Day at London City Airport’s Private Jet Centre (FBO)
Hunt & Palmer - Bespoke Air Charter
Aircraft Charter - Private, Business, Commercial & Cargo. Trusted by leading corporations, governments and individuals.
Our young brokers enjoyed an informative familiarisation day at Private Jet Centre - London City Airport ?(FBO)?on Thursday,?generously?hosted by Commercial Manager Chris Clayton ?and?Client Experience Ambassador Dawn Attree .?Dawn is also?responsible for?selecting?the facility's signature scent.?
Meeting with operator peers at Luxaviation United Kingdom and Saxon Air Charter Ltd , they were able to ask questions and see first-hand how an FBO works.?On-demand business flights are?returning?to London, said Chris. Eleven?bizjet arrivals were due?in during our visit,?although some?were cancelled?owing?to?poor weather.
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The group took an airside tour (fittingly, as the airport is located in the capital’s ultra-low emissions zone, on a new, electric bus). London City Airport ’s new digital ATC tower, operational since January 2021, is working well. In a first for an international airport, air traffic controllers at NATS’?Swanwick ATC Centre guide take-offs and landings using an ‘enhanced reality’ view supplied by this state-of-the-art 50m digital control tower.
We also learned that LCY is the first European airport to introduce Aviation Grade Artificial Turf, approximately 400 m2?of it.?Sourced from Denmark’s Evergreen Aviation, it was identified as an eco-friendly, long-lasting solution to problems such as bird strikes, jet blasts and erosion.
Another first for the UK is its implementation work on EMAS (Enhanced Materials Arresting System).?This will significantly help with safety on runway overruns, rejected take-offs, etc.
Back in the FBO, Daniel Hulme from On Air Dining highlighted why inflight catering on private jets is expensive. Principally, because their airside vehicles, with large refrigerators, must comply with the same high security as passengers. Regularly, at a moment’s notice, we’re asked to go off the menu and act as a private chef for the day.?We love the challenge of making a delicious, lactose/gluten-free chocolate cake, Daniel said.?Then there are turnaround times.?It’s a misconception to think you can send your catering order in (to an FBO) at 5 pm for a departure at 11 am and think it will be ready at 9 am.?As soon as an order comes in, typically 12 to 24 hours in advance, we’ll get to work.?Pastries and salads will be readied shortly before departure.?
The big trend now is for vegan and On Air has created an extensive vegan menu.?We’re also becoming more sustainable in line with the industry, said Daniel.??We won’t use bluefin tuna, black?cod or eel, for example.?After more chat and a tasty lunch, it was on to a Dassault Falcon 7X for an aircraft tour.?
There’s some exciting news coming soon from The Jet Centre so look forward to that soon.?
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Thank you, team!
Private Jet & Helicopter Charter Broker at Volanteus
1 年Amazing hospitality as always! Such a pleasure! Thank you for having us ???
Manager Executive Aviation at Hunt & Palmer PLC & Deputy Chair of The Air Charter Association
1 年Wow! That's where I started my aviation career! When I was "young" ha ha ha!!!
Great facility, so professional and welcoming.
Client Experience Ambassador
1 年It was our absolute pleasure to host you. ? An enjoyable day with great company ???