Basic Questions About Lufthansa Private Jet
 

I have seen its website and I have conducted a pprune search but I wish to have some basic questions answered by those people in the know. Can anyone answer the following questions:

1. I see the fleet description includes the CJ3, XLS and CL850 (converted from Cityline?). Does anyone know how many are operated at this time and how many are on order? I realise the poor economy may impact delivery schedules/plans.

2. For those pilots who have been hired, are they current Lufthansa-related pilots or from the outside (i.e., hired away from Vista Jet, DC Aviation or Netjets, etc.)? Do they hire non-Lufthansa pilots? Can an internal Lufthansa pilot (mainline, Cargo, Cityline, etc.) bid for a slot at Lufthansa Private Jet?

3. Are there specific pilot domiciles? Are any located outside of Germany?

4. Any rough estimates of salary ranges and days off per month?

5. How are aircraft assignments made (i.e., pilot selected for XLS vs. CJ3)? Do you need time on type or is it based on availability?

6. Do you think LH will continue to fully support this operation with the current (and perhaps prolonged) difficult economy?

Thanks for any insight. PMs are welcome.

Same media release in english:

Swiss PrivateAviation

Zurich Airport, July 18, 2008

SWISS acquires Servair to operate as Swiss Private Aviation

SWISS acquired Zurich-based Servair Private Charter AG yesterday, July 17. Servair will henceforth be operated as Swiss Private Aviation AG, a fully-owned subsidiary of Swiss International Air Lines AG. The new acquisition should establish the SWISS Group in the business aviation sector and provide a platform for operating the Lufthansa Private Jet fleet.

SWISS Private will be based at Zurich Airport and will provide specialist services in the aircraft management and commercial charter fields. With demand for executive charter flights currently showing sizeable growth, SWISS has decided to enter this segment through SWISS Private, and will use its new subsidiary to offer aircraft management services to private clients and companies. The new activities envisaged include providing assistance and advice on procuring and introducing new executive jets, planning and performing flight operations, recruiting and supplying crews, handling, catering and arranging the requisite maintenance, repair and overhaul services on the customer's behalf.

"The business aviation sector is expanding faster than general market growth, and is clearly more downturn-resistant, too," explains SWISS CEO Christoph Franz. "We want to enter this market with SWISS Private. As a result, our future customers in this business segment will enjoy all the strengths and benefits that SWISS can offer as an industry leader in safety and reliability terms."

Swiss Private Aviation AG also provides a new platform for operating the Lufthansa Private Jet (LPJ) fleet, which has been entrusted to the care of SWISS's Swiss European Air Lines subsidiary. From spring 2009 onwards, the LPJ fleet should be operated under SWISS Private's air operator's certificate. Lufthansa will retain commercial responsibility – including product design, marketing, distribution and customer management – for the LPJ fleet.

SWISS Private is recruiting its own corps of pilots for its LPJ operations. The first commercial LPJ services were operated at the beginning of July. The LPJ fleet will be integrated into SWISS Private once the relevant IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) has been completed and the corresponding certification obtained.

"In SWISS Private we are providing ourselves with an ideal platform for operating our new LPJ fleet," says SWISS Chief Operating Officer Gaudenz Ambühl. "We're also giving ourselves an overall operating framework that pays due and full regard to the differing needs of our established scheduled services and our new business aviation activities."

Servair, which was founded in 1984 and currently has a workforce of eight personnel, will continue to be led as SWISS Private by its present management team. The new acquisition will be a fully-owned direct subsidiary of Swiss International Air Lines AG. The parties have agreed not to divulge the purchase price involved.

1. At the moment two CJ3's are in use. Two XLS+ will arrive on the 16th. March. They should have been delivered at the beginning of March but Cessna have slowed down the production line to keep it active. An order for two other aircraft is on hold at the moment. Should be operational in April sometime.

2. Most of the pilots presently employed are ex Swissair/Crossair/Swiss and a couple or so more from other airlines.
The project is being run by Swiss on behalf of LH under the guise of Swiss Private Aviation.....

3. The crew base is Zurich

4. Salary dependent on part time or full time employment.
Full time will generally be 6 on 4 off but might be altered occasionally if deemed necessary to fulfil rostering requirements.

5. Pilots recently selected for the XLS+ will fly that type and some of those already on CJ3 have and will be converted.

6. Both Swiss Private and LH are fully committed to the project....at the moment and for the foreseeable future.

lepremier,

Great infos. Thank you for your response.

LPJ management change
 

VistaJet, one of the fastest growing business aviation companies, announces the appointment of Dr Gerald Wissel as Executive Vice President and Global Head of Charter Business.
Dr. Wissel (38) joins VistaJet from Lufthansa German Airlines where he spent over seven years and was responsible for LPJ.

Does anyone know who leads LPJ and why Wissel is gone?

Lufthansa Private Jet
 

Good afternoon!
Ist this company still alive? What types of aircraft are the operating?
Thx

Hello Bookkeeper,

From what I have read, they operate Citation aircraft including the CJ1, CJ3, XLS (and possibly the XLS+).

Evidently, the pilots operate out of an arm of Swissair (now related to Lufthansa). I have read that the number of aircraft in the fleet are growing.

They're flying 2 x CJ3 (HB-VWB + HB-VWC) + 2 XLS+ (HB-VWD + HB-VWE)
+ 1 Hawker 800

Thanks so far, does anyone know where to apply and what roster they have and what it is salarywise?