A few days off for annual maintenance

A little time away from  revenue generation for its annual 'medical' has been the order of the week  for G-RAJJ. 

So what happens when you need to  replace a soon to be time expired escape slide  during routine maintenance?

Well you can just remove and replace it it OR if you work for Cello, you can have a more interesting 5 minutes  with camera and team

An opportunity for  a little refresher  training for the crew

Missing revenue opportunities is always a difficult call and scheduling maintenance against diary periods  which are forecast as 'quiet times' and less invasive towards the revenue generating flying schedule is a bit of a dark art. However it has been achieved with limited down time over 5 days.

And so it's back into service for a full flying week ahead, touching 3 London airports plus  Nice, Faro, Blackpool  and Marseilles in the space of 7 days.

Out and About

Operating  around Europe sees yet another visit to Cello's favourite  Eastern European field Zilina,  for a French football club. Moving the aircraft to  Madrid on behalf of MTV, then back to  the UK for  a Premiership  football team and then on  across the channel to  support the European Parliament ,the aircraft has seen little of its Birmingham base over  the last 4 weeks .

Dispatch reliability for this aircraft  has exceeded even our expectations thanks in part to  a strategy of carrying an engineer and spares pack.

Cello is becoming the carrier of choice for customers  requiring access to  tight European fields  with Auxerre also featuring in the recent operation for an Italian football team.  

It seems certain brokers are still not aware of Cello's  banking arrangements  whereby monies are paid into a trustee account  offering protection  for the customer and broker. Only after flight completion is that money released to  Cello Aviation.

Meanwhile the conference and event organisers  and European brokers were on the contact list for the Cello commercial team's  visit to  the  annual EIBTM  exhibition for travel organisers  in Barcelona .

An excellent exhibition with many good contact made, marred only by  the issue of snow in parts of Europe preventing many visitors  from reaching  Barcelona

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Cello Aviation is open for service!

Cello Aviation  is pleased to  advise the grant by the UK CAA of AOC and can formally receive requests for charter

The CAA Flight Operations Inspector  assigned to  us and the team at the CAA   provided the encouragement to  deliver the approvals and licence to  fly in record time .

Overall 18 months has been spent in total in the planning,  but the real visible changes  have been seen in the  months of 2010

In the space of 5 months we've gone from 

to

and from

to

and from

to

Many people go through their careers without  ever having the good fortune or opportunity to  be involved in creating a business  from  a green field site.

Some of us started earlier in the process- some later, but non  of us would have passed up the chance of being part of the creation.

We are open for business!-  CAA  AOC  GB2373

And now the fun really starts!!!

W: http://www.flycello.com/

B:  http://celloaviation.blogspot.com/

T: Uk(0)121 507 8700

E: charters@flycello.com

And wait a bit more !

Will this coming week be THE week?

We know how the little child in the back of the car feels - ''Are we nearly there yet??''

Trying to  coincide  the imminent AOC licence date with  contracting/revenue service flying is like trying to  hit a moving target whilst blindfolded and running through treacle.

The man from  the ministry  is with us next week  for what is hopefully  the final  'checks and balances' 3 days with the last task being the proving flight planned for  the final day.

Celloland commercial life carries on forward  with approval received as preferred supplier for the London 2012 Olympics.  Theres nothing like planning ahead, given the  situation  where 2 of the Olympic teams are  based in the Birmingham area during the event  and the football program is taking place across the UK.

Waiting----just waiting. Roll on next week .

W: http://www.flycello.com/
B: http://celloaviation.blogspot.com/
E: charters@flycello.com
T  UK(0)121 507 8700

Hurry up and wait!

Never has a short 2  week period  felt more  like 6 months confinement  as we wait  for the one final piece of paper providing licence to operate.

The CAA surveyor  inspection  of the aircraft  has been completed satisfactorily and the paperwork to   support that is on its way to us.
Every one is ready. All the crew training has been completed. We've established lines of communication  with brokers  and sports team travel agents in the UK and around Europe.
The broker day visits are complete and the aircraft is polished,serviceable and ready.
Quotation software is tested, live, the contracts are ready for  mailing and the Bank accounts are ready.
The website has been updated with that Cello touch  after an aircraft photo shoot last week and Flycello's  facebook  and twitter sites seem to have found a large following too.


The aircraft's  even slipped onto  you tube  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-DECE8uDB0

Hurry up and Wait!

W: http://www.flycello.com/
B:  celloaviation.blogspot.com
E: charters@flycello.com
T: UK(0) 121 507 8700

Are we there yet??

Weekend of the 29th/30th saw  the aircraft  operate 10 pre-service entry sectors in line with the  CAA approvals process . Seen here taxiing for departure to  Liverpool, many  of the UK's northern airports  were visited.
Each flight  was treated  as   a 'commercial  flight' for the purposes of testing the processes,systems and on board product delivery

This view will become a familiar sight at Birmingham(and many other European Airports) over the next  months

The man from  the ministry arrived for 3 days to discuss the  manuals and processes   inspections-a few amendments identified to be achieved. The operators certificate within touching distance, and achieved  within a timescale significantly less than any  previous AOC grant.

