Phoenix Knights

Mike Cappuccitti is a man who is prepared to follow a dream when he believes it is real and after years running the Middle East operation for business jet manufacturer Bombardier he had the courage of his convictions to move on from the comforts of corporate life and instead 'put his money where is mouth is' and launch Project Phoenix, reports Alan Peaford.

Project Leaders: John Lawson, Kevin Hoffman and Mike Cappuccitti breathing new life into the CRJ programme

That was three years ago – and on June 12^th Cappuccitti’s dream became a reality when the first specification Phoenix CRJ (Serial No 7211) took to the air for 1 hour 10 minutes from completion centre Flying Colours’ facility at Peterborough, Ontario.

With the support of former Bombardier aerospace president John Lawson as a special advisor and a partnership with design specialist Kevin Hoffman, who designed Global express, as his co-chairman, Cappuccitti is convinced that the market in the Middle East and Asia is the right one for the new-look aircraft.

The aircraft’s elegant, new 15 seat luxury interior includes a state-of-the-art cabin management system and IFE, with Airshow 4000, ipod stations and full internet and Satcom communications. The aircraft with its clean and stylish interior has been well received by both owner Ritz Pacific and Jet Asia (which will fly the aircraft on its AOC).

“There is a big difference between other conversions and the Phoenix CRJ,” says Lawson. “During my time at Bombardier I pushed to get this aircraft into the market. It has a cabin like the Global Express with a range that maybe shorter but actually is ideal for most of the missions that are carried out. There is a significant cost difference. The Phoenix CRJ is built for specific owners.”

Cappuccitti continues to run the Project Phoenix operation from Dubai. “We really are a global business,” he says, “The completions and design work is done in Montreal but the sales operation stems from here. I am convinced that as people in this part of the world see the standards that we are reaching the demand will increase.”

The results from the first aircraft have been pleasing with improvements in weight over the projected specifications. The Phoenix CRJ now has a payload of more than 1,200lbs with full fuel including the long range auxiliary tank – which equates to six passengers; compared to Bombardier’s CL850 which has a full fuel payload of less than 200lbs (approximately one passenger) with the same high specification.

“This is extremely gratifying news and pretty much what we predicted. Well done to Flying Colours for their weight reduction program.” Cappuccitti said .

Phoenix CRJ No 1 has been fitted with Flying Colours own long range fuel tanks, providing a maximum range in excess of 3,000 nm and giving US coast-to-coast capability

The sales team has been strengthened with the arrival of Mike Creed from Dubai based Action Aviation to head the international sales team. “Having believed wholeheartedly in the Project Phoenix offering and actually helped draw up the business plan with Mike Cappuccitti three years ago I am delighted to be in-house working with such a professional team,” he said. “Despite the economic gloom, we are seeing a lot of interest, especially in the Middle East where the market is becoming increasingly cost conscious.”

Phoenix is also likely to extend its offering with a second model – the Boeing 737, which could take the company head to head with Boeing Business Jets.

"What we have done with the CRJ is taken a very good airplane and made it even better," Cappuccitti says. "It took us a lot longer than we planned to deliver the first aircraft due to changes in the STC for the tanks on the conversion. But we are now looking at other possibilities.

"The Boeing 737-300 and 737-500 are ideal vehicles. There are plenty of them around and provided we can get the STCs sorted out, we believe there will be demand for the quality that we are delivering on the Phoenix CJ200."

"There is a lot of interest in what we are doing," says Cappuccitti. "This is very different from other conversion projects. We are building a brand. We don't buy the used aircraft on spec, we do it when we know what the customer needs. When we get the aircraft the engines are sent back for a complete overhaul, we take out the gear and send that back and then we work on the interior. The interior design and finish is of a different quality. It will only be a Phoenix if it meets that quality standard.

"We have the approach of an OEM. We stick with the customer after the sale. We have power-by-the-hour with Lufthansa Technik-supported eJet programme; we give the Medaire training for crew and have special rates with CAE. The real difference is quality and our CRJs are more akin to a Global than a Challenger."

The current world economic downturn has led to more interest in the model and also led to a weakening in the purchase price, but Cappuccitti says the underlying business model of getting an aircraft delivered in 12 months is still attractive.

"That's why we think we can succeed with other models, "he says. "The 737 is an ideal platform and we are also looking at the BAe146.”

Project Phoenix has also signed an agreement with Spectrum Aeromed to develop a variant of the CRJ either a dedicated air ambulance or with quick change fit option.