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Business Air News
The monthly news publication for aviation professionals.
The monthly news publication for aviation professionals.

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GSR's managed Avanti leads to low fuel costs and passer-by compliments
Private management company GSR Aviation, based at Prestwick in Scotland, has had a promising first six months with its managed Piaggio Avanti II.
Read this story in our April 2017 printed issue.

Private management company GSR Aviation, based at Prestwick in Scotland, has had a promising first six months with its managed Piaggio Avanti II. The aircraft has flown more than 200 hours, and while MD Gregor Ramsay admits that there have been 'teething problems', he considers the Avanti a very innovative and cost-efficient machine.

“I've been flying and managing aircraft for about 10 years; initially Hawkers and Falcons,” he tells EBAN. “We are a small company, providing a tailored service to owners. We took on the Avanti II last August, and it has provided an interesting change from our previous projects. It does some very clever things and is incredibly cheap to operate. Maintenance has been conducted by Thurston Aviation in Bournemouth.

“It hasn't been a trouble-free six months, but Thurston has been incredibly supportive and worked through all of them. The team there is more used to dealing with Gulfstream, Dassault and Hawker types, but has adapted well to the Piaggio.”

Ramsay believes that the OEM has built a beautiful-looking aircraft and says that he has never received so many compliments from passers-by.

“The owners use it all over Europe and sometimes slightly further afield,” he continues. “The maximum fuel load is 2,800 lbs, with a cabin size comparable to an Excel. It has a range of 1,500 nm and is certified to 41,000 ft. Cruising around Mach 0.66 at about 35,000 ft, the aircraft has steep approach and London City capability.”

The Avanti can be flown using a single pilot, however for safety reasons GSR always uses a second pilot when passengers are on board. Transcal in Livingston gave the aircraft new seats and sidewalls, transforming the factory interior.

“It has a couple of oddities, as most aircraft do,” Ramsay explains. “Piaggio fitted it with carbon brakes without anti-skid. However I believe this now comes as standard on the EVO.”