“Flying Home” Palm Beach Illustrated
Integral Aviation Solutions was featured in Palm Beach Illustrated this month. Please click on each picture or download PDF.
Creating a “Flying Home”: By Capt. Ivan Klugman
Having been in the aviation industry for over 30 years as an aviation department manager, major airline captain, aircraft completion consultant and President of Integral Aviation Solutions Inc, I feel uniquely qualified to discuss the completion or conversion process of an airliner into a “Flying Home”. Long before Boeing was producing the Boeing Business Jet and Airbus the Airbus Corporate Jet. We were converting Boeing and Airbus airliners to corporate, personal and “Head of State” service.
Once you establish that an airline is suitable for your flight operations there are many choices to make; the first step is to set a budget. A new BBJ or ACJ start around 55 million “Green”, that’s without any interior. An average completion on one of these aircraft is between 18 and 35 million depending on you personal choices. There are many less expensive ways of getting a similar aircraft without the 75 million dollar price tag. There are many pre-owned airlines available that can be converted cost effectively.
The timeline has changed rather dramatically recently with the weak economy. Today there are new aircraft positions that can be purchased and room in the completion center hangars so the overall project time from start to finish for a new aircraft is reduced quite a bit. We have always been able to accommodate our client’s needs in a more timely fashion than the mega-operations however today it’s even easier. Expect the process to take between nine month and eighteen months depending on your design and size aircraft. There are pre-owned aircraft available for those that need one sooner. Please get assistance prior to purchasing an aircraft there are many areas a non-professional can overlook.
Once you get an aircraft the fun part starts designing the aircraft of your dreams. I usually send my design team to meet with my client’s in their home. This allows the team to get a feel for the personality of the client in order to help them decide of the style they desire in their aircraft.
We have designed some very traditional aircraft what I call “the flying board room”, ultra-modern sleek European and even some that reflect a corporate identity. Our design team creates a LOPA(Layout of Passenger Accommodations) as well as designs for the desired rooms including: main salon, dining, bedrooms, bathrooms, offices, conference rooms, bars, galleys, surgical suites, SPA rooms, prayer rooms etc.
State of the Art cabin electronic system allow for en-route business meetings though broadband Internet connections, VIOP and satellite telephones. To help pass the time entertaining Satellite television is available. Passenger can even use their own handheld devices; Blackberry’s and iPhones . The technology is advancing so rapidly we sometime are provisioning the aircraft for equipment that is not even certified yet. We stay in tune to the manufacturers product pipeline so our clients don’t end up with an obsolete system. We even have the capability to equip the aircraft with high tech security systems and missile defense systems.
Being as most of the furnishing and cabin systems are custom designed and engineered, the client has a lot of freedom in their choices however they must meet rigid FAA standards. This is where I come into the process guiding both client and designer toward maximizing the safety and cost effectiveness of the interior layout. Quite frankly almost anything is possible” IF” you have enough time and money. We know that most people don’t want to wait years and send extra millions for extensive engineering and tests on something very radical when with a little change, they can be airborne months sooner and save a tremendous amount of money. Of course there are those that already have an aircraft that don’t mind the time or the cost.
I’d like to discuss our role in the process; I compare myself to the “general contractor” on a home construction project. I work very closely with the world-renowned lead design engineer “Manny” Loret de Mola. We have designers, engineers, manufacturing capabilities and like most other companies in the business, we also sub-contract portions of the completion. Being a boutique operation is a major advantage to our clients. They get personal attention of our principals and first string of employees. Not one of the thousands of employees at the mega houses.
There many of the design houses that have no operational experience. We feel they are missing an important indigent. Our staff includes members that have years of experience flying and maintaining airliners. We are capable of assisting our client from acquisition though operations.
While may of these amenities sound like luxuries, I can assure that these features are very cost effective and in fact traveling by any other means would be doing stockholders an injustice by wasting executive time and not providing a safe work environment for the companies most valued talent. Remember when flying on an airliner with 300 other people there is no way to assure the safety and security of these key executives, “Heads of State” or high net worth individuals.
The primary goal on a project of this nature must always be safety!
Ivan Klugman
Kicking up the Quality of your Aircraft Completion / Refurbishment project
There are many fine completion centers available however the one ingredient that will bring their performance up several notches is having an onsite project manager who works for the aircraft owner. When I refer to completion process I’m including “green” as well as refurbishment projects.
