First Phoenix Exec CRJ Nears Delivery

Dubai-based Project Phoenix is the latest company to bring a corporate Bombardier CRJ variant to market, with its first example due to be accepted by owner Ritz Pacific before the end of next month. Completion of the modified regional jet was contracted to Peterborough, Ontario-based Flying Colours, which also has produced its own ExecLiner and Jetcorp Renaissance Series CRJ executive conversions. The U.S.-registered Phoenix CRJ, formerly flown by Independence Air, will be operated by Jet Asia of Macau. A second example has been ordered by Egyptian actor and film-maker Yousef Mansour. Meanwhile, marketing of Phoenix CRJs in Russia and the Middle East, originally provided by UK aircraft sales company Action Aviation, now has been taken in-house with former Action Aviation managing director Mike Creed appointed vice president of sales. Tucson-based David Barker is appointed sales director and will cover the western U.S. Flying Colours has completed five other CRJ conversions and has a further five under way. CRJ conversion programs are also offered by MJet and Tailwind Aviation.