Aerospace Concepts Expands Beyond Completions

Aerospace Concepts (ACI), a completions consultant specializing in long and ultra-long range business aircraft, is expanding its services to include aircraft management, charter, fractional ownership, and new alliances in the Pacific Rim and with BAE Systems.

The company has already overseen completion of three Bombardier Global Express Aircraft and one Gulfstream IV-SP, with commitments for an additional G-IV and 11 Global Expresses.

Founded in 1998 by former Global Express product director Kevin Hoffman and Terry Tabeck--former flight department manager for Toyota, ACI is now branching out into the Pacific Rim.

In partnership with Japan's Marubeni Aerospace, ACI is opening the first general aviation facility on Guam. The facility has hangar capacity for up to five Gulfstream-size aircraft, and also will provide maintenance and other support services. The two companies manage three Gulfstream aircraft, all of which will be based at the Guam FBO.

The new operation will help remedy "the lack of available services for business aircraft operators in Japan and the Pacific Rim," says ACI president Habeck, adding that it serves as "a real catalyst to allow us to grow our business in this part of the world."

Among future services planned for Guam are a fractional ownership program, which ACI hopes to have operational early in 2001, and aircraft charter, beginning with a managed Gulfstream IV in February.

Back on this side of the Pacific, ACI is working with BAE Systems to obtain an STC for installation of BAE's head-up display system on the Global Express.

Installation and testing of the VGS 2020 (Visual Guidance System) are expected to begin later this month, with an enhanced VGS to follow. ACI says it has 18 letters of intent for the new system and expects additional orders by the end of the month.

ACI COO Kevin Hoffman attributes his company's explosive growth to having "a team of people with experience in flight operation, aircraft maintenance and completions." He says that such expertise, combined with the BAE partnership, means that ACI customers will know of future technological improvements even before they're available, and helps ensure that "aircraft we're managing during the completion process always have the latest equipment and software installed."