The MillionaireAsia Private Aviation Show comes back to Singapore for a second year running.

Held this weekend on Sep 18 and 19, 2009 at the Hawker Pacific Hangar at Seletar Air Base, this year's event brings together new players in the private aviation business such as New Dimension Aviation Pte Ltd, who is the main sponsor of the show, as well as familiar industry names such as Elite Jets, Avpro Inc, Hawker Pacific, Ritz Pacific, OrientSKYs and Cessna.

Five business jets have been lined up for the show, including a Gulfstream G550, Hawker 900XP, Hawker Beechcraft 200GT, Falcon 900, and Cessna Mustang.

Over 300 invited high net worth individuals are expected to attend the two-day event which generated an estimated US$50 million worth of aircraft sales at last year's show. There were 7 aircraft on display last year and one of them was purchased. Four more VIP planes, costing about US$30 million each, are in the works for purchase.

One of the new additions to this year’s programme is the by-appointment-only sessions for guests to engage in private viewings and discussions with the business jet manufacturers and supporting partners.

Connecting the Middle East and Asia

Nicholas A. Janitsary, managing director of New Dimension Aviation and main sponsor of the event, shared, “I am hoping that as the main sponsor of the upcoming aviation show, it will give the new division of my business and my alliances the exposure that we need to break into the Asia Pacific market and join the Middle East to Asia, in terms of jet charter.”

New Dimension Aviation, a newly formed company, is looking to facilitate the sale, leasing and charter of business jets. Based in Singapore, the planes available will include medium and long range aircraft to cover all of Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

Nicholas pointed out that business has been picking up between Middle East and Asia and he wants more Singapore-based businesses for private jets. With a base in Singapore, the industry can "tie Middle East and Asia together" that can result in "new businesses that will excel".

To enhance its strategic regional alliance, Nicholas has made a partnership with Dubai-based Elite Jets, an aircraft charter and management company, as well as Avpro Inc, one of the largest aircraft brokerage firms in the US.

Nicholas said the private jet industry in Middle East is completely unique to the rest of the world. They have high charter use over a longer period of time. He gave an example of how some members of royal families use the jets for personal activities such as honeymoons. He also said that they predominantly go to Europe but are now looking more to travelling to Asia.

Future of private aviation in Asia

Brian Yim, Group Publisher & Managing Editor, MillionaireAsia, said that last year the aviation industry saw a shortage of charter and long waiting times whereas now delivery can come within a few months. Ownership of private jets in Singapore has also increased from a handful last year to 10 this year.

Tony Jones, Senior Vice President, Aircraft Sales & Flight Services Group, Hawker Pacific, said there is a lot of talk of doom and gloom but the industry has a positive outlook. He said Asia provides an increase in the industry as there is a boom here with a strong future for private aviation.

Brian also thinks that with the integrated resorts opening in Singapore, more high rollers will be coming to our shores and therefore a great possibility for increase in the private jet industry.

Issues

Being a rather young industry, Asia faces a few issues in terms of the ease of private jet ownership as stated by Ralph Leach, Chairman of the Asia Business Aviation Association (AsBAA) Government Affairs committee.

Such issues include the need for permits - Asia is the most expensive with permits and fees; access issues between countries and the general attitude to private aviaiton - people tend to view it as private ownership rather than a business tool.

AsBaa hopes to solve alot of these issues and educate people and promote the business and corporate aspects of aviation.

Only time can tell how well the industry will pick up in Asia but with the MillionaireAsia Private Show aiding the industry forward, the sky will, literally, be the limit.