Abu Dhabi-based start-up GI Aviation is looking to bring affordable charter to the Middle East for legs of four hours or less using a PC-12 NG. The aircraft was ferried into Abu Dhabi in March and GI has filled all the necessary post holder positions. The company is hoping to be the first to bring the single engine turboprop (SET) model to the UAE; its AOC application is set to be approved this summer. A second PC-12 NG is on order and will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Marios Belidis has been appointed as general manager of the company. Having served with Jet Aviation in a technical capacity he most recently managed Al Bateen Executive airport's DhabiJet FBO. “We are aiming to fill a gap in the market which is driven by a growing need for travel from corporations and private individuals,” he says. “This needs to be affordable and reliable and must fit with their travel schedules.

“The PC-12 NG has a range of up to 1,200 nm, enabling us to reach destinations such as Jeddah, Doha, Amman and Karachi. The aircraft can also service unpaved and short runways, gravel strips and can fly into a number of island airstrips that are just not viable for larger jets.”

Following a period of research, GI has identified a need for charter services on popular city pair routes currently flown by scheduled services. Business class seat prices between Abu Dhabi and Doha are reasonably high and often fully booked. “We've established that we can be truly competitive in terms of offering private charter options for comparative scheduled first class and business seat prices,” adds Belidis. “For a similar cost, private or corporate groups can arrange executive charter on one of our aircraft to suit their times, point to point requirements, and individual needs.”

The first aircraft will be based at Al Bateen Executive airport, and Belidis is excited to bring a new type to the region. “We expect some questions about the merits of turboprop and single engine operations, but we selected the PC-12 NG as our aircraft of choice for many reasons. It has a robust safety record, and with its outstanding Swiss engineering the aircraft is extremely reliable and efficient. We have already had interest from a number of businesses that have heard about our offering and are interested to learn how it can support their commercial activity when operational.”

The PC-12 NG is a six to eight seat single engine turboprop with a cruising speed of 280 kts and a pressurised cabin of up to 25,000 ft. Belidis says that smaller jets such as the Learjet 45 and the Hawker were once commonplace in the region, but are no longer deemed affordable. “People had the mindset that if they were going to spend that much money, they might as well spend more and have a larger jet. We have decided to bring the PC-12 into the region at 40 or 50 per cent less operational cost when compared to these other jets.

“It has a large cargo door at the back, which is much larger than on a Learjet 45, for medical evacuations. It can seat six to eight passengers in an executive cabin, so these are the main reasons why we decided to go for it. We have already booked in another PC-12 to arrive by the end of the year. If we are experiencing high demand, we will be looking to get in more aircraft.

“For the time being we will be sticking with Pilatus. Longer term we might consider the PC-24. But we are putting our faith in the manufacturer because the quality is very high when you consider the operational cost. We may have more to announce by the time of EBACE.”