Hawker Beechcraft to Showcase Four of Its Popular Business Aircraft at MEBA 2010

Dec. 3, 2010
According to MEBA, the Middle East business aviation market is set to expand 15-20 percent each year over the next four years to become a $1 billion-per-year industry.

WICHITA, Kan. (Dec. 3, 2010) – As Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) continues to experience growth in the Middle East, the company today announced it will display four of its popular business jet and turboprop aircraft at the 2010 Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA) expo Dec. 7-9 in Dubai.

“The business aviation markets in the Middle East and North Africa are an important part of our international strategy,” said Sean McGeough, HBC president, Europe, Middle East and Africa. “Our King Air fleet continues to lead the industry in the turboprop category with more than 85 percent of the market share over the past three years in the region. Additionally, more and more customers are choosing our Hawker business jets for their spacious cabins, as well as their range and payload capabilities.”

According to the Middle East Business Aviation Association, the Middle East business aviation market is set to expand 15-20 percent each year over the next four years to become a $1 billion-per-year industry. The association also predicts that the Middle East and North Africa markets will account for 20-25 percent of all new business jet deliveries worldwide between 2012-2018. A number of factors contribute to general aviation’s growth in the region, including widespread recognition and acceptance of business aircraft as business tools, as well as the emergence of wealth creation through entrepreneurship. Hawker Beechcraft manufactures one of the broadest aircraft lineups in the industry, offering aircraft suited for multiple missions including intra-regional and intercontinental, business or leisure travel.

Hawker Beechcraft will display the following aircraft at the Airport Expo Dubai:

• Hawker 4000 – The flagship of the Hawker line, the composite fuselage Hawker 4000 sets the standard for quality, performance and value in the super-midsize business jet class. With a 3,280 nautical mile non-stop range and cruise speeds up to Mach 0.84, it features a sophisticated composite fuselage, all metal supercritical wing, powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada FADEC-controlled engines and state-of-the-art Honeywell Primus EPIC avionics.

• Hawker 900XP – From the best-selling midsized business jet lineage (the Hawker 800 series), the Hawker 900XP has combined new Honeywell engines with enhanced winglets and a large cabin for increased performance, range, efficiency, comfort and unprecedented value.

• Beechcraft Premier IA – Truly an advanced technology light jet, the Premier IA offers customers an industry-leading combination of speed, cabin size and efficiency. With its single-pilot certification, advanced composite construction, seven-passenger seating and a top cruise speed of more than 450 knots, the Premier IA offers the ultimate in operational flexibility. It sets the industry standard for being both a true “pilot’s airplane” and a serious business tool.

• Beechcraft King Air 350i – Now equipped with the Rockwell Collins Venue™ cabin management system and state-of-the-art Beechcraft FlexCabin capability, the new King Air 350i sets the standard in cabin comfort, entertainment and flexibility while delivering unmatched fuel efficiency and the lowest operating cost per seat mile, making it one of the most environmentally friendly aircraft available to business travelers today.

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation is a world-leading manufacturer of business, special mission and trainer aircraft – designing, marketing and supporting aviation products and services for businesses, governments and individuals worldwide. The company’s headquarters and major facilities are located in Wichita, Kan., with operations in Salina, Kan.; Little Rock, Ark.; Chester, England, U.K.; and Chihuahua, Mexico. The company leads the industry with a global network of more than 100 factory-owned and authorized service centers. For more information, visit www.hawkerbeechcraft.com.