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Why Ihor Kolomoisky’s Airline Empire Fell

30Apr

By Alya KulikovaNo Comments

Analysis

Why Ihor Kolomoisky’s Airline Empire Fell

Relatively unknown to people in the West, Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky once owned an airline empire that spanned Europe. But then, he threw it all away... And whilst there are rumors he maintains ownership of a few airlines to this day, it is impossible to prove these claims and the fact of the matter remains: the airlines he once owned openly are no more. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Who is Ihor Kolomoisky? Unlike other airline moguls like Michael O'Leary and Richard Branson, Ihor Kolomoisky isn't exactly a household name in the West, even if he is in his native Ukraine. Born into a Jewish family of engineers in Dnipropetrovsk (modern day Dnipro), then in the Ukrainian SSR in the Soviet Union, Ihor followed in his parent's fo...

23Apr

By Gareth SeagullNo Comments

Analysis

Is Aviation a Good Investment?

An industry worth a staggering $3.5 trillion globally, aviation is arguably one of the most lucrative industries to be in after ones like tech, healthcare and financial services yet so many aviation companies go out of business each year. But it's not just the small ones with limited financial resources that go bust; each year we see headlines with a major international airline declaring bankruptcy or entering bankruptcy protection, whilst others report record profits. So all this begs the question: Is aviation a good investment? All in all, assuming you have the knowledge in your particular sub-niche of aviation, and the financial resources to make it successful, aviation is a good investment. The things that sink a company quickly is bad management and a lack of money. ...

All The Different Types of Military Aircraft Explained!

20Apr

By Salomón MarcoNo Comments

Aircraft Digest

All The Different Types of Military Aircraft Explained!

From a young age, we are taught that the military are here to protect us. Aside from guns, tanks and ships, most militaries make extensive use of aircraft too, where they fill a variety of roles. So what are the different types of military aircraft currently in service around the world? Much like when we classify most things in life, most modern military aircraft don't just fit in one category. Rather, they fit into several categories as manufacturers produce new variants of the same aircraft to keep up with the ever-changing nature of aerial warfare. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Fighters Perhaps the type of aircraft we most associate with the military, the term "fighter" - or more often "fighter jet" - has become somewhat synonymous with...

16Apr

By Christopher HarrowNo Comments

Aircraft Digest

Piper Seneca: The Epitome of Luxury

With well over 5,000 produced today, the Piper Seneca is the world's best selling twin turboprop, having become a favorite of many operators. Famed for its luxury, the Seneca has become a favorite of corporate operators particularly who use it as a VIP transport. Though not continuous in its production, the Piper Seneca has been in production since 1971, both in the US with Piper Aircraft and in other countries, most notably in Brazil with Embraer and Poland with PZL. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Background In 1960, Piper Aircraft released the now-famed Piper Cherokee. Inundated with orders for the aircraft from pilots, air taxi companies, medevac operators and more, Piper began looking for a way to capitalize on its success further. Rea...

13Apr

By Salomón MarcoNo Comments

Airports

How do Airports Make Money?

Like almost everything else in life, airports seek to earn money. Whilst not always run for profit (though many are), running an airport is not cheap and operators seek to offset this cost by bringing in money from the airport itself. Unlike other types of businesses that have only a couple of income streams, airports usually have several income streams that can be put into two categories: aeronautical revenue and non-aeronautical revenue. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Landing Fees Passenger Service Fees Hangar Fees Parking Fees Advertising Thanks to post-9/11 laws dictating that you must arrive to the airport several hours before your flight departs, most passengers end up spending these several hours in the airport terminal wai...

Bombardier Challenger 604: A First Among Equals

9Apr

By Charles YongzhengNo Comments

Executive

Bombardier Challenger 604: A First Among Equals

The Challenger 600 series is known for being one of the most popular family of business jets ever built. For the Bombardier Challenger 604, however, it holds a distinct honor: The most popular of the series. Indeed, of the 1,066 aircraft built in the Challenger 600 series to date, 365 have been the Challenger 604 variant. And this isn't for any other reason than it's the best on the market! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Background Having sold his stake in Learjet to the Gates Rubber Company of Denver, Colorado in 1967 and left its board in 1969, Bill Lear set about his next project: designing a longer range business jet better than those then on the market. By 1974, Lear had come up with a design he called the LearStar 600, a low-wing, tw...

Inside Nextant Aerospace: The Most Unlikely of Aircraft Manufacturers

6Apr

By Salomón MarcoNo Comments

Analysis

Inside Nextant Aerospace: The Most Unlikely of Aircraft Manufacturers

When old aircraft become too expensive to operate, they have historically been sent to one of several aircraft graveyards. However, Nextant Aerospace aim to minimize this through a process called remanufacturing. Essentially recycling certain ageing aircraft, Nextant are able to deliver what is in effect a new aircraft for half the price. So it's probably not surprising that the company has delivered nearly 200 aircraft in a decade and a half, and still has a large backlog of orders. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Background The story of Nextant Aerospace cannot be told without first talking about Kenn Ricci, the man behind several major players in the business aviation industry, including fractional ownership Flight Options LLC and Direction...

Inside Directional Aviation Capital: The World’s Largest Aviation Investment Firm

2Apr

By Alya KulikovaNo Comments

Analysis

Inside Directional Aviation Capital: The World’s Largest Aviation Investment Firm

Headed by Kenn Ricci, the legendary aviation executive and pilot, Directional Aviation has become the largest aviation firm in the world by profit through its ownership of more than a dozen companies. With over 2,200 employees worldwide, $2.5 billion in revenue and over 200,000 flight hours annually, Directional Aviation operates in nearly every aspect of business aviation, competing with the likes of NetJets, VistJet and even Cessna to various extents! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Background Before Directional Aviation was born, Kenn Ricci was a University of Notre Dame graduate and former ROTC cadet who'd begun working as a pilot. Early into his career, however, he was laid off as a result of the early 1980's recession. After talking ...

30Mar

By Charles YongzhengNo Comments

Airports

Which Countries Don’t Have an Airport?

For most countries, having an airport is not just useful, but an economic necessity. Not only do they serve as a gateway for the transportation of people and goods, they are also huge job creators both directly and indirectly. Yet despite these benefits, a select few countries do not have a single airport within their borders, often for one of a multitude of reasons. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Liechtenstein Located between the Swiss Alps and Austria, Liechtenstein has no airport on account of its terrain and population. A country of barely 40,000 people, Liechtenstein simply doesn't have a population large enough to justify spending millions of dollars building an airport. It simply wouldn't be cost-effective. Secondly, the majority...

26Mar

By Salomón MarcoNo Comments

History

How Learjet Failed…

Ask anyone to name a private jet, and they will respond with the same company: Learjet. Yet despite having created the modern business jet, the company's recent ceasing of aircraft production clearly signals how Learjet as a company, has failed... In its nearly 60 year history, the company delivered a total of 3058 aircraft to customers on every inhabited continent, becoming an icon in the process. But alas, the company is little more than a shell of its once-great self. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); History Before we can discuss how and why Learjet has failed, we must first look at the background of the company and how it has evolved over the years. Founding In 1962, self-taught American engineer Bill Lear decided enough was enough. ...