BAe Asset Management Placing More Jetstream 31/32s

Two additional customers have acquired BAe Jetstream 31/32 turboprops for business use, the company said Monday. Mid-America Jet of Owensboro, KY, will take delivery of a J32EP in December for use in shuttling NASCAR racing team Brewco Motorsports and for flying corporate shuttles, casino trips and sporting events. The aircraft is an evident favorite among NASCAR teams. Richard Petty, the king of NASCAR racing, leases a J31 from Southern Pride Trucking of San Diego, which also leases a second J31 to two NASCAR teams-Ernie Irvan and sponsor Mark Simo.

"We have been successful in expanding the up-to-nine-passenger on-demand charters and we are ready to move into the 19-seat market with the Jetstream, a flexible and affordable aircraft for transporting large groups of people," said Mid-America operations director Bruce Buchanan. The firm averages about 20 trips a week and will increase that substantially with the addition of the Jetstream.

Dewi Rolands, sales and marketing VP for British Aerospace Asset Management, said the J32EP to Mid-America Jet is the third for use in NASCAR team transport. He also said here that Corpac of Calgary has leased a fourth J31 for company shuttles between Calgary and Edmonton for TELUS, a phone company, and Calgary and Fort McHenry for Syngroup, an oil company. Two aircraft will be dedicated to each customer. It uses the aircraft on weekends for niche charters such as golf and ski trips, said President Gordon Pearisio.

Rowlands said that more than 400 Jetstreams have been placed, 42 of a targeted 58 so far this year. Three years ago there were 120 idle. By the end of this year the number will be down to 35, he said, noting a potential market for 30 19-seaters per year for the next three to five years.

By Arnold Lewis