Tag Archives: Air Charter News

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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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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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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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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Private Jet Charter Market Article On Forbes.com

“Is the private jet charter market ready to be disrupted?” Forbes.com just published an in-depth article analyzing the current jet charter market, players, technologies and future.

Many charter companies – operators and brokers – are named in the article which is a look at leveraging technologies to make a more efficient consumer market, and the actual practicalities and complexities of booking and managing individual charters. Author Doug Bollan also relates his experiences trying to search and book a charter through different methods.

This is a very interesting read for anyone involved in the jet charter market today as well as private charter consumers.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/douggollan/2015/05/13/is-the-private-jet-market-ready-to-be-disrupted/

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Komar Aviation Group Becomes Macair

Announced yesterday, charter operator Komar Aviation Group in southern California is transitioning the company name to its existing corporate name, Macair, Inc.

“The change is due to the significant expansion of our business activities,” said Dori Abouzeid, CEO and President. “The past year has been an incredible one for our team as we continue to deliver outstanding success for our partners through the increase of international charters and clients, the addition of more aircraft on our fleet, including a G-V, and Macair Flight Support, the exclusive FBO at Erbil International Airport [Iraq].”

Unchanged will be the company tax ID, address, phone numbers, staff and business terms. Email addresses will convert to @macairinc.com.

Macair currently operates three aircraft for charter on certificate # K4DA454J, based in southern California at SNA Santa Ana and LGB Long Beach.

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Deal Creates World’s Second-Largest Operator

In a deal to create the world’s second-largest corporate aircraft operator, Luxaviation, a business jet charter and management group based in Luxembourg, today is acquiring Zurich-based ExecuJet Aviation.

Under the terms of the deal, Luxaviation will acquire the entire share capital of ExecuJet, which has operations in Asia, Australasia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and in Europe. Its fleet of about 180 managed aircraft will bring the number of aircraft operated by the combined entity to more than 250. This is second only the the fleet of 700 operated worldwide by US-based NetJets.

ExecuJet, operating since 1991, offers aircraft charter, management, and maintenance, and is based at 19 airports around the world.

Luxaviation has grown by acquiring four European operators since 2009, including London Executive Aviation (LEA) in 2014. Last week it agreed to a deal with China Minsheng Investments, a Chinese investment fund that is the biggest shareholder in business aircraft operator Minsheng International Jet.

Luxaviation’s strategy with its acquisitions has been to preserve their operational independence while benefiting from economies of scale in purchasing high-cost items such as fuel, insurance and training.

With the two latest deals, Luxaviation is making strides towards its stated goal of 500 aircraft under management by 2019.

– courtesy Financial Times, full article here.

Luxaviation and ExecuJet charter fleet details are available in FlightList PRO.

Luxaviation charter jet

Luxaviation Challenger 300 based Luxembourg

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Floating Fleet Charter Operator Listing Updated

With a recent update, the FlightList PRO Floating Fleets section now shows 11 charter operators with 205 jets dedicated to point-to-point pricing. Aircraft types run the gamut of business jets, from light jet to heavy and long range jets. With the update, below are the totals by category of charter jets available in the U.S. for point-to-point pricing.

FlightList PRO Air Charter Search Results

FlightList PRO Air Charter Search Results

83 light jets
50 midsize jets
36 super midsize jets
19 Heavy and long range jets

Charter pricing with floating fleets can be quite advantageous for one way needs or round trips over many days. Cancellation terms can vary and be stricter with the pricing advantage and the logistics of point-to-point charter flying. Most operators are non-cancelable inside 72 hours from scheduled departure while some are shorter or even immediately upon booking. With this typical business model, most floating fleets are owned by the operator or are under management agreements whereby separate ‘owner approval’ is not required. Ages of floating fleet aircraft, much like traditional charter fleets, vary from brand new production line aircraft to manufacture dates in the 70’s or 80’s. All listed operators have at least one independent auditor safety rating, and more than half have 3 of the top ratings; ARGUS Platinum, Wyvern Wingman and ISBAO Registered.

About FlightList PRO
FlightList PRO is the largest air charter resource in the world. 100% of the market; complete and easy access to all U.S., European and international aircraft. Compare the numbers; 8,289 charter aircraft in the US, 3,008 in Europe and 16,631 worldwide. Also the lowest cost platform; worldwide full access starts at just $90 for 3 users and $30 each additional ($45/$15 those outside the US) with no contracts, cancel anytime. FlightList PRO is an everyday favorite of leading travel professionals, corporate travel departments and large charter brokerages.

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Europe’s TAG Aviation and Bromma Business Jet Form Alliance

Charter Operator TAG Aviation announces the launch of a new charter alliance between Bromma Business Jet and TAG Aviation.

TAG is now the sole sales agent for Bromma’s Falcon 7X based in London Farnborough and Stockholm Bromma, according to the company.

Now TAG is the charter operator or agent for four Falcon 7X aircraft throughout Europe. The entire TAG charter fleet of 36 aircraft worldwide is available in FlightList PRO.

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Pentastar Operating Scheduled Hawkers On Behalf Of OneJet

Pentastar Aviation Charter, Inc. has been named the direct air carrier for OneJet, a provider of regional scheduled nonstop flights in the Eastern U.S.

Based at KMKE Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport and KIND Indianapolis International Airport, OneJet began service on April 6, 2015. Pentastar Aviation Charter, Inc. operates a fleet of Hawker 400 aircraft on behalf of OneJet.

OneJet is providing nonstop service between Milwaukee and Indianapolis. Flights will be offered Monday through Thursday, featuring one hour gate-to-gate service, TSA precheck access for eligible customers, expedited boarding, and complimentary on board amenities.

Service to Indianapolis began on April 6th, with tickets on sale via select corporate and online retailers, including American Express Global Business Travel and Expedia. Inventory will be limited during the introductory period according to OneJet.

FlightList PRO personnel searched Expedia for available seats one month in advance. A 2-day round trip, Indianapolis to Milwaukee, revealed round trip pricing of $533 per seat. OneJet was the only nonstop option.

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New Charter Operator MB Airways Inc.

Air charter broker-turned-operator MB Airways, Inc. achieved FAA authorization with completed OpsSpecs documents in March.

The operator is FAA certified and authorized for Part-135 operations worldwide with their Falcon 50 super super midsize jet. MB Airways and their Falcon 50 are based at KVNY Van Nuys, CA.

MB Airways is available ONLY in FlightList PRO.

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Charter Operators Joining Forces

Charter operators FUGA, Inc. of Phoenix, AZ, and SP Aviation of the San Francisco Bay Area are joining forces under the FUGA brand. Moved over to FUGA’s air carrier certificate (# ZC6A400N) already, is SP Aviation’s Falcon 2000EX and two Learjet 55’s, available for charter out of KOAK Oakland, CA.

According to SP Aviation President and CEO Darrin Perdue, “We could not be more excited about this opportunity. The team at FUGA are highly motivated professionals and we look forward to joining forces with them to continue growing the company and expanding our operations.”

Robert Salvo, CEO of FUGA echoed these sentiments, adding: “This is a classic example of the whole being bigger than the parts. Separately, our two companies have been successful for many years. Together, we truly believe the sky is the limit.”

This brings to 8 the total number of aircraft operated by FUGA, Inc. for charter based in California and Arizona, ranging from a Citation II light jet to the heavy jets Gulfstream IV-SP and Embraer Legacy.

The transitioning of SP Aviation’s fleet onto FUGA, Inc.’s certificate is expected to be completed by May. The entire FUGA fleet is available in FlightList PRO.

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