Singapore-based Asia Pacific Jets has placed a $45m order with Nextant Aerospace, the aircraft manufacturer that converts Beechjet 400A/XP planes into corporate jets, for ten Nextant 400XT aircraft.
The world’s only FAA-certified remanufactured business jet, the Nextant 400XT, will be developed on a remanufactured Beechjet 400A/XP airframe equipped with new Williams FJ44-3AP turbofan engine and the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 integrated avionics suite.
Nextant said the aircraft will offer a range of 2,005nm (3,713km) and cruising speed of 460nmph (740kph), in addition to 20-30% enhanced fuel efficiency based on the length of the flight segment.
Asia Pacific Jets will also join forces with Hong Kong-based air ambulance provider AirMed Asia, a US-based AirMed International subsidiary, and open a new base in late 2012, to manage maintenance and warranty assistance for Nextant in Singapore.
Expected to be delivered during a three-year period, a portion of order will be outfitted as 400XT air ambulances and others as normal 400XT business jet aircraft, which will be operated to offer services in Asia.
Jeffrey Tolbert, AirMed International chief executive officer, said the Nextant 400XT will offer AirMed Asia and its partners at Asia Pacific Jets everything one would expect from a new light jet, but at a fraction of the cost.
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By GlobalData"This includes range that will enable nonstop flights from our Singapore base as far west as Mumbai, India and as far north as Shanghai, China, along with the absolute lowest operating cost basis in its class," Tolbert said.
Nextant had begun production of the aircraft in late 2011, and its expansion of manufacturing facilities is expected to allow the increase in production rate of about 48 aircraft each year by the end of 2013.
Image: A Beechjet 400A aircraft. Photo courtesy of: YSSYguy.
