Jet Aviation Singapore celebrates 20 years of exceptional service

Officially launched at Singapore Airshow in 1996, Jet Aviation Singapore is proud to observe its 20th anniversary of providing quality services at this year’s Airshow.

Jet Aviation Singapore was established at Seletar Airport as an Authorized Service Center (ASC) for Gulfstream aircraft in 1996, gaining Bombardier Service Center authorization the following year. Coupled with the help of Jet Aviation’s long-established MRO and Completions facility in Basel, Jet Aviation Singapore soon became a valuable partner to transient aircraft throughout Asia and Southeast Asia.

“It was a new territory and the first five years presented many challenges. In fact, the learning curve was both steep and unexpected,” said Ruedi Kraft, Vice President of Business Development for the Basel Completions Center and former founding vice president and general manager of Jet Aviation Singapore. “We’d been in international business aviation for nearly 30 years at that time and simply thought that we could transfer our business paradigms to Asia. We misjudged that, of course, but we were persistent.”

Jet Aviation Group President Rob Smith adds, “Our commitment to our customers in the region has never waned and our long-term strategy — our commitment to providing the most benefit through continuous focus on quality, service, comfort and high standards — is now really paying off. We have cooperated with Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB) throughout our two decades of dedicated service and are very grateful for their continued support, which was particularly instrumental to our 2014 expansion project.”

Steady growth began in early 2000 and Jet Aviation Singapore has continued to expand and upgrade its facilities and services ever since. FBO services were extended to Changi International Airport in 2006, and the company expanded its footprint in Asia with the establishment of a maintenance facility in Hong Kong in 2008. Its MRO facility became an authorized Boeing BBJ line maintenance center in 2010, and in 2013 it was appointed an Authorized Service Center for Nextant 400 XT aircraft. That same year, the company also formed a strategic alliance with the Air Transport Training College (ATTC) at Seletar Aerospace Park to build up a pool of local talent.

A major milestone was realized in May 2014 when Jet Aviation opened a new multi-million dollar hangar facility adjacent to its existing location, effectively tripling its size to meet growing regional demand. With the expansion, the company further developed its cabin refurbishment business by adding a large Interior Shop and broadening its interior service offerings, while also introducing its new hangarage and parking services.

Designed to accommodate large, long-range business jets, particularly the regionally popular Gulfstream G450, G550 and G650 aircraft, Jet Aviation Singapore also enhanced its partnership with Gulfstream, upgrading its status to Factory Authorized Service Center and Warranty Repair Facility. In addition, Gulfstream technicians are located on site to assist with airframe, avionics and interior work, including refurbishment.

In late 2014, John Riggir joined Jet Aviation Singapore as vice president and general manager, and is responsible for further expanding the facility’s service offerings. The company undertook three major refurbishments in 2015, including a full interior refurbishment on a Global Express, and is currently completing another full cabin refurbishment on a second Global. Towards the end of last year it received Part 145 CAAC maintenance approval to support Chinese operators of Bombardier and Gulfstream aircraft, in addition to FAA approval for the Gulfstream G650 and its Interior Shop. In November 2015, Jet Aviation Singapore received the Asian Business Aviation Association’s (AsBAA) Best Maintenance & Repair Services Industry Award.

Jet Aviation recently completed the refurbishment of its FBO at Seletar Airport, including new customer and crew lounges, offices, conference rooms and other amenities, while integrating the new corporate branding.