Nextant Aerospace receives initial order for 18 aircraft from China

Nextant Aerospace, a US-based manufacturer of remanufactured Nextant 400XT business aircraft, has received an initial order worth $89m from the Chinese market for 18 jets.

Of the 18 aircraft, three are firm orders with 15 options, and will be a combination of business and special mission configurations.

Starting later this year, the company will deliver the aeroplanes over the next 24 months.

This announcement was made by Nextant Aerospace on Monday, along with the appointment of the China Great Wall Industry (CGWIC) as the company’s exclusive sale agent in the greater China region and Jet Aviation Singapore as new authorised service centre, in addition to the launching of its new air ambulance conversion module for its 400XT model.

Nextant Aerospace’s new president Sean McGeough, who took charge in January, has been keen on expanding the company’s international reach.

Although the company entered the Asian market in August 2012, it is presently targeting the booming area of South East Asia for the remanufactured business jet, and is taking part in the ongoing Asian Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition at Shanghai to explore the Chinese market.

China Great Wall Industry, a leading firm in the Chinese aerospace industry, will play a key role in establishing the Nextant service, support and parts distribution in the greater China region, which includes Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

"The initial order of 18 Nextant aircraft is a strong sign of commitment from CGWIC," McGeough said.

With the launch of new air ambulance conversion module for its 400XT model, the company is eyeing South East Asia as a key market for air ambulance aircraft.

The equipment is based on a platform provided by air ambulance equipment provider Spectrum Aeromed, and allows Nextant 400XT to be converted from a VIP configuration to a completely ACLS critical care room with an ambulance bed in less than half an hour.

In addition to providing the range and speed of a larger aircraft, Nextant stated that it would offer lower acquisition and operating costs.

According to the company, the Nextant Aerospace factory-installed system is equipped to work as a convertible VIP interior, with the installation costs to be less than $100,000.

Its base system is self-contained and comprises a 3,500l oxygen bottle, inverter, dual air-pumps and vacuum-pump, manual loading system, and stretcher bridge with mounting poles.

Meanwhile, the firm has appointed Jet Aviation Singapore to provide maintenance services for its growing fleet of 400XTs in South East Asia.

Following this contract, Jet Aviation Singapore is expected to become a core part of Nextant’s global network of owned and authorised service centres.

Globally, Nextant has secured sales of more than $100m since late 2011, and currently has a sales backlog estimated to be more than $175m.

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Image: Nextant Aerospace entered the Asian market in August 2012, but now it is actively targeting the booming South East Asia, especially China with its Nextant 400XT aircraft. Photo: courtesy of Nextant Aerospace.