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Space Experience Curacao Announces Wet Lease of XCOR Lynx Suborbital

A wet lease is a leasing arrangement whereby one airline (lessor) provides an aircraft, complete crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) to another airline (lessee), which pays by hours operated. The lessee provides fuel and covers airport fees, and any other duties, taxes, etc. The flight uses the flight number of the lessee. A wet lease generally lasts one month to two years; anything less would be considered an ad-hoc charter. They can also be considered as a form of charter whereby the lessor provides minimum operating services, including ACMI, and the lessee provides the balance of services along with flight numbers. It also sounds sophisticated in a press release.
by Staff Writers
Mojave CA (SPX) Oct 06, 2010
Space Experience Curacao (SXC) and XCOR Aerospace, Inc. jointly announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the wet lease of a production version of the Lynx suborbital spacecraft, pending United States government approvals to station the vehicle on the island of Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles.

With a planned start date in January 2014, SXC will market, and XCOR will operate, suborbital space tourism flights and scientific research missions out of Space Port Curacao.

Recently, the Curacao government and airport authority announced their intentions of investigating and creating the conditions suitable for the formation of a vibrant and active commercial space flight services industry. An investigation of the legal and regulatory framework necessary to enable a robust flight services industry in Curacao has commenced.

Investment in the spaceport infrastructure and operator has been committed and made by Curacao Airport Holding, N.V., the company responsible for overseeing Curacao airport operator.

SXC is the entity chosen by the Curacao government and airport holding company to create a robust suborbital space flight business focused on research missions, space tourism, and science and technology education. SXC has in turn selected the XCOR Lynx as its vehicle of choice for Curacao operations.

"SXC has chosen the Lynx due to its innovative but straightforward and robust design, as well as its enormous commercial potential and competitive viability" said Ben Droste, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of SXC.

"The combination of the Lynx experience with the beautiful and highly suitable location of the Caribbean Island of Curacao is a winning experience in our book.

"Spaceflight participants will not only have the incredible experience of flying in XCOR's Lynx spacecraft beyond Earth's atmosphere, they will have the added benefit of taking off from and returning to one of the world's best vacation destinations."

"Space Experience Curacao, with the strong support of Curacao Airport Holding, has worked diligently to secure this MOU with XCOR," remarked SXC Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Harry Van Hulten.

"With the full support of the government of Curacao, the Netherlands and thanks to the vision and entrepreneurial spirit of Curacao Airport Holding, SXC is in the position of making this first concrete step in procuring a Lynx Mark II wet lease contract."

"Building on our international wet-lease agreements model, XCOR is committed to continuing coordination efforts with the US Departments of State, Defense and Commerce and other relevant US agencies regarding export control and operation of suborbital vehicles at non-US locations," said XCOR COO, Andrew Nelson.

"We think the wet lease model enables us to address these issues, while allowing us to continue to create new high technology jobs, compete effectively in international markets, and provide our clients like SXC, and their clients, an incredible experience and valuable service - we can't wait to fly from Curacao!"

Space Experience Curacao (SXC) was founded in 2008 to lead the world changing trend in providing commercial space launch facilities and suborbital flight services from the Caribbean island of Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles, and soon to be an independent governing entity as part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. SXC intends to offer suborbital space tourism flights and scientific research missions out of Space Port Curacao.



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