Pushback tractor, even the GPU  have been given a makeover.

Just in case anyone has forgotten the name of the airline!

Follow the airline from  this week on  Facebook  and Twitter (Flycello)

W: http://www.flycello.com/

B: http//celloaviation.blogspot.com

T UK (0) 121 507 8700

E: charters@flycello.com

It's not all designer passenger terminals and 10,000 foot runways

The beginning of the week brought some interesting requests for quotation. The  a.p.u and integral airstairs on  the ABJ  provide a high level of self sufficiency. Coupling this with a good short field performance  gives this aircraft type advantage  at the more remote regional airfields. Which is just aswell . Of the many requests for quotation  a couple already have requested  some of the remote European airfields with limited  support facilities- ideal for the ABJ.  It  looks like  the man with the key to the front gate will be providing the security checks, escorting the passengers to the aircraft, providing the re-fuelling and filing the flight plan in some instances! But if it's licensed  and can provide category 6 fire cover- we can go  there. It may save the customer  considerable ground transportation time to  actual destination compared with  the use of more distant but larger airfields.

A quick look at the Jeppesen airfield plates and the aircraft performance  charts will determine any payload / range restrictions.

Meanwhile the 'normal' charter requests for premiership sports teams closed season movements, entertainment industry tours  and car product launches continue to arrive.

G-RAJJ  will be visiting  other Uk midlands and northern airfields over the next few days  as it completes its  CAA required 10 sector proving flights 

So which lucky 3 will crew the first revenue flight?

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charters@flycello.com

Back in Birmingham

Things get  back  to normal  in the office after  a very successful week in Geneva - that is if anything at a start up carrier like Cello is normal!

The flight deck crew have one final slot in the sim next week to  complete the London City approvals, followed by 10 proving flights over 2 days in G-RAJJ

Considering the  airline was a complete unknown in the VIP air charter market 8 weeks ago, its gratifying to  see such a large number of  brokers and customers placing their faith  in this new product.
Since EBACE we 've been receiving  up to  10 requests a day  from UK and European brokers supporting  a wide range of customer types.

A new member of the marketing team, Vince Essex joins us as the business workload  increases to help with broker liaison.

We get the aircraft  for charter broker days on 26/27/28 May  at Birmingham, where we are scheduling group broker visits and separately, individual brokers with their guest customers . Email invitations are sent today, but there already seems to  be an overflow of demand and so the commercial team has  additionally reserved the aircraft  3 and 4 June against additional broker visit requests.
Any brokers who  have 'slipped through the net' are welcome to contact us at vince.essex@flycello.com  to  receive a broker day invitation.

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That's it -a successful EBACE is over

No rain , no wind  and the blue sky sees a rush of  visitors  from  the exhibition halls to  the aircraft static park .
Thursday proved to  be the busiest of the 3 days for the Cello staff  with the British and European  air charter brokers continuing to  not only visit the aircraft, but also  leave charter requests for quotation. One of the visiting UK brokers gets to  make the Business aviation press with a photo call in front  of  the Cello Aircraft.
The final count has yet to be done but early estimates are up to  200 air charter broker visits.
The 'competition'  are in attendence again - well it's a product different in quality from  anything else in the market  

More visitors from  the Middle East meet with BAe staff - the aircraft type already a success with the region's Presidential and Royal flightsin VVIP layout.

Same aircraft -different customers.  The smell of new leather ( and the occassional offer of something a little alcoholic) seems to  leave the visitors with that feeling of wellbeing!

And its all over . The doors are closed and the staff finally get 5 minutes to  relax before  prep'ing the aircraft  for a 1820 local  slot departure from  Geneva back to  the UK .

It's back to  Birmingham for the crew and staff while the aircraft  gets another 10 days in Southend  with the final shake down on the interior. The visitors don't see them - but the staff have a list of minor cabin cosmetic snags for remedial attention .

Attention to  detail  is what Cello Aviation is all about.

So back to the office to plan for UK broker days and broker guest days in Birmingham between 20 and 30 May

And its not just about the large air transports

What  an elegant 4 place interior  for this Embraer Phenom on the adjacent stand

  

What a great industry this is !!!

Cello at EBACE

The world of business aviation  has a European focus for three days in  early May  where customers, suppliers, manufacturers, wholesalers and aviation press gather in Geneva.

If  you're buying aircraft, selling aircraft, buying systems for aircraft , chartering aircraft or just interested in business aviation, this is the place to  be.
Whether your need is for 3 or 93 seats EBACE has an aircraft for you

Check out  EBACE at:   www.ebace.aero/

Cello will be exhibiting  the ABJ  in the static park for  the duration of the exhibition in conjunction with BAe Systems, the manufacturer of the aircraft. True to the concept of providing an adaptable colour scheme for customers, we are using a hybrid logo during the exhibition with BAe displaying its house colours in addition to the Cello scheme.

