Montréal, Québec, in the parlance of industry and academia, is a “cluster.” That means Canada’s second largest city encompasses within a reasonably circumscribed area the mutually supportive and economically reinforcing elements of design, development, manufacturing, marketing, government, organized labor and education that combine to produce an internationally ranked industrial center with enough history and critical mass to define success — in this case, as Canada’s aerospace capital.

Auckland’s Air Center One executive FBO was founded by former air traffic controller and regional airline and long-distance ferry pilot Robin Leach. “In the early ’80s, I saw a need for business aircraft support, as there was little available in the country,” Leach told BCA. “We set up the FBO at Auckland International Airport [NZAA] in 1984 and did a great business until the 1987 economic downturn, after which the aircraft disappeared overnight.”

While the operating conditions in New Zealand are similar to those in North America, operators must resign themselves to paying for everything — all forms of aviation infrastructure. Here are some sample fees, all converted to U.S. dollars: Typical Landing Fees at Auckland International Airport Global Express/G550 $455.70 Falcon 900 $166.20 Challenger 604 $163.00 Typical Navigation Charges, Airways Corp. of New Zealand, Global Express, Sydney to Auckland En route Oceanic $508.82