Challenger 850 joins the UAE register through Gama

Bombardier Aerospace confirmed that Gama -which has its regional headquarters in Dubai's Airport free Zone -, has become the first customer to register a Challenger 850 jet in the UAE. The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) issued its certificate of airworthiness (CofA) for the Challenger 850 jet in mid December.

“We are very excited by the addition of this Challenger 850 jet to our growing fleet,” said Dave Edwards, Managing Director, Gama Aviation. “The first CofA for this type of business jet in the UAE demonstrates the growing interest in business aviation in this region and a crowning achievement for our newly launched Middle Eastern division.”

Gama was originally established in the UK in 1983 by Marwan Abdel Khalek and Stephen Wright, the Gama Group is headquartered at Farnborough Airport, UK, and has bases across Europe, the Americas and the Middle East, operating over 75 business aircraft, including two Learjet 45 aircraft, two Learjet 60 aircraft, two Challenger 604 aircraft and two Challenger 605 aircraft. It set up its operations in Sharjah last year.

Gama Group’s companies and affiliates hold EU-OPS, FAA Part 135 and UAE GCAA Charter Certificates; FAA Part 145 Maintenance Approvals; Part 21 Design and Manufacture Approvals; and offer business aircraft charter, management, FBO, maintenance, valeting and aviation software services. Gama Aviation FZC obtained its UAE GCAA Air Operator’s Certificate in February 2010 and now operates five business jets in the region, where it is also progressing work on a new hangar and complementary Fixed Based Operation (FBO) at Sharjah International Airport.

“The certification of Gama Group’s Challenger 850 aircraft is an example of the increasing diversity of the market for business aircraft in the Middle East,” said Bob Horner, Senior Vice President, Sales, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “The Challenger 850 jet has established a unique niche, offering unparalleled flexibility in customised configurations for operators worldwide. We are confident that this formidable aircraft will enjoy even more success in this region.”