By IANS,
New Delhi : Aircraft manufacturer Hawker Beechcraft Corp (HBC) announced Tuesday that the UK-based investment company ISIS Group has placed orders worth $70 million for 10 Hawker 400XPs light jets for its chartered operations in India.
The order marks ISIS Group’s initial aircraft purchase for its new investment in Indian aviation industry.
“We are thrilled that ISIS chose the Hawker 400XP as the aircraft to launch its charter jet service. This order highlights the growing demand in India for private aircraft and also fortifies Hawker Beechcraft as the superior choice for business travel,” HBC president-commercial sales Brad Hatt said in a statement.
Arun Sharma, managing director of the Bangalore-based Aviators India Pvt Ltd, which will operate ISIS’ Hawker aircraft on lease, said the delivery of five Hawker 400XPs was planned during 2009, while the remaining five aircraft were expected to be delivered in 2010.
He said ISIS would commence charter services in India in the second half of 2009.
With its strong existing turbine sales and the surge of orders in India this year, HBC was poised to continue to grow into an aviation leader in the region, said Hatt.
The Hawker 400XP is the biggest, fastest and most reliable light jet in its class with a maximum speed of 465 knots (535 miles or 850 km per hour).