Jet Charter Spain

A co-founder of a charter company whose jet crashed while taking off from Teterboro Airport admitted late last month that he schemed to defraud charter customers and the FAA, launching roughly 100 illegal flights that netted more than $1 million.

Andre Budhan, 42, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., pleaded guilty to the lead count of a 23-count Indictment, charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to defraud the United States.

Budhan was a managing member of now-defunct Platinum Jet Management, which operated for a year without a required FAA-issued certificate for on-demand commercial flights.

Yet the company solicited and flew charter flight customers without telling them the truth, Budhan admitted.

Clients included Beyonce, Jay Z and Snoop Dogg, as well as investment bank members -- who were aboard in 2005 when one of Platinum's charter flights blasted through a fence at Teterboro and careened across Route 46, clipping several vehicles along the way, before smashing into a furniture warehouse on the other side.

Under federal sentencing guidelines, U.S. District Judge Joseph A. Greenaway, Jr. could send Budhan to prison for a little over four years and fine him several hundred thousand dollars on Oct. 5. The plea agreement also includes restitution.

Budhan remains free on a $250,000 secured bond.

Five co-defendants have pleaded not guilty to charges in the case, with a trial scheduled to begin before Greenaway on Jan. 19.

Those charged continually committed "willful violations of regulatory requirements for the operation of commercial charter aircraft," undertaking and conceling dangerous fueling and weight distribution, according to a federal indictment.

By taking an "anything goes" attitude, those charged routinely violated guidelines designed to prevent such crashes.

Because of deliberate "overtankering" of fuel, which unsafely pushed the center of gravity forward, the jet couldn't get off the ground, prosecutors allege in the 23-count indictment.

Grand jurors agreed that the defendants participated in the scheme in order to cut costs and take advantage of less expensive fuel contracts at Teterboro and other locations.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ralph J. Marra, Jr. credited Special Agents of the Department of Transportation Office of the Inspector General for their work in obtaining Budhan's guilty plea.

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Royal Jet's Fixed Base Operations (FBO) facility continues to receive global recognition, with a hat-trick of notable awards coming in recent weeks.

In a survey of its pilot readership, Aviation International News (A.I.N) magazine has once again voted it the Best FBO in the Middle East and also ranked it amongst the world's best, while Professional Pilot magazine’s 36th annual PRASE (Preferences Regarding Aviation Services and Equipment) Survey ranked it Best Middle East and African FBO.

These two accolades follow hot on the heels of another award for the FBO facility of the Abu Dhabi-headquartered, international luxury executive flight service company - with Best Fixed Base Operator (Middle East) in the UK-based, ‘Business Destinations’ Travel Awards 2009.

“What is significant about these awards is that the nominations have been made by the people who most regularly use our facility and compare them to other facilities around the globe,” says Royal Jet's President&CEO, Shane O'Hare. “They are the people – the pilots and passengers - who understand the subtleties of operating in the Middle East and truly appreciate the very highest level of service that we deliver.”

The private charter group, chaired by His Excellency Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, has its own purpose-built VIP Terminal and operational facility, which it has run since 2003, close to Terminal 2 of Abu Dhabi International Airport.

A 24-hour operation that handles up to 300 aircraft movements a month, with year-on-year growth of 20 per cent, Royal Jet’s FBO facilities include passenger handling, catering, hangar parking, an aircraft ramp, maintenance services, refuelling services, ground support and on board cleaning. For Royal Jet’s guests, the VIP terminal offers executive lounges with conferencing rooms, red carpet and limousine service, exclusive hostess, valet and full security services including customs and immigration.

O’Hare adds that the company is currently in discussion with Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) regarding the new Al Bateen Executive Airport.

“Al Bateen Executive Airport is a great initiative of Abu Dhabi Airports, facilitating easier arrivals and departures from the capital’s city centre,” he said. “Full certification of Al Bateen is expected this summer following a US $54.5 million upgrade programme to convert the facility from the current military base to a private jet airport. This will enable us to build on our success, which has come about as a result of our high quality, luxury services which in part comes about as a consequence of our pedigree that reflects our founding by the Abu Dhabi Presidential Flight Authority. This is reflected in every facet of our business right through to our FBO facilities today,” he adds.

Royal Jet has been active in diversifying its business to encompass a range of offerings, including its Fixed Base Operations, Royal Jet Medical Evacuation Services, Royal Jet Charter Brokerage and Aircraft Management services. It is constantly improving its customer experience, and is currently refurbishing all five of its Boeing Business Jets. Royal Jet has also recently launched a ‘world-first’ by becoming the only private jet charter company to offer its guests a personal chef, providing them with bespoke gourmet dining based on their own individual preferences.

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