The aircraft will receive Starlink high-speed inflight wi-fi, reflecting a connectivity standard that an increasing number of private aviation passengers now expect. AB Jets provides complimentary onboard connectivity.
AB Jets has taken delivery of its third new Bombardier Challenger 3500, completing the three-aircraft order the company announced as its ‘hat trick’ at NBAA-BACE in 2023.
For founder and president Andrew Bettis, the arrival marks more than the completion of an aircraft order. It represents the execution of a long-term plan to expand AB Jets’ capabilities while remaining true to the standards that have guided the US business jet operator throughout its 27-year history.
“When we announced the hat trick, we knew exactly what we wanted these aircraft to represent for AB Jets: the next generation of our fleet without compromising the way we operate,” comments Bettis. “Now all three are here. That’s a milestone worth celebrating, but what matters most is what comes next: putting another exceptional aircraft into service for our clients and doing it the right way.”
Before entering charter service, the newest Challenger 3500 is undergoing the same deliberate post-delivery preparation AB Jets has made a hallmark of its Challenger programme.
The aircraft will receive Starlink high-speed inflight wi-fi, reflecting a connectivity standard that an increasing number of private aviation passengers now expect. AB Jets provides complimentary Starlink connectivity aboard its Challenger 3500 fleet, allowing passengers to remain connected for work, streaming, video calls and other bandwidth-intensive uses.
The aircraft’s thrust reversers and inlets have also been sent to Quiet Technology Aerospace for specialised upgrades. The factory components will be enhanced with QTA’s titanium thrust reverser solution, designed to eliminate the corrosion concerns traditionally associated with the components, along with carbon-fibre inlet modifications that provide added durability and noise-dampening benefits.
For AB Jets, those modifications are not simply upgrades. They reflect a preventative approach to aircraft ownership and maintenance: address known issues before they become operational problems. This strategy reflects the spirit behind the company’s call sign: Fortitude.
“We have the advantage of knowing these airplanes are going to work hard,” shares David Turner, co-owner and director of operations. “Our responsibility is to prepare them for that from day one. Starlink improves the experience in the cabin, while the QTA modifications are about reliability, longevity and reducing the possibility of avoidable downtime. We want a no-excuses airplane, and we make the investments necessary to create one.”
The third Challenger 3500 joins two sister aircraft already operating in AB Jets’ charter fleet. Together, the aircraft significantly expand the operator’s floating fleet range and super midsize capabilities, complementing its established Learjet 60 fleet.
The Challenger 3500 offers a 3,400nm range, seating for up to nine passengers and a cabin designed around long-range comfort, with reduced cabin altitude, exceptionally quiet acoustics, fully reclining seating and advanced cabin technology.
With all three aircraft now delivered, the company has reached a milestone several years in the making. The moment comes as the ARGUS Platinum-rated operator marks 27 years of continuous operation, having grown from a single aircraft in 1999 into a nationally recognised charter operator with an expanding super midsize fleet.
“The hat trick started as a bold commitment to where we believed AB Jets was going,” continues Bettis. “Today, it’s sitting in our hangar. Three Challenger 3500s, owned by AB Jets, operated by AB Jets and built for charter. We’re proud of what our team has accomplished and even more excited about what these aircraft allow us to do next.”
AB Jets expects post-delivery modifications to be completed and the newest Challenger 3500 to enter charter service in mid-September.