While the industry trend had been moving in favor of onsite representation about 70% of owners have their in house staff or consultants on site during the completion process.
I’ve seen an alarming trend lately to not having any representation in an effort to save costs. This may seem like a cost saving however in the long run it ends up costing a lot more. When your aircraft is not completed to the highest standards there will be many costly visits to the shop to correct the numerous discrepancies that will appear during the day to day operations that would have been corrected during the process by a professional completion consultant.
Granted there is a warranty on the work.
• Does it cover loss of use of the aircraft?
• Does it cover the costs of returning to the center for the repairs?
• Does it protect you from an angry boss who was embarrassed in front of a client by a broken entertainment or cabin communication systems?
• Does it cover the poor dispatch reliability due to maintenance issues that should have been addressed during the completion process?
Who should be onsite to represent the owner during the process?
A highly skilled professional completion consultant who has had experience supervising many completions for owners, completion centers or the aircraft manufacturers is the person you want to be there for you. Most A and P mechanics have never been through the process and would need extensive training to be qualified for the job.
Where do I get a professional completion consultant?
Integral Aviation Solutions has many completion professionals on staff they have various backgrounds from manufactures project managers, completion center senior management and owner’s completion consultants all of them have over twenty years of experience in aviation and have supervised many completion projects.
Why not just let the manufactures or completion center project manager handle the job?
A tale of two completion project managers:
• A project manager for a completion center or manufacturer has many aircraft to manage. His is turning prematurely gray and taking large amount of Maalox or Tums for his stomach distress. His boss is screaming at him to get the aircraft out of the hangar so that they can get paid.
• An IAS project manager has your aircraft to manage. His primary concern is your safety followed by producing a high quality and reliable aircraft. He is there to assure that there are no billing errors as well as to see your aircraft is being worked on so it is completed on time.
If you considered all excellent completion centers equal horses in the Kentucky Derby then the only difference would be the jockey. Having a professional completion consultant is like hiring the best jockey. He can guide and whip the horse as necessary to win the race. In this case give you an aircraft that is safe ,reliable and will retain its value for years.
Ivan Klugman www.inavsol.com www.headofstateaircraft.com
Integral Aviation Solutions (IAS) and Applied Concepts Aircraft Solutions (ACAS)
We are please to announce: The AV-International Joint Venture Group formed by Integral Aviation Solutions Inc (IAS) and Applied Concepts Aircraft Solutions Inc (ACAS)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRLog (Press Release) – Jun 26, 2009 – Integral Aviation Solutions and Applied Concepts Aircraft Solutions have aligned their companies to provide; Acquisition, Design, Engineering, Complete Fabrication of the Interior, and Maintenance/Operational Expertise to their Clients.
The primary market focus of this group is Bizliners and wide body VIP and “Head of State” aircraft. We also serve the Business Jet and Helicopter Market from acquisition to operation; providing them with the same level of quality and service as our “Head of State” clients. All of our clients are provided with the ultimate in luxury, safety, security and privacy in a cost effective manner.
AV-International JVG ends the waiting by the client to acquire an aircraft and then wait again to find a slot with the completion center. We provides our clients the ability to acquire an aircraft, have an immediate slot available to check, and make any maintenance and repairs while the certification, engineering and fabrication of interior components and other general modifications are under way. This organization provides the client with a completely scheduled and plan of execution that includes all aspects and disciplines necessary to finalize a successful program. As our motto denotes we bring aircraft to the client “Airworthy from Concept to Flight”.
About:
Applied Concepts Aircraft Solutions Inc:
http://www.acas-inc.com/
Applied Concepts Aircraft Solutions, Inc (ACAS) provides the Aerospace Industry with “Design/Engineering, FAA Certification, Fabrication of Interior Components and the Manufacturing of CNC machined Parts for airframe or ornamental in nature”. The concentration of experience and resources our staff can provide, offers the aircraft industry a unique opportunity.
