Dubai-based Empire Aviation Group is bringing its skills and expertise developed in the aviation market of the Middle East to boost its new Indian operations, said a top official at the ongoing Dubai Air Show.

For the first time at a major international aviation event, Empire Aviation is presenting its new operations in India (Empire Aviation – India), which are now well established, and with plans on track for further development.

India is proving to be a dynamic new market for private aviation and, just 12 months after launching its full operations there from the base in Bangalore, Empire Aviation - India is already delivering the full portfolio of sales, management and operations services based on the company’s distinctive asset management approach, for the benefit of aircraft owners and operators, with aircraft under management.  

Empire Aviation – India is the new private aviation specialist branch office of Dubai-based group. It has already launched a comprehensive range of business aviation services for private aircraft owners in India.

The one-stop shop approach covers aircraft sales, aircraft management and flight operations and charter brokerage, said Paras Dhamecha, the executive director of Empire Aviation Group.

"The Indian economy is proving robust and with more Indian companies globalizing their operations, we see a healthy future demand for our services, where we can fill the gap for a professional management company, which can simplify the ownership process and experience for owners," remarked Dhamecha.

"This will also help further stimulate the market for business aviation. Our team in India has done an outstanding job in setting up the new facilities, ensuring that these conform to EAG’s high standards of maintenance management, operational safety, and flight operations," he added.

Empire Aviation – India took its first business jet under management in India in December 2012 (a 2012 model Bombardier Challenger 300) at its base at HAL Airport in Bangalore.

The new branch location has proved to be the ideal base, offering a convenient location for aircraft management and flight operations.

With an experienced team and systems and processes in place to ensure integration with EAG, Empire Aviation has been active in India with the operations and management of its first aircraft. The team has also been working closely with owners and operators to help them understand the benefits of specialist outsourced professional aircraft management services.

“We see part of our initial role as helping company and individual owners and aircraft operators in India understand the benefits of working with independent and experienced professional aircraft managers,” remarked Steve Hartley, the executive director of Empire Aviation Group.

“Most private aircraft in India are company owned and managed by an inhouse operations team, which is not always very cost effective," he noted.

"Empire Aviation – India takes an asset management approach to aircraft ownership and management, which starts with understanding the owner’s needs, and building a business model around this, ensuring access to all the benefits of the aircraft whilst protecting its value through professional operation, management and maintenance to manufacturers’ standards,” he added.

According to him, 2013 was another strong year for the Group as it added three new aircraft to its existing managed fleet; acquired its first managed aircraft in India; sold three business jets to owners; and has grown the team to 120 staff.-TradeArabia News Service