German Special Mission Operator FAI rent-a-jet AG, continues its fleet expansion with the addition of its first Bombardier Challenger 850. The German registered aircraft, (D-AFAN) joined the fleet this month and will be available for ad hoc charter from mid-November. The aircraft is currently undergoing new paint and interior enhancements at FAI Technik, the company's maintenance division. The Challenger, S/N 8081, will be based at FAI's corporate headquarters at Nuremberg Airport, Germany and brings its total fleet size to 25, including ten managed aircraft.

Siegfried Axtmann, Chairman of FAI Aviation Group, comments: "We are very pleased to welcome our first Challenger 850 model which features a comfortable three-zone cabin as roomy as a Global Express and low operating costs comparable with a Challenger 605. I am confident that it will prove a popular choice with our customers."

The latest addition also serves to strengthen the company's position as one of Europe's largest Bombardier fleet operators which brings significant operational cost benefits.

In related news, last month the company bid a final farewell to its last Learjet 55. The aircraft, S/N 124, took off from Nuremberg on August 29 for its new home in Mexico where it will continue operations with air ambulance operator, Med Jets.

Axtmann comments: "We are obviously sad to say farewell to our last Learjet 55. It has proved to be an effective workhorse for FAI over the years. By focusing on the operation of only one type of the Learjet family, the Learjet 60 however, FAI anticipates greater efficiency through further cost savings in crew-training and spare part stocking."

With a total of eleven Learjet 60's in service, FAI continues to be the largest Learjet Bombardier 60 fleet operator worldwide.

Contributed by FAI Aviation Group