Integral Aviation Solutions Inc: http://www.HeadofStateAircraft.com http://www.inavsol.com
A global aviation consulting firm that has acquired many aircraft and placed them in service for corporations, private individuals, celebrities, billionaires and even celebrity billionaires. Our unique combination of airline and corporate aviation expertise provides our clients with the ultimate in safety, security and privacy. IAS has the maintenance and operational experience to guide the experienced and not experienced Client through the Aviation Industry, and if required, establish a reliable organization of their own to support flight operations and future maintenance.
Contact Ivan Klugman www.inavsol.com
Boeing BBJ / Boeing 737/Bizliner
The Boeing 737 entered service in 1963 it’s the most worlds popular airliner with about 6000 units in service. The BBJ program has delivered about 130 aircraft for the corporate market since 1998. The popularity and global acceptance of the Boeing make it an easy airplane to support due to the vast resources of the world’s airlines willing to maintain it at almost every commercial airport.
Some BBJ /Boeing 737 Stats: Cabin HUGE by corporate standards there are a few models available ranging in length from 79 to 98 feet long, width and height are all about the same at 7’1’ height and 11’7’ wide. Square footage is between 800 and 1000 square feet. The Boeing does not fly as high nor fast as some of its competitors but it’s so comfortable in the back does it really matter? Range 5000 to 6000+ miles
IAS comments: If you desire a large cabin Head of State level aircraft and don’t have a need to go into a few of the smaller corporate airports the Boeing BBJ or Boeing 737 may fit your needs. It’s a luxurious, reliable and safe aircraft. There are a few ways to acquire a BBJ/ Boeing 737: purchase a new one from Boeing, buy a pre owned BBJ or the most cost effective manner is to acquire a Boeing 737 airliner and convert it for corporate service for a fraction of the cost of a new BBJ. Having flown the Boeing around the world for thousands of hours, I can say from firsthand experience that it’s a straight forward aircraft, reliable and safe. Even the most demanding owners can have all the amenities they desire in the cabin of the BBJ/ Boeing 737.
Boeing BBJ website: http://www.boeing.com/commercial/bbj/
Ivan Klugman
BBJs(Boeing 737) nose to nose in KEWR (Newark, New Jersey USA)
The BBJ’s are back in Town
You can now acquire A Boeing Business Jet without the previously required 3 to 5 year waiting period. Being an aviation consultant having extensive experience with the Boeing Business Jet also known as a Boeing 737. I keep my finger on the pulse of the BBJ market place and feel now is the time to enter the market. Although many corporate operators shy away from the BBJ due to their lack of experience with aircraft in this category, I have flown this model aircraft around the world for many years. With a little pre-planning it can be operated as easily as you drive your car around the block. IAS can help you with all aspects of the acquisiton and operation of a corporate airliner.
Ivan Klugman inav@inavsol.com www.HeadofStateAircraft.com www.inavsol.com
Airbus ACJ A319/A320/A330/A340/A380 BizLiners
Airbus has a very comprehensive line of “Head of State” corporate airliners based on their popular Commericial Airliners. They are spectacularly modern aircraft whose flight deck would bring tears of joy to the eyes of most pilots. They are delivered to the client’s completion center partially completed so the process from that point to full completed is about 8 months. They offer a highly reliable aircraft that meet airline safety standards at cost competitive with a corporate jet.
Ivan Klugman www.headofstateaircraft.com
Custom Corporate Airliner Conversions / Bizliners
If you desire a large cabin “Head of State” level aircraft custom made to fit your needs. Bombardier CRJ, Embraer EJR, Boeing and Airbus is luxurious, reliable and safe aircraft. There are a two ways to acquire a corporate airliner: purchase a new one from the manufacturer (long waiting list) or the most cost effective manner is to acquire an airliner and convert it for corporate service for a fraction of the cost of a new one. These aircraft can meet the requirements of many mission profiles: “Head of State” luxury transport, corporate shuttle, personal luxury transport and sports team transport. IAS can help you acquire an aircraft, design the interior and place it through the completion process. We are committed to providing an aircraft that is safe, reliable and will retain its value for the years to come.
The IAS team has years of operational and maintenance experience with Head of State aircraft and corporate airliners. Our aircraft completion oversight team has worked globally and can make bringing aircraft across borders a seamless process. Whether you are acquiring an aircraft that is new to you, modernizing or doing a heavy maintenance check the IAS team can be on your side to see that you are getting a good return on your investment and a safe aircraft.
Ivan Klugman