Diamond D-JET Flies to Air Taxis
Despite the fact it is marketing the D-JET to the owner operator, Diamond Aircraft announced fleet sales to two air taxi operators – YourJet and SwiftJet – both of which are planning to start up shortly. The sales came in the wake of the aircraft’s first flight with its new engine.

D-JET Flies with New Engine
The first flight of the D-JET with the new Williams FJ33-5A engine flew October 5 on the eve of the National Business Aviation Association show last week.
“This is an important milestone for the D-JET program as we will be using this and subsequent aircraft for actual certification flights,” said Peter Maurer, President of Diamond Aircraft.
The Williams FJ33-5A-19 advantages include several technological advances that result in better bleed air handling and improved specific fuel consumption. With a 1,900-lb nominal thrust versus 1,564 lbs for the originally planned FJ33-4A-15, the 'FJ33-19' also offers a potential future performance upgrade path for the D-JET. Williams International's accelerated development schedule of the FJ33-19 has made it viable to proactively launch D-JET deliveries with this engine rather than reactively introducing it at a later date in response to competitive pressures. However, the switch means initial certification will slip in 2009 with deliveries beginning in 2010.
D-JET S/N 003, flown by Chief Test Pilot Daniel Ribeiro and Flight Test Engineer Gerard Struthers, departed from Diamond Aircraft's London, Ontario facility for a successful 1.4-hour flight with completion of all intended test points.
Serial number 003, originally powered by the Williams FJ33-15 engine, first flew on April 14th. Following Diamond’s decision in March to upgrade from the FJ33-15 to the FJ33-5A (formerly designated FJ33-19), S/N 003 was reconfigured to accept the new engine, with new engine inlets and fairings, as well as other detail aerodynamic modifications, including the production version of the winglets.
Although the D-JET will be certified initially with a de-rated version of the FJ33-5A engine, the configuration is designed to accept the higher thrust rating that Williams International plans to release in future, based on the expected successful in-service experience with the current engine. “When Williams introduced the new engine, we had to decide whether to continue with the original FJ33-15 or upgrade to the FJ33-5A right away, even if it meant a program delay,” added Maurer. “In the interest of all D-JET owners, we chose to upgrade to the larger engine and create an optional future performance upgrade path. This decision has been universally welcomed by our customers, as it will preserve the value of even the first delivered aircraft.”

Six D-Jets for YourJet
YourJet may be the first air taxi company using the Diamond D-JET as its operating platform after ordering six, with options for additional aircraft. The fledgling company will launch from its Louisville, Kentucky base later this year with a Diamond DA42. YourJet CEO Todd House cited airline capacity cuts as making it a good time to begin service.
“Scheduled airlines are pulling out of small, regional airports so they are literally giving us the regional market,” said House, founder of YourJet. “Service cutbacks by the major and regional air carriers are paving the way for the emerging, per-seat, on-demand, air taxi services. Our business model will give business and vacation travelers better service than they had before. The D-JET provides the right combination of comfort, efficiency and capability to take full advantage of the company's geographic location in Kentucky, which is central to population centers throughout the eastern, Midwestern and southern United States.”
House indicated there are 4,300 airports within a 700-mile radius of Louisville. YourJet plans to operate the aircraft in an area roughly bounded by the New York Metro area to the northeast, the entire east coast as far south as Daytona, Florida, south to New Orleans, west beyond Kansas City and north to Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit and Toronto. YourJet plans to use several Diamond DA42 twin-engine turbo-diesel aircraft to augment the company's fleet of D-JETs over the next several years.
“Air taxi operators can meet an important need for the flying public, and the D-JET offers attributes that make it ideal for this mission,” said Maurer. “The spacious, comfortable cabin makes flying enjoyable for passengers, while the aircraft's overall design contributes to great operating economics for the operator. We are pleased that YourJet has placed its confidence in the D-JET and the DA42 for its air taxi operation.”

