An article by Rhys Blakely of the Times recounts stories of luxury aircraft (at least 10 so far) impounded by Indian customs officers for failure to pay import duties.

The seized airplanes include an Airbus A-319 purchased by Mukesh Ambani (Reliance Industries, India’s largest private company) for his wife as a birthday gift. Mr. Abmani’s “archenemy”, Anil Ambani (they are brothers), also had an aircraft, a Global 5000 Bombardier, seized.

The article goes on to say:

“A source at one of the affected companies said: “They have declared war: officials say anyone who has bought an aircraft is fair game.”

Speculation abounds that a clamp-down on the ultra-rich may have political rewards in Delhi, where, in the run-up to elections, India’s Government is being attacked for failing to ensure that the poor benefit from the country’s economic boom.”

VIP Charter company, Comlux Aviation (a division of Comlux The Aviation Group), has ordered two ultra long-range Global Express XRS jets, which will result in a fleet of nine Bombardier business jets. Vicky Karantzavelou, of Travel Daily News, reports that Comlux’s Bombardier fleet comprises two Challenger 605, two Challenger 850, two Global Express, and one Global 5000.

Ettore Rodaro, head of Comlux Aviation, says:

“These new aircraft are part of our strategic development plan to become the leading long-haul charter services provider in Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East, and will be a complement to our Airbus corporate jet fleet.”

The Bombardier site describes the Global Express XRS as:

“Ready to fly with only 30 minutes warning, no other intercontinental business aircraft takes you faster, farther than the Bombardier Global Express XRS. Flying at altitudes of up to 51,000 ft (15,545 m), this high performance aircraft has exceptional range, carrying eight passengers and a crew of four 5,450 nautical miles nonstop at Mach 0.87, 6,150 nautical miles nonstop at Mach 0.85 and 6,500 nautical miles nonstop at Mach 0.82 — bridging Tokyo and New York, or Moscow and Los Angeles, nonstop. Superb, short-field capabilities allow access to the most challenging airfields, saving valuable executive hours and getting you even closer to your destination.”

Blogger Walkertb maintains a blog about the private jet lifestyle, and one of his recent posts also contains a list of the priciest jets (see my earlier entry).

Some highlights:

Boeing 767 - $118 million-$165 million *
Boeing Business Jet 3 - $68 million *
Most Expensive Long Range Business Jet – Bombardier Global Express XRS – 47.7 million

According to AVweb’s Russ Niles, the Russian government is about to make it easier for
Russians to register their business airplanes in Russia.

Quoting Russia Today, AVweb’s article mentions:

“Russians spent $2.5 billion on private aircraft, almost all of them bizjets, last year but most are registered elsewhere. Government spokesman Sergey Stepashin says that’s about to change but he didn’t specify when…The majority of planes are registered abroad because of high customs fees.”

Vnukovo International Airport also now has a line maintenance facility to provide 24-hour service for Bombardier Challenger and Global aircraft owners.

According to AVWeb’s Glenn Pew (free registration required), Bombardier Aerospace has an order backlog spanning 3 - 4 years, and is not experiencing any impact from current U.S. economic worries. Reports are that the company’s decision to proceed with development of a proposed 110 - 130 seat CSeries airliners is expected this year (Farnborough might be the place).

Bombardier is targeting new markets in Russia, China, South Africa, and Brazil, and recently held a launch ceremony for the Challenger 605 business jet in Mumbai, India.

An article in the Hindustan Times featured a quote from Nilesh Pattanayak (Bombardier’s South Asia managing director):

“India is an important market for us and we expect many orders from the billion dollar club.”

According to AVWeb, an investigation into the collapse of a Bombardier Global 5000 aircraft’s landing gear is underway. No one was seriously hurt, but the aircraft’s owner, Ron Joyce (co-founder of Tim Horton’s, a popular Canadian donut shop) is not sure the new $35 million jet can be repaired. The aircraft was attempting to land at a Nova Scotia golf resort’s private airstrip when the accident occurred.

Sales of business jets to the Middle East and North Africa have surged, and Bombardier is expecting a 40% sales increase. Gulfnews.com reports that Bombardier has sold 27 aircraft to the region this year (10% of its production for the year). Bombardier is declining to list a sales total, but aircraft ranging from a $9 million Lear to a $53 million Global Express are reportedly involved, and an additional announcement regarding a Challenger 605 is expected at the Dubai Air Show.

Bombardier has sold 276 aircraft this year so far and expects to tops 300 by the end of its fiscal year on January 30, 2008.

CAE Inc. is adding 16 new business jet training programs in the U.S. and around the world, as well as products from Bombardier, Cessna, Dassault Falcon, Embraer, Gulfstream, and Hawker Beechcraft. With these additions, CAE says it will offer training on 90% of all business aircraft.

CAE has also sold flight simulators to Emirates-CAE Flight Training in Dubai, which trains commercial and business pilots in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe.

Bombardier issued a press release stating the company sold 212 business jets within the last fiscal year, and is increasing production rates to compensate for the number of orders received. Bombardier’s backlog of orders has grown by 38% since the start of this fiscal year.