Business aviation flight activity in the Middle East is growing faster than in any other region of the world, according to data for the third quarter of 2014 released last month by hourly-cost maintenance provider Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI). The data showed 13.5 percent quarter-over-quarter growth in Middle East flight activity and 15.5 percent growth comparing the first nine months of 2014 with the same period in 2013. By comparison, worldwide activity increased by just 2 percent in the third quarter and by 2.2 percent over the first three quarters of this year.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, JSSI (Stand 848) has been expanding its presence in the Middle East since 2000. The U.S.-based group provides hourly-cost based maintenance support covering most business aircraft, engines and APUs, under its Tip-to-Tail program, and has an office here in Dubai.

ExecuJet Middle East has been a JSSI customer since 2007 and has several of its managed aircraft covered by the Tip-to-Tail program. According to the Dubai-based operator’s continuing airworthiness manager Matthew Withers, it chose the program due to the competitive hourly rates and the scope of the work covered.

“This matched and in most cases exceeded the coverage being provided by the traditional OEM programs and, with the added benefit of being a ‘one-stop’ shop, meant we could streamline our month-end reporting and invoicing process,” Withers explained. “This was particularly important for us with multiple aircraft types in our fleet.”

“We have been particularly impressed with the customer service JSSI provides and on the odd occasion when a dispute is raised, it is dealt with quickly and efficiently,” he added. “A welcome addition to the customer support provided by JSSI was the basing of a representative within the Middle East region. This has helped our operation immensely and shows JSSI’s commitment to its customers in this region.”

JSSI, which supports 340 different types/variants of aircraft, has engine and airframe technical advisor William Khouri and business development director Gregory Olympios based in its office at Dubai International Airport. From the company’s international headquarters at Farnborough in the UK, client relationship manager Oliver Newton and his team provide 24/7 access to support services to operators across the Middle East. In some cases, providing support for a product might involve JSSI having to coordinate the efforts of up to 10 different service providers.

According to JSSI president and CEO Neil Book, it is increasingly necessary and beneficial for operators to support their aircraft and engines under hourly plans. “One of the market shifts we are seeing is that a lot of lenders are now requiring operators to have an engine program and so a broader group of operators are now opting for this,” he told AIN. “We are competing primarily with the [aircraft or engine] manufacturer and they are tough competitors, so we challenge ourselves every day to be new and innovative. We do this by having an independent approach and having the best turnaround [times] and service.”

Earlier this year, JSSI announced a new Tip-to-Tail program for Boeing Business Jets. It already supports other long-range aircraft that are popular in the Middle East, including the Gulfstream G650.

JSSI Supports African Maintenance Initiative

The African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) has signed a memorandum of understanding with hourly-cost maintenance provider JSSI that aims to raise awareness of the need for operators in the region to adopt best practices. Under the agreement, AfBAA members will receive financial, educational and business benefits when enrolling aircraft onto JSSI support programs. The partners anticipate that, by encouraging operators to adopt hourly-cost maintenance programs, the perception of business aviation as a safe and efficient mode of transportation will be improved.

“We are delighted that we have reached this agreement with JSSI,” said Tarek Ragheb, AfBAA’s founding chairman. “This type of arrangement underlines AfBAA’s commitment to providing its members with tangible benefits whilst at the same time encouraging the adoption of best practice for the African business aviation industry,” added Ragheb. “We believe this will serve to enhance aircraft values, reinforce a positive perception of the value of African aircraft and will provide operators with an additional layer of expertise in maintenance planning and performance. This is all invaluable for the African market.”