Five D-JETs for New Affordable Charter Service
SwiftJet placed a major order for the Diamond D-JET personal jet to support the launch of SwiftJet's new charter travel service across Canada. SwiftJet purchased five D-JET aircraft, securing an additional 10 options, with aircraft deliveries to begin in 2010. With the purchase of all 15 aircraft, SwiftJet would become the largest operator of D-JETs in Canada, and the first charter customer in Canada to take delivery of a D-JET. SwiftJet expects to "re-define chartered travel and turn it into a hassle-free low cost, private class option."
“We designed the D-JET to be the most desirable and attainable personal jet, so more people can afford to enjoy the benefits of private jet travel,” said Peter Maurer, president of Diamond Aircraft. “From owner-pilots to commercial operators, a large and growing number of customers are embracing the D-JET as we progress toward certification next year. This new kind of aircraft enables new kinds of innovative business models, and we are delighted SwiftJet has chosen the D-JET for its fleet.”
“The D-JE was designed to be an affordable personal jet, and soon 20.1 million business travellers in Canada will be able to benefit from the same cost savings,” said Bassam Al-Sarraj, president of SwiftJet and a commercial pilot with 14 years of experience. “SwiftJet will re-define chartered travel and turn it into a hassle-free, low cost, private class option that's not just for the wealthy, but for anyone who demands efficiency. Travelers will have the flexibility to travel when and where they want, saving the expense of indirect flights and free from delays caused by cancellations and long line-ups at customs.”
Al-Sarraj cited the jet’s ability to land and take off from many small landing strips in Canada. “It's the ideal solution for small to mid-sized businesses looking to expand their markets outside the traditional airline air corridors,” said Al-Sarraj. “For example, the Peterborough to Windsor corridor could take less than one hour from the time the passengers step on the plane until they get off. Considering that the drive to Windsor would take 5.5 hrs not including traffic, flying on D-JET makes good business sense.”

Diamond Aircraft selects ATP for D-JET Flight Training
Diamond Aircraft selected ATP (Airline Transport Professionals) will provide factory-authorized initial and recurrent type rating flight training for the Diamond D-JET personal jet.
“The D-JET is designed primarily for the owner/pilot market and, as such, the type rating training needs to be different than conventional business jet type training,” said Maurer. “ATP has a well-proven track record of transitioning piston pilots to jet aircraft, and they offer an established network covering the continental USA. The initial type training is one thing, but to keep D-JET pilots current and safe, we feel that accessible and convenient recurrent training and ready access to instructor and safety pilots is very important. ATP offers all of these, and as our D-JET fleet grows, so will the number of ATP D-JET training centers across North America. We are pleased that ATP is not only a very good customer, but that this partnership will add value and convenience to the D-JET ownership experience for all customers.”
In November 2006, ATP announced its purchase of 20 D-JETs, plus options, as well as five (5) Diamond Simulation D-JET Flight Training Devices (FTDs). With this fleet, ATP will not only offer professional jet flight training, but will also offer use of these aircraft to D-JET owners such that they can obtain training and type rating prior to taking delivery of their own aircraft.
With a demonstrated ability to manage a fleet of more than 140 high-utilization aircraft that flew more than 140,000 training hours last year, ATP also will offer expanded services to D-JET pilots, including pre-type rating training, mentoring, aircraft management, aircraft positioning, and factory authorized aircraft service, in addition to the training services.
“ATP chose the D-JET because it will provide cost effective actual jet experience to our U.S. and international Career Pilot training market,” said Derrick Dennis, president of ATP. “By integrating the D-JET into our career training programs, D-JET buyers will gain access to a pre-established network of training centers, maintenance centers, dispatch capabilities, and ATP's Pilot Network. This level of access will make the D-JET even simpler and more convenient to own and fly.”
ATP and Diamond will release type training program details progressively, as the D-JET nears customer delivery.