Learjet 60XR Charter Now Available Based Orlando FL

Charter operator Solairus Aviation adds the 2008 Learjet 60XR, N352XR, to it’s charter certificate. Formerly operated for charter by Elite Air, the Lear 60 is immediately available for charter from KMCO Orlando, and is within convenient positioning for north or south Florida.

Solairus Aviation Learjet 60XR based KMCO

Solairus Aviation Learjet 60XR based KMCO

The Lear 60XR features free onboard Wi-Fi and DVD/CD entertainment system for it’s 6-seat cabin.

The Solairus charter entire fleet grows to 41 aircraft nationwide this month, and is available only in FlightList PRO.

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Charter Operators Sign For New Avanti Evo

This week during the Paris Air Show Piaggio Aerospace signed two new contracts for its new generation Avanti Evo twin turboprop. Both are in the air charter business.

Piaggio Avanti Evo charter

The new Piaggio Avanti Evo to charter operators 2015

The new Avanti Evo seats up to 9 passengers in a cabin comparable with a midsize jet. Improvements include a 402 kt top cruise speed, much greater range, a quieter cabin than the Avanti and sea level cabin pressure up to 24,000 feet.

Zenith Aviation, based at London Biggin Hill Airport signed for an Avanti Evo and options for seven more. Zenith operates two Lear 45’s for charter, with a Citation XLS on the way.

Rozmey Air, a new company this year with charter operations in Malaysia signed for an Avanti Evo. The aircraft is planned to be based at Sultan Abdul Halim Airport in Alor Setar.

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New Tech Stop For Coast-to-Coast Flights?

Gone are the 1940’s era hangar and tiny FBO at Wyoming’s Laramie Regional Airport, KLAR, in the Southeastern corner of the state.

Laramie Wy Cowboy Aviation FBO

Laramie, Wyoming’s new 4,000 FBO Cowboy Aviation

In its place is a brand new 4,000 sq. ft. facility for the Avfuel-branded Cowboy Aviation, the airports single FBO. With 40,000 sq. ft. of hangar space, to accommodate up to a Citation X, the $2.3M project took 18 months to accomplish and includes an improved ramp, parking and landscaping.

The new facility sports a passenger lounge/lobby, pilot lounge with crew kitchen, two snooze rooms and a 15-seat conference room equipped with audio-visual equipment.

With an 8,500 ft. runway at 7,200 feet msl, Laramie is now an attractive option for cross-country tech stops. At posting time, Jet-A was $4.25.

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New Midsize Cross-Country Jet Coming To Charter 2015?

In typical clockwork fashion Cessna has achieved FAA type certification again, this time for the midsize Citation Latitude. This past Friday the Latitude won certification and is clear for deliveries to begin third quarter 2015.

With its first flight during February of last year, the aircraft began a fast-track test program in recent Cessna trend which resulted in its type rating certificate on schedule. NetJets is among the first customers for delivery with an existing order of 150 Latitudes. Others with orders for 2015 early delivery is a closely held list.

At first glance it’s likely a new midsize jet will be available for transcontinental non-stops this coming winter and springs as deliveries continue.

The Latitude is a midsize jet seating up to 9 with two standard cabin configurations, one featuring a club of four with two additional froward facing seats, a cabin-forward bench for two and a rear belted lav. The aircraft fits between the XLS and the Sovereign in the Citation lineup and the Latitude carries an outward resemblance of both. It is described as a superior, flat-floor, stand-up cabin, 6-feet tall, 77 inches wide and 21 feet long. the Latitude cabin is taller and wider than the Sovereign. Airspeed at 446 kts max cruise is similar to the Sovereign and XLS.

Another Coast-to-Coast Mid?
The Latitude offers a range of up to 2,850 NM. The Hawker 800XP, one of the most popular midsize charter jets known for coast-to-coast charter nonstops, has a published max range of 2,540 NM. Practical charter use will dictate, but at first glance its likely a new midsize jet will be available for transcontinental non-stops this coming winter and springs as deliveries continue.

