Gama Aviation awarded Swiss AOC.

Wednesday 12th February 2014

Gulfstream V is first Swiss-registered aircraft based out of Geneva.

Gama Aviation, the global aviation services company, announced today that it has been awarded a Swiss Air Operator Certificate (AOC) by the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA).  The move clears the way for the company's Geneva based team to offer third party charters out of Switzerland with its own business jets. The first Swiss-registered aircraft is a Gulfstream V (configured with 16 seats) which has moved over from Gama Aviation's managed fleet in the UK.  With a 5,800 nm range it is available for charter worldwide.

The Gulfstream V joins an eight seat Learjet 45 on Gama Aviation's UK AOC which is already being marketed out of Switzerland and with the ski season now underway the eight-seat jet has been a regular visitor to Geneva.  The intention is to add more aircraft to the managed fleet out of Switzerland, complementing existing Gama Aviation activity in Europe, Russia and the Middle East, with a focus on attracting new customers.

Coinciding with the award of this AOC Gama Aviation has expanded its operations team.  Rene Balatti has joined as Operations Assistant based out of Geneva.  Rene has eight years' experience in business aviation and will work alongside Operations Manager Laura Malisani and the team.

Gama Aviation inaugurated its office at Geneva Airport's executive terminal in November 2012 headed by Captain Hamish Ross, who also serves as a line pilot with Gama on the Challenger 604 and 605. Since that time, the company has assisted arranging charters on Gama Aviation aircraft, but from Switzerland it has served as a charter brokerage until now.

"This is an excellent time to secure our AOC," said Hamish.  "There is strong economic development in Switzerland with the emerging high tech industries, finance and private banking sectors and strengthened interest for corporate travel."

Gama Aviation will take the opportunity to promote its expansion in Switzerland with a bolstered attendance at EBACE in Geneva during May 20 to 22nd.

This managed Gulfstream V is Gama Aviation's first on the Swiss register.

About Gama Aviation:

Gama Aviation is a global business aviation services organization, founded in 1983 in the United Kingdom by Marwan Khalek and Stephen Wright.  Gama Aviation currently employs over 500 people and operates over 80 business aircraft around the globe at 25 operating bases across four continents.

Gama Aviation's global headquarters are located at Farnborough Airport in the UK, with its American headquarters in Stratford, Connecticut, its Middle East and North Africa headquarters in Sharjah and its Asian headquarters in Hong Kong.

Its companies and affiliates hold EU-OPS, FAA and UAE GCAA Charter Certificates, EASA, FAA and GCAA Part 145 Maintenance Approvals, EASA Part 21 Design and Manufacture Approvals and collectively offer business aircraft management, charter, maintenance and design, travel, valeting, FBO Executive Handling and aviation software services.

The group remains majority owned by its founders; in 2007 the group received an equity investment from GrowthGate Capital Corporation, Crescent Enterprises and a small number of other strategic partners.

More information is available on our website:

gamaaviation.com