All visiting  air brokers are invited to  visit  Cello aviation during the exhibition.  We are expecting a large interest in the aircraft  from  the sporting team, product launch and entertainment industry sectors and also from prospective business jet purhasers who are seeking a managed aircraft solution to their ownership plans.

The interior is unique to  the European charter market  with 46 seats at 43' pitch .Integral air stairs and APU provide a high level of self sufficiency, even at the more remote  airfields

On return from  EBACE the aircraft should have the necessary approval  allowing it to enter revenue service. By then the cabin crew will  be eager to start earning their keep !

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tel:UK (0) 121 507 8700
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Breaking News ----Cello touches base at Birmingham

Wednesday 28  April 1730 and the focus of our attention for the last 4 months  finally parks up at its base at Birmingham International

Parked in front of the Iconic Elmdon building

After the  post refurbishment flights Monday 26th and Tuesday 27th  from  Southend, the Birmingham based Cello staff finally get to see the focus of their attention for the last 4 months. View the first post refurbishment  flight  at   http://www.facebook.com/v/1436227986613

Nearly every box now ticked - Some anticipated edits to the manuals required by the CAA and then just awaiting the sign offs  and we can finally carry revenue passengers

So how do you like  your new flying office ?The staff frustration at wanting to  get on with it  is now being replaced by excitement

Photo courtesy of Keith Burton

Sunday sees its  departure to  Geneva for the EBACE exhibition

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Next week is flying week

The waiting for approvals is nearly over .  Sunday we finally get our hands on the aircraft for pre-service test flying and route proving . Low level flying around the Manston area and upper air work around the east coast. Positive noises  coming from  the CAA  re approvals .  Cabin crew get  to  operate some dummy sectors  to  confirm cabin equipment operation and service delivery standards.

The real deal. No longer  just an artists impression.

Can we please get those seats bolted down. We have customers waiting!

Thank you !! I know we want to keep the seats looking good - but we will take the protective covers off .

The view half way through the seat fit process 7 days ago. The buffer time built into  the maintenance programme gets used in part- a seat alignment problem is resolved  but this delays aircraft completion by several days. As the aircraft completion  and the AOC  process run in parallel, the delay has no impact on the business start date.

As part of the flying programme next week, the aircraft will  be visiting  its base at Birmingham International before departing to Geneva  for a week

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http://celloaviation.blogspot.com/

tel: UK (0)121 507 8700

charters@flycello.com

Its 'Wings' day

Cabin staff  are 'up in the air' -  'taking off '- 'heads in the clouds' - 'flying high.' Yes- lets get rid of all the old cliches right at the start.
It was wings day Thursday where  the efforts of the Cello cabin crew over  the last 5 weeks  have finally been rewarded. Seen here at Birmingham Airport, the airline's base after receiving their wings from  the airline's CEO. Memories of the concert party in ''It ain't alf hot Mum''

Pool dunking , escape slide friction burns, endless lectures, CPR  simulation, modelling the latest fashion accessory- smoke hoods,  unruly passenger role play, written examinations and finally after all that -approval to  fly  for the long suffering cabin crew.
Time to pose with the CEO!

Another tick in the box  and  with less than 2 weeks until the crews finally get airborne. Flights will carry 3 cabin crew to  cover the 46 passenger configuration

Picture courtesy of aviation photographer Keith Burton

Meanwhile  the aircraft is now spending more time out of the hangar than in, as it approaches first post maintenance flight-Flight deck crew are ready for the route proving flights. Initially generally low level flying to  re-check systems  before a 'cold soak' at 29,000' to  check cabin pressurisation systems.

Charter requests are coming in for dates well into  next  year in parallel with requests for June and July

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The Office- no not the Ricky Gervais one

Well it depends  which office we're talking about.

Up at the sharp end. The  pilots' office - and not a laptop or PC in sight. Flight instruments and FMS powered up  to  check for serviceability

Ground floor office-the business end -not a pilot in sight . It's good to see a fully staffed office  in preparation for  commercial and operational service. Roll on May and revenue operations! The long 'to do' list slowly but surely being ticked off , even down to  the ordering of the  Hi-Viz jackets for the airside staff..

Loading foreign airfield charges in to the costing software. The aircraft's ability to operate into  even the smaller regional airports means details for  several hundred accessible airports within Europe are required. Obviously no small task . A turnaround time of 30 minutes for each charter request, even the complex itineraries is the target using this software.
 Booking contracts and customer terms and conditions are now written . A brief exploration this week of a different market segment, the UK/European luxury weddings market segment produced some surprising results - a market definitely worth pursuing.

So who is  Frank Kane? Its a long story.


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