Second Hawker 800 Added to Charter Certificate

The newest Hawker 800A with the XPR upgrade on the Elite Air charter certificate gives customers another midsize option for trips from coast to coast.

Elite Air has added a second workhorse Hawker 800 to its charter certificate, giving passengers another affordable option in the midsize jet class out of the St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE).

“The Hawker is one of our most popular charter aircraft,” Elite Air Marketing and Sales Director AJ Becker said. “Now, when one of our Hawkers is on the road or in the air—which is often—we’ll be able to offer customers a second option.”

The Hawker 800A with the XPR upgrade seats up to eight passengers and has a range of 2,900 miles. The XPR upgrade offers increased stability and more efficient operations compared to its predecessor. The aircraft is capable of 447 knots at 37,000 feet of altitude. For long-range flights, it operates best at 400 knots at 39,000 feet

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“This aircraft gives our customers a second, nearly identical midsize that falls neatly between our extensive light options and our super midsize jets,” Becker said.

Crewed by a team that includes Tom Rissmiller, Drew Spiros, Bruce Bartling and Doug Downer, the Elite Air-managed Hawkers are “stable and comfortable,” according to Rissmiller. “And its range is good for that size airplane,” he said.

The 800XPR is capable of coast-to-coast flights at industry-leading values. Rissmiller, who has more than 15,000 total hours and more than 5,000 hours in Hawkers, said the team of first officers is “the best in the business.”

According to Elite Air CEO Gray Gibbs, the company’s familiarity with the Hawker 800 and how to operate it make the new airframe a perfect addition to the charter certificate.

“We’ve been flying Hawkers for more than a decade,” he said. “This is a platform that we know how to crew, maintain, stock and market. We expect it to be another strong contributor in our fleet of charter jets.”