New Rizon biz jet facility in Qatar

But with the New Doha airport set to open in 2011 Rizon is building its Qatari operation in a modular fashion so that it can move to the new airport in due course.

Meanwhile, the company’s UK base is on track for opening this autumn.  Contractors Civils and Reid Steel have completed 60% of construction including steelwork and roofing.  The company is creating some 200 new jobs at Biggin Hill and recruitment is well underway.
 
The UK-based maintenance operation is set for completion in October with the passenger handling operation following in November – representing a total investment of $16 million – down from the $20 million originally forecast.

“We have received numerous enquiries for hangarage maintenance and aircraft management opportunities from the new site – all of which are being evaluated,” according to Rizon chief Will Curtis.
 
The company received its European EASA 145 approvals on 6 April to undertake maintenance work on the Hawker family of aircraft at Biggin Hill.  And is now busy working on tooling and staffing in support of its expanding Bombardier Challenger fleet.  Rizon will also move over its Middle East-based Hawker Beechcraft Premier 1 light jet to the UK in May, inline with the expected UK AOC.

Next month Rizon will take on a Global XRS on management contract (registered in the UK).  Also in May, Rizon will put its first Challenger 605 into service, based in Doha, Qatar.  The company is adding three Bombardier Challenger 604s on management contracts in the UK – aircraft scheduled to enter service in late May 2009, while a second new Hawker 900 XP will be delivered in May 2009, to be operated under Rizon’s UAE AOC and based in the GCC region.   This takes the total number of aircraft in the Rizon fleet this summer to seven.