If/when the coast-to-coast nonstop charter capability becomes reality, the Latitude should be a hot commodity in the midsize charter market.

2015 Cessna Citation Latitude

2015 Cessna Citation Latitude

Citation Latitude Cabin

Citation Latitude Cabin

Citation Latitude Cabin - forward bench for two

Citation Latitude Cabin – forward bench for two

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International Jet Management and Charter Operator Mena Aerospace Form Joint Venture

International Jet Management (IJM) and charter operator MAE Aircraft Management, a subsidiary of MENA Aerospace have entered into a Joint Venture in Bahrain.

MAE Aircraft Management’s operation is based at its Private Hangar at Bahrain International Airport, and holds an Aircraft Operating Certificate issued by the Kingdom of Bahrain’s Civil Aviation Affairs. The Joint Venture will promote, sell and coordinate V-VIP and corporate travel on chartered business jets.

The cooperation allows Austria-based IJM to further develop its business in the Middle East Region together with a well established and well respected aviation player in the region with an existing regional infrastructure and business network. The Joint Venture’s objective is to expand the aircraft management business and to provide superior service to the regional business jet charter market.

Felix Feller, founder and CEO of IJM said, “The cooperation and partnership with MENA Aerospace is the next step in our strategic and measured expansion. We believe there is a huge demand for aircraft management and charter solutions that are tailored to the growing Middle Eastern market. The know-how and experience of IJM in the field of aircraft management and charter services combined with MENA Aerospace’ regional infrastructure, local insight and business network will allow us to achieve our strategy for mutual growth.”

The existing business of IJM and its Austrian Air Operator Certificate will be not affected by this new partnership.

Dr. Mohamed Juman, MENA Aerospace’s managing director said, “We are certainly excited at the prospect of implementing this Joint Venture and offering the region superior private and business aviation solutions. We see our customers benefiting from the best of both worlds; An experienced European aircraft management and charter service provider, partnering with a mature, well-developed aviation services provider with regional presence and infrastructure. We are also very eager to support the Joint Venture operation with our technical support services and aircraft hangar facilities.”

– See more at: http://www.arabianaerospace.aero/international-jet-management-and-mena-aerospace-in-joint-venture.html

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Citation Encore Jets To The Desert

Charter operator Desert Jet has added a 2002 Citation Encore to their charter fleet, based KTRM Thermal, CA, adjacent to Palm Springs. The light cabin jet is available immediately and within easy re-positioning for any SoCal departures.

Comfortably seating seven passengers in a center-club configuration with a belted lavatory for an eighth passenger, the aircraft can fly distances of up to 1800 nautical miles. For example, Palm Springs to Chicago can be accomplished with ease, and at a maximum operating altitude of 45,000 feet.

In-cabin amenities include XM satellite radio, Bose noise-cancelling headsets, a satellite phone, a refreshment center, and a fully-enclosed lavatory.

Desert Jet’s charter fleet now numbers 7 Citation light jets. Full operator and fleet information is available in FlightList PRO.

Desert Jet Charter Citation Encore

Desert Jet’s new Citation Encore for charter

Desert Jet Charter Citation Encore

Desert Jet’s new Citation Encore for charter

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Rolling Stones Lease Swift Air B737, Give Plane Special Upgrade…

Rolling Stones’ private jet gets upgrade at KGSO

Rolling Stones Private Jet

H. SCOTT HOFFMANN/News & Record
Blaine Clark, Brady Stakes and Roger Stakes (l-r) from Solo Graphic install the Rolling Stones’ logo on a 737 jet in Greensboro, N.C. on Tuesday, June 2, 2015.

(Winston-Salem Journal, June 4 2015) – I can’t imagine the Rolling Stones’ jet without a plush couch, a bar, mirrors on the ceiling and bedrooms in the back.

Back when my life was devoted to term papers and SAT scores, I caught stories and photos of their depraved mid-air parties with the longing imagination only an adolescent boy can appreciate.

