I N T E R V I E W
BUSINESS AIRPORT INTERNATIONAL J U LY 2 0 1 9 |
69
Sundt Air is a stalwart of
European private aviation.
The Norwegian company,
which was founded in
1997, has diversified
significantly in several
ways over the last two decades. The
company’s evolution mirrors developments
in the industry in terms of management,
technology and sustainability.
Sundt Air is part of the Sundt Group
of aviation companies. Geir Jensen,
accountable manager of Sundt Air is
responsible for all aspects of the business
on a day-to-day basis, from maintenance
to flight operations. When Jensen joined
the company nine years ago it was a more
straightforward business. “The Group
started as an air ambulance company
and evolved into aircraft management, VIP
handling, executive charter, maintenance
and flight inspection operations. During the
last ten years there has been a shift towards
airborne surveillance operations and aircraft
qualification,” he says.
Sundt Air can modify and operate aircraft
to meet customer needs. The maintenance
department has as one of its projects
modified a Beech King Air 200 and a Beech
King Air 350ER and installed equipment
for airborne surveillance. The equipment
was made by another company in the
Sundt Group – Norwegian Special Mission
(NSM). NSM makes management systems
for special missions, and Sundt Air and
NSM often partner on projects. The King
Airs are now operated by Sundt, conducting
surveillance of the Norwegian coast and
territorial waters for the Norwegian Costal
Authority, and carrying out surveillance and
pollution control of Danish territorial waters
for Defense Control Denmark.
The Group’s engineering capability was
enhanced further last year when it acquired
design company Aviation Engineering. The
company is EASA approved as a Part 21
Design Organization, enabling the Sundt
Group to offer design and certification
of aircraft modifications inhouse as well
as consultancy services. It’s part of a
comprehensive aviation package that
Sundt Air is keen to grow. “We offer a
turnkey solution. We can buy an aircraft for
a client, modify it and then fly it for them,”
says Jensen. “Our focus moving forward
for special missions is in two segments –
design and modification for end clients and
the modification followed by contracts for
operating the aircraft.”
In partnership with Textron and NSM,
Sundt Air is currently modifying three
Latitudes into Special Mission aircraft.
Government contracts and tenders take
years to win and Sundt Air has to work
closely with different manufacturers on
aircraft modifications. “Each tender and
operations contract is different, so we have
to be very flexible. Our fleet is very diverse,
maintenance and engineering has to be
open and flexible to everything.”
Management and operations
Despite the growth in special missions, its
charter operations and aircraft management
businesses remain core to Sundt Air and
provide a solid base from which other
opportunities can be grown. “Things have
been developed a few steps further than
what they were originally. But our VIP
operations, aircraft management and charter
operations will always be there, it’s the
foundation of our business,” says Jensen.
“Aircraft management and charter
operations is difficult to control. You have to
“We offer a turnkey solution. We can buy an aircraft
for a client, modify it and then fly it for them”