Petters is first U.S. customer for Airbus A318 corporate jet

Petters Aviation of Minnetonka will acquire an Airbus A318 Elite corporate jet, which makes Petters the first U.S. customer for that aircraft Petters Aviation plans to use the plane for private corporate flights to national and international destinations "It's a luxury business jet," Jay Salmen, president of Petters Aviation, said Wednesday. "This jet will be used in conjunction with sales of business jets in North America and for charter flights." Petters Aviation is a subsidiary of Petters Group Worldwide, which is led by Chairman and CEO Tom Petters Petters and Whitebox Advisors, a private equity group in the Twin Cities, intend to buy Mendota Heights-based Sun Country Airlines. The parties are waiting for the U.S. Department of Transportation to approve transfer of the airline's operating certificate to the new ownership group Salmen, a former Sun Country executive, was hired by Petters in August to develop several aviation initiatives. At that time, Petters Aviation was operating a Boeing 727-200 configured with a master bedroom suite, conference room and videoconference capability, Salmen said. In addition, Petters had a Challenger 601 that seats 10 people Salmen said Petters Aviation will take delivery of the Airbus in 18 to 24 months "We look forward to an ongoing partnership with Airbus in developing the North America business jet market," Petters said in a prepared statement Petters and Salmen have said they want to provide technology and other services to airlines, including in-flight entertainment systems Liz Fedor - 612-673-7709