The tour plane I saw Tuesday resonated with one stark message: We’re all a lot older.

Especially the Stones.

Swift Air, which flies elite sports teams and pop stars around North America, was putting final touches on the Boeing 737-400 that will take the Stones on their 2015 “Zip Code” tour beginning this week.

Rolling Stones Tour Plane Interior

H. SCOTT HOFFMANN/News & Record
Boris Van Lier, chief operating officer at Swift Air, stands inside the Rolling Stones’ 737 jet that is being leased from Swift for the rock band’s North American tour.

The Phoenix-based company’s operations center is at Piedmont Triad International Airport, where it maintains the nine planes it uses for those contracts and leisure flights.

Inside, the plane was filled with comfortable brown, leather seats suitable for the Morgan Stanley board of directors.

But my inner adolescent beamed when I saw the white exterior plastered with the 10-foot crimson lips and tongue logo that has defined the Stones for 45 years.

Continued… Full article & photos here.

Courtesy Richard M. Barron/News & Record

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Gulfstream 550 changes operators in U.K.

Operator SaxonAir Charter LTD at Stansted, UK, has taken on management and charter of the 2012 Gulfstream 550, G-MRLX. Previously with Gama Aviation LTD, it began operation under SaxonAir in late May, and is the only G550 based at Stansted. With it’s 6,000 mile range it can fly nonstop to Los Angeles or Hong Kong. The ultra long range jet features Wi-Fi on board, individual passenger entertainment screens and seats 16 passengers with three cabin seating areas.

Three Gulfstream 550’s are available for charter in the UK, this one at EGSS Stansted and two at EGLF Farnborough.

SaxonAir Charter now operates a total of 9 aircraft in the wide variety categories of turboprop, very light, light and midsize jets, long range jet and helicopter. The SaxonAir Charter full fleet is available only in FlightList PRO.

SaxonAir Charter Gulfstream 550 based EGSS Stansted, UK

SaxonAir Charter Gulfstream 550 based EGSS Stansted, UK

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FlightList PRO Shares Anecdotes, Expands Features

FlightList PRO Air Charter Search Results

FlightList PRO Air Charter Search Results

Fresh off the latest update, FlightList PRO’s search features expanded last week with a new aircraft type search, fast new search interface, and plenty of jets that are missing in other services.

In the private air charter business, time is money. Users now can easily select multiple aircraft types along with any other search parameters to quickly locate the perfect aircraft-specific choices. Search results also display in an average 1.2 seconds.

Hundreds of jets and numerous operators in FlightList PRO are not found in other services. FlightList PRO automatically includes every certified aircraft and operator, and remains by far the most complete in the U.S., Europe and worldwide. Below are several actual anecdotes FlightList PRO recently shared with its users;

“Today charter operator Integrated Flight Resources, Inc. with their 5 light and midsize jets in the Chicago area told us, “‘We do not participate in Avinode®'”.

“Yesterday we updated Solairus Aviation’s new G-V on certificate, and were told that the same Sweden-based listing service is limited to 20 of their aircraft. Where are the other 19? FLP has all 39 nationwide.”

“To follow on, this week in the course of updating operators we learned of some others – Altius Aviation (Northeast US), Jet Edge (nationwide US) and Vertis Aviation (Europe) are missing numbers of aircraft in the other sourcing platforms. We know this is the case consistently but want to make sure YOU know these facts and the options you have with FLP not found elsewhere.”

With 8,289 aircraft and 1,777 operators in the US (16,631/3,419 worldwide), FlightList PRO is providing users more aircraft and operators in a professional platform, and more success booking charters. FlightList PRO subscriptions are $30/person ($90 for 3). A free 30-day trial is currently available.

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Now 5 Bay Area Charter Operators Offer Falcon 2000’s

CTP Aviation at KHWD Hayward, CA is adding a 2003 Falcon 2000EX new to charter. N104MT fresh with a registry change, seats 10 passengers and includes on board Wi-Fi internet.

