Middle East and North African aviation authorities force business aviation operators to follow the airline rule-book, driving local operators into the arms of foreign authorities. MEBAA senses the time is right for a specific bizav regime to emerge in the region.

Airbus has won an order from a Middle East customer for an Airbus ACJ320. The aircraft, which is being managed by Aviation Link of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, will be outfitted with a VVIP interior with seating for 30 passengers. “As the operator of the largest fleet of privately owned Airbus aircraft in the Middle East, Aviation Link is the natural choice for clients seeking a large-cabin solution for their flight requirements,” says President and CEO Abdulaziz Al Rowaished. Aviation Link already manages two Airbus ACJ319s and an ACJ320 for Middle East clients.

AgustaWestland has announced an order by Kaan Air for one AW139 intermediate twin-engine helicopter and one AW189 super medium twin-engine helicopter. Both helicopters will be fitted out with VIP passenger transport interiors and will be operated in Turkey. The contract expands the presence of the AW139 in Turkey and marks the entrance of the AW189 into the Turkish helicopter market. Additionally, this is the first VIP-configured AW189 ordered in Europe where the type has already enjoyed a considerable success in the offshore and SAR markets.

Embraer’s Phenom 300 has received certification from EASA for steep-approach operation, which enables increased descent angles of up to 5.5 deg. “This certification enhances the Phenom 300’s operational flexibility,” said Marco Túlio Pellegrini, president and CEO, Embraer Executive Jets.

Daher-Socata yesterday announced the first sale of a TBM 900 to a European customer, Badenwings, a subsidiary of Schmitt & Eger Holding. The company is based at Baden-Baden airport, Germany, where it will operate the airplane. This is the first TBM 900 sold to a final customer in Europe and the first sold by Rheinland Air Service (RAS), TBM distributor for Germany and Austria. “We selected the new TBM 900 for its flexibility to carry small freight or passengers for private internal flights of our holding company,” commented Nielsen Bott, CEO of Badenwings.

Buying or leasing a $2.4 million Nextant C90XT or $5 million 400XTi just became easier with the introduction of Nextant Financing, a new division of the Cleveland-based Nextant Aerospace. The plunge in used-aircraft values, coupled with restrictive conventional financing for used aircraft, has made it difficult for many buyers to finance or lease aircraft in the $2 million to $10 million range, even if they’re fully remanufactured.

Air Hamburg signed a contract with Embraer yesterday for its third Legacy 600 aircraft. The company says that reaction to its two recently acquired Legacy 600s has been “amazing” with both aircraft averaging nearly 100 hours per month. “We are certain it is the right decision to invest and expand in this segment,” says Air Hamburg CEO Floris Helmers. The contract was signed by Air Hamburg’s main investor Simon Ebert at the Embraer booth. Delivery of the aircraft is scheduled for May 2015 in Brazil.

Bombardier’s unveiling of the Global 7000 mock-up has generated strong traffic flows through the exhibit. The thrust of the marketing campaign is more quality of lifestyle than pure business use.