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EBACE PUBLICATIONS Convention News

Sustainability A GREEN FLIGHT PLAN FOR BIZAV Erik Lindbergh urges bizav to step up › page 4 by Chad Trautvetter Manufacturing If it weren’t for the pandemic, EBACE 2021 second-largest fleet— has made enormous progress,” NBAA presi- would have been held in person last month carbon neutral by 2050. And the U.S.—the dent and CEO Ed Bolen told AIN as EBACE Supply chain issues drag and the prevailing topic would have been largest business aviation market—could be Connect was winding down. “Looking to sustainability. Still, this issue was reflected close behind in setting emissions goals. the future, SAF is the cornerstone to achiev- on market › page 14 in the virtual EBACE Connect, with six of Fortunately, business aviation leaders saw ing our emissions goals as both a solution its 11 sessions having all or a major portion this coming more than a decade ago. In 2009, for today and the bridge to the emission- Operations of their discussion focused on sustainability NBAA, EBAA and other organizations sought reducing technologies of tomorrow.” in business aviation. Additionally, a virtual to reduce business aviation’s carbon emis- Sustainability topics covered at EBACE Brexit effects worse than European Business Aviation Sustainable sions via the Business Aviation Commitment Connect included SAF and other alternative Aviation Fuel (SAF) Summit was held in late on Climate Change. This initiative pledged fuels such as hydrogen, electric aircraft, new expected› page 31 April as a run-up to EBACE Connect. a 2 percent improvement in efficiency per technology, and carbon credits. You’ll find Though Covid-19 is still an immediate year from 2010 to 2020, with carbon-neutral summaries of these sessions and stories concern, the business aviation communi- growth from 2020 onward and a 50 percent about a range of other topics affecting the -Pac ty’s next biggest hurdle is the environment. reduction in carbon emissions by 2050. business aviation community in and The outlook for bizav in In fact, the European Green Deal seeks “Business aviation has long been focused on elsewhere in this special edition of EBACE to make Europe—which has the world’s emissions reduction, and to date the industry Convention News. n Asia › page 35 OXYGEN RICH.

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prae•tor six hun•dred : arrive refreshed with the best-in-class cabin altitude of 5,800 ft +1 321 751 5050 | embraer.com/human Lindbergh pushes bizav’s environmental leadership by Charles Alcock

In the May 18 keynote presentation at need to move in that direction.” EBACE Connect, aviator and philan- Lindbergh also confirmed his inten- thropist Erik Lindbergh challenged the tion to mark the centenary of the first business aviation sector to step up its solo flight across the Atlantic in 1927 by leadership role in making the industry his grandfather, Charles Lindbergh. He more environmentally sustainable. He told the EBACE Connect audience that told NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen he aims to make the flight from New that the Charles and Anne Morrow Lind- York to in a low- or zero-carbon Erik Lindbergh (right) addressed the keynote session of the EBACE Connect event with NBAA bergh Foundation will roll out a series aircraft, adding that a hybrid-electric president and CEO Ed Bolen. of prizes to incentivize innovation model will probably prove to be the most towards carbon neutrality through its feasible option. completely new missions like eVTOL fuels (SAF). “There will be new biofu- ForeverFlight initiative, which is backed The EBACE Connect keynote ses- and eSTOL,” he maintained. “Over the els, and potentially hydrogen and other by the X Prize Foundation and its $100 sion also featured advocacy for electric next five to 10 years, these new aircraft alternative fuels like ammonia but these million funding from Elon Musk. aircraft and new fuels and propulsion will change the way we move around the are new and unproven,” he commented. “We will have multiple prizes to systems. Lindbergh, who is chairman planet, starting with short and medium- “SAF has shifted from using palm fuels overcome barriers [to its net and true of hybrid-electric propulsion pioneer range missions.” and now companies are taking fuel zero-carbon goals], and we’re not sit- VerdeGo Aero, encouraged business avia- While the new aircraft are working stocks that are more sustainable. This ting in the back waiting for something tion executives to be part of this new wave. their way towards service entry, Lind- is the bridge that will get us to these to happen that we might not like,” said “The advent of electric distributed bergh endorsed Bolen’s call for business other fuels and crazy new batteries, so Lindbergh. “Europe is leading the way in propulsion and the ability to put thrust aviation to continue to be at the van- we have to use what we have now and sustainability issues and we in the U.S. anywhere on an airframe lets you have guard for adopting sustainable aviation slowly transfer to what’s coming.” n

principles to seek progress that aims to Scientists leave no stone support sustainability at every stage. With Shell now IBAC’s this in mind, Anita Sengupta, a former NASA engineer who has launched a hydro- first European unturned for sustainability gen fuel cell developer called Hydroplane, argued that electric batteries for aircraft PS3 enrollee by Charles Alcock are not “an evolutionary path” because of Shell Aircraft has become the first oper- how they are produced and disposed of at ator in Europe to enroll in the Interna- What will it take to make aviation more aerospace group is leaving no stone the end of their useful life. tional Business Aviation Council’s (IBAC) environmentally sustainable? Just about unturned in the quest for sustainability, California-based Hydroplane is work- new International Standard for Busi- anything and everything seemed to be with teams also working in fields such ing on a new hydrogen fuel cell system ness Aircraft Operators (IS-BAO) Pro- the answer from a May 19 EBACE Connect as quantum computing and sensing, as to power aircraft operated on shorter gressive Stage 3 (PS3) program. IBAC session on the issue. well as biomimicry (looking for inspi- regional routes. According to Sengupta, launched the PS3 option in 2020 after The EBACE audience heard how Air- ration from birds and insects). The one her team could be ready for an initial flight a beta team of operators designed and bus has scientists with its BlueSky team propulsion technology she did rule out test on an unspecified aircraft within 18 tested the program over two years. tapping microbiology for techniques was nuclear energy due to the harmful months, and could potentially be available PS3 allows operators to access such as using microbes and enzymes to waste it generates. to start operating “in a European island the Stage 3 safety system, share data, “brew” new aircraft fuels using waste The Munich, -based nation” by around 2023 or 2024. and take advantage of opportunities that can’t otherwise be cleanly disposed scientist’s message was closely echoed by Sebastiano Fumero, an advisor with to mentor and share best practices. of. According to senior research project other speakers, who called on business the European Commission (EC), said that IBAC calls the one-day Progressive leader Patricia Parleviet, the European aviation to channel circular economic organization has launched a consultation auditing process—featuring a creden- with alternative fuel producers to encour- tialed Progressive auditor based in the age new ways to increase production rates operator’s region—a key benefit. for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). “With Shell Aviation became IS-BAO what we hope will be a fast recovery [from Stage 1 in 2004 and progressed to Covid] for the industry, it will be hard to Stage 3 in 2007. Shell Aircraft oper- make enough for aviation,” he said. ates three 8Xs based According to Fumero, the EC’s new in the and it o!sets its public- private joint undertaking is appeal- emissions using carbon credits. ing for new ideas and partners not only “We are so glad to see this new PS3 from within aviation but also from the concept come together and excited energy sector and other industries. He said about integrating it into our depart- that European regulators also are consider- ment