Now 5 operators in the California Bay Area operate 7 Falcon 2000+ models for charter, based at Oakland, San Jose and now Hayward. Models include the Falcon 2000, 2000EX, 2000LX and 2000EX EASy. Passenger seats range from 8 to 12, and year makes are from 1995 to 2013.

Falcon 2000 models charter listing in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Falcon 2000 models for charter in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Falcon 2000EX New To Charter, operated by CTP Aviation

Falcon 2000EX New To Charter, operated by CTP Aviation

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New G-IVSP For Charter In South Florida

Prime Jet, LLC has added a 2000 Gulfstream IV-SP to it’s charter certificate, based KPMP Pompano Beach, FL.

This brings to 8 the number of heavy and ultra long range Gulfstreams operated by Prime Jet for charter, based around the world including in the U.S. (California, Arizona, Colorado, Florida), Taiwan and Malaysia.

This G-IVSP and the entire Prime Jet fleet are available ONLY in FlightList PRO.

Prime Jet Gulfstream IV-SP for charter based So. Florida

Prime Jet Gulfstream IV-SP for charter based So. Florida

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Operator Adds G550, GV and GIV-SP To Florida & Los Angeles

Charter operator Jet Edge International has added three new Gulfstream to it’s fleet. The newly delivered (2015) G550 and the GV are based in Florida, while the GIVSP is based in Los Angeles.

The additions bring Jet Edge’s charter fleet to a total of 34 super-midsize, heavy and ultra long range jets.

“The Jet Edge ultra long range fleet has grown to 10 aircraft, including Global 6000s, G650s, G550s and GVs in the past 12 months,” says David Erich, Chief Operating Officer of Jet Edge. “The ultra long range category has been a significant focus of Jet Edge over the past year, and it is gratifying to see the hard work of our entire team paying off.”

Jet Edge’s entire fleet is available ONLY in FlightList PRO.

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Broker Air Charter Service Opens Another Office

Aircraft charter brokerage Air Charter Service has announced the opening of its seventh European operation, in Geneva, Switzerland.

Andy Christie, the company’s Group Executive Jets Director, commented, “We recognized the necessity for an office in Switzerland a few years ago and felt that now was the right time to make the move, having established an already strong Swiss client base through our French and German operations.”

“We chose Geneva as it is an important hub for private aviation and a popular destination for many of our clients – we will benefit from having people on the ground here. A lot of our current clients are based here too and we are now not only closer to them, but we are also able to reach more new potential customers that we couldn’t before. Having a locally registered company and bank accounts will hopefully help us to win more clients that prefer a local service, as we have done with many of our other offices.”

Andy Christie, ACS Director of private jets

Andy Christie, ACS Group Executive Jets Director

“We have brought in experienced staff, who have been working out of our London, Paris and Frankfurt offices over the past six months, in the run up to opening the doors earlier this month.”

The Swiss office is ACS’s 19th global office, with two more planned in the coming nine months.

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Pilot Who Flew Depp Facing Jail For Dog Smuggling

(Avweb) – The pilot of actor Johnny Depp’s private flight last month is facing up to two years in prison for his role in the alleged smuggling of the Pirates of the Caribbean star’s two Yorkshire terriers into Australia. The country’s justice system is now considering what to do with the unidentified pilot, and with Depp, who faces up to 10 years in jail after the dogs Pistol and Boo were allegedly intentionally hidden from Customs officers to avoid the 10-day quarantine that Australia demands for pets being brought into the country.

If the prosecution goes ahead, Depp can apparently dodge the prison time by paying a $265,000 fine but there’s no such relief for the pilot mentioned in various news reports on the topic.

Authorities learned about Pistol and Boo when they were spotted being pampered at a Sydney dog salon. Australia has strict quarantine laws and while Depp and the pilot will undoubtedly be inconvenienced if charges proceed, the Yorkies escaped a more permanent fate. Depp was able to get the dogs out of Australia just before the government was about to kill them. “It’s time that Pistol and Boo buggered off back to the United States,” Australian Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce warned at the time. “Now Mr. Depp has to either take his dogs back to California or we’re going to have to euthanize them.”

– courtesy Russ Niles and Avweb biz, Belvoir Media Group, LLC

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Charter Operator Adds Two Bombardier Global 6000 And Global Express

Albinati Aeronautics continues to expand its charter fleet of large cabin business jets by adding two brand new Bombardier Global 6000s and a Bombardier Global Express.

According to Albinati, “The two new Global 6000 can take up to 12 passengers on intercontinental distances such as, for instance, Geneva to San Francisco, without refueling, in an exclusive, luxurious and comfortable environment, fully equipped for business, entertainment and relaxation.”

Albinati Aeronautics’ charter fleet is based at Geneva and Malta, and now counts four Global 6000s, a Global XRS, a Global Express, a Global 5000, a recently fully refurbished Challenger 604 and a Citation CJ4.

The full charter fleet is ONLY available in FlightList PRO.

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XOJET Sales VP Leaves For Flexjet

D. J. Hanlon, a 13-year veteran of the private aviation industry, will join Flexjet, LLC as Senior Vice President of West Coast Sales. Hanlon will help meet the growing demand for large-cabin extended range aircraft Flexjet is experiencing.

D.J.Hanlon

DJ Hanlon [LinkedIn]

Most recently, Hanlon served as Vice President of Sales for California-headquartered private jet charter company XOJET and as founding partner of integrated large-cabin charter management company Jet Edge International. Earlier, he was responsible for California and Pacific Northwest sales at fractional provider NetJets for nine years. Hanlon was educated at Boston University and lives in Newport Beach, California, with his wife and two children.

Backed by the resources of Directional Aviation, which acquired Flexjet in 2013, the company is celebrating its 20^th anniversary in 2015 by making a major investment in its fleet. The company already has made firm orders for 207 new planes and options from Bombardier, Gulfstream and Embraer that could bring the total number of aircraft to 445, an investment that potentially could top US $8 billion.

In addition to Flexjet, Directional Aviation holds a variety of private aviation companies including charter brokers Sentient Jet and Skyjet, and aircraft re-manufacturer Nextant Aerospace.

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Charter Broker Acquired by Operator Altius Aviation

EmreAir Charter Solutions (EA Jet Charters), an air charter broker based in Teterboro, NJ, has agreed to an acquisition by charter operator Altius Aviation.

Headquartered in Syracuse, NY and operating throughout the Northeast with locations at the Portland Jetport, ME, the Manchester Airport, NH and the Essex County Airport, NJ, Altius Aviation operates 7 aircraft for charter including turborops, light and midsize jets.

Henry Laughlin, President & CEO of Altius commented: “We are delighted to
welcome the team from EmreAir Charter Solutions to the Altius family.
Throughout the negotiations it became very apparent that the EmreAir assets
and personnel would create significant synergy throughout our activities. The
net effect to Altius is accelerated growth and a better experience for both our
retail charter customers and the broker community”.

Speaking from Teterboro, NJ, Omar Diaz, Director of EmreAir stated: “Merging
our experience and passion with Altius Aviation is a logical next step for the
EmreAir team. Altius has proved to be a highly capable operator with significant
nationwide growth potential. We look forward to the future as we achieve our
goals with both Altius and the Laughlin Group companies”. The acquisition will
see the founders of EmreAir become equity stake holders in the larger company.

Altius Aviation LLC is part of the Laughlin Group family
owned aviation company. Founded in 1949, group activities span FBO
operations, maintenance, special missions design and install, avionics STC
development, airline handling, de-icing, aircraft charter and aircraft sales.

Altius operates seven aircraft for charter based throughout the Northeast US; two Learjet 60, a Learjet 31, King Air B200 and three Pilatus PC-12.

The full Alitus charter fleet is ONLY available in FlightList PRO.

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Operator MyJet Acquired by Blink Air Taxi Service

With a marked expansion, Blink Air Taxi Service has acquired Italian operator MyJet and its 3 Citation Mustang jets, along with its maintenance facility in northern Italy. Blink also acquired Blackbushe Airport west of London, which has been its home the past four years. Blink’s increased fleet of 9 Mustangs now is 30% of the European air taxi fleet.

Blink Air Taxi Service Citation Mustang Fleet

Blink Air Taxi Service Citation Mustang Fleet

According to Blink, the acquisition of MyJet demonstrates that Blink is leading the European air taxi industry in consolidating operations across the key business aviation hubs of London, Paris, Nice, Geneva and now northern Italy, including Milan. It increases Blink’s capacity and will allow even more efficient operations of the market leading air taxi service.

Initially, the MyJet aircraft will continue to operate under the existing livery before gradually being brought under the Blink brand.

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Gulfstream V New In Northeast For Charter

Charter operator Solairus Aviation is adding a Gulfstream V, registered N516HG and based Nashua, NH to it’s Part 135 charter certificate. The ultra-long-range jet will be immediately available for charter.

With 14 seats and sleeping arrangements for 6, the G-V features cabin entertainment and information amenities with a 16″ credenza screen, 6×8 individual screens, Bose headsets, Wi-fi internet on board, satellite phone and fax and Xbox 360.

The G-V addition makes a total of 39 aircraft in Solairus Aviation‘s charter fleet nationwide, which includes a wide variety of aircraft including five Global Express XRS’, a new Gulfstream 650, two Gulfstream 550’s, a Falcon 900EX Easy, other Falcons and Gulfstreams along with the full fleet of sizes and capabilities.

FlightList PRO is the only service showing all 39 Solairus Aviation charter aircraft.

Gulfstream V N516GH Charter Cabin, Solairus Aviation

Gulfstream V N516GH Charter Cabin, Solairus Aviation

Gulfstream V N516GH Charter Cabin, Solairus Aviation

Gulfstream V N516GH Charter with Solairus Aviation

Gulfstream V N516GH Charter with Solairus Aviation

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Falcon 7X New To Key Air Fleet Based Northeast US

Falcon 7X N221HJ, Key Air Jet Charter

Falcon 7X N221HJ Jet Charter, Operated by Key Air

Charter operator Key Air has added a long range Falcon 7X, registration N221HJ, to its Northeastern US-based charter fleet. The aircraft becomes available May 22 and is home-based OXC Oxford, CT. N221HJ was formerly registered CS-DTS and operated for charter by Masterjet, based Paris, France.

FlightList PRO shows this Falcon 7x is one of only 7 available for charter in the U.S. and the only one in the Northeast. According to Key Air the new 14 passenger aircraft comes complete with a satellite phone and fax, airshow display and is Wi-Fi enabled. The fully-equipped galley includes a microwave oven, convection oven and espresso maker to easily accommodate lighter snacks or full-course meals. Its state-of-the-art entertainment system features DVD, CD and MP3 players, headphones, dual widescreen and two individual cabin monitors.

Key Air Jet Charter Operator

“The addition of this pristine, high precision aircraft will benefit our operations and provide a great option for the discerning charter client”, said Alan DePeters, Key Air President and CEO. “We are extremely happy with the growth we have experienced to our managed aircraft fleet. Within the first five months of the year, Key Air has added four ultra-long-range aircraft to our charter certificate offering clients a broader range of charter aircraft to choose from. We look forward to continuing this momentum by providing unique, personalized services to the aircraft owner and to our clients who charter the aircraft.”

The Falcon 7X joins a list of ultra-long-range aircraft on Key Air’s charter certificate including the Global 5000, Gulfstream GV, G450 and GIVSPs. The charter fleet also includes the Falcon 2000LX, 900EX, Challenger 604, Hawker 800XP and Learjet 45 aircraft.

Not shown elsewhere, the entire Key Air fleet is available in FlightList PRO.

Falcon 7X N221HJ Operated By Key Air

Falcon 7X N221HJ Operated By Key Air

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