Gama Group to Establish Base in Hong Kong

Gama Group, a business aviation charter, management and maintenance company, headquartered at Farnborough Airport in England, is planning to establish its next base in Asia.

 “We are building the foundations now with a view to getting established in Hong Kong in the first half of 2012,” said Gama Group CEO, Marwan Khalek. “The intention is simply to replicate Gama’s successful business model in the region and mirror the quality, ethos and service offering of the international network currently centered in Europe, the Middle East and the USA. Hong Kong will be the company’s fourth continental/regional base complementing operations in Europe, North America and the Middle East.”

Business Jet Services and Asia Miles

In the lead up to its increased presence in Asia, Gama Aviation has just entered into a partnership with the Asia Miles loyalty program to provide business jet services to its 4.1 million members worldwide. Asia Miles members can then earn miles when chartering aircraft from Gama’s global fleet and network to connect with airlines such as Cathay Pacific and Dragonair, bringing its bespoke travel services to the most sophisticated travelers in the Asia market.

Asia Miles members with onward destinations that are not serviced by Asia Miles partner airlines can arrange a connecting sector by business jet with Gama.

The Americas

Whilst Asia will become a key focus for 2012, the last 12 months in the USA have been spent investing in improving capabilities and structures and building up Part 145/EASA repair station capabilities and market opportunities at bases at Stratford, Connecticut, Teterboro and West Palm Beach, Florida.

Each base now has the capacity to perform all line and base maintenance on a robust list of aircraft. Gama supports Bombardier, Cessna, Dassault Falcon, Gulfstream and Hawker Beechcraft; engine suppliers Rolls Royce, Pratt And Whitney and Honeywell as well as instrument and radio certification on altimeters, static systems and transponders.

Helicopter Support

Gama Group last month completed the purchase of the trade and assets of Mann Aviation Group Engineering (MAGE), a leading specialist in MRO modification and support services for a wide range of helicopters serving civil and military use, plus a number of regional aircraft types.

That company’s EASA/FAR 145 operations and Part 21J & G design and production expertise are being integrated into newly branded Gama Engineering, formerly Lees Avionics. Alongside this move, Gama Engineering has moved its premises from High Wycombe, Berkshire, to take up premises at Fairoaks Airport, Surrey, UK.

Gama has pledged sizeable investment to restore its three hangars and establish a burgeoning centre for general aviation, complementing the group’s main Farnborough base.

“This strategic acquisition enables us to harness the opportunity within the Group to expand our capabilities in defence, special mission retrofits and modifications. Importantly, the move takes Gama into the rotary support side for the first time too,” said Marwan Khalek.

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