Dubai Airshow: Hawking the Hawkers

The 400XTi is a completely rebuilt Beechjet 400A/XP with Williams FJ44-3AP engines and the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 integrated avionics suite.

Nextant president Sean McGeough, who formerly headed up Hawker Beechcraft, the creator of the 400A said: “More than 20% of the in-service 400A/XP fleet is committed to Nextant remanufacturing.”

Beechcraft, meanwhile, is fighting back with the news that it, too, is “receiving a high level of interest” in its upgrade programme for the 400A/XP, dubbed the 400XPR. It says its order book is full until Q3 2014.

The OEM adds that a combination of owners trying to sell small to mid-sized jets in the Middle East, plus a growing focus on cost, will fuel demand for its performance upgrade packages for Hawker 400 and 800 jet aircraft, combining improved avionics, new engines and Hawker winglets.

The company said: “Those looking to buy a jet can also purchase a 400XPR or 800XPR at a price that is around half that of a comparable new aircraft.”

Beechcraft also reveals that around 11.2% of the Middle Eastern light and medium-sized jet market (56 aircraft) is for sale, indicating it is a buyers’ market.