the management of VIP charter provider Royal Jet.
ABJs are also operated by the Bahrain Defence Force - which operates two RJ85 and one RJ100-based aircraft - and the Dubai Air Wing, which has two RJ85s. Bahrain acquired its RJ100 last year, when BAE Systems Regional Aircraft also sold a BAe 146-200 to Casino Rodos of Crete and an RJ70 to Bulgaria Air.
There are 25 ABJs in service or under conversion. Much of the latter work is being carried out by the UK’s Inflite Engineering Services, which last year teamed with BAE to offer ABJ conversions. With annual revenues of £45 million and bases at London Stansted and Southend airports, Inflite offers a range of completion, maintenance, repair and overhaul and FBO services.
The company has years of experience of supporting the BAe 146/Avro RJ – it has carried out more than 500 C-checks on aircraft of the family - and has performed several VIP/corporate conversions. It works with design houses like Design Q of the UK to develop interiors incorporating IFE capabilities. Recent projects include the Bahrain RJ100 and the Bulgaria Air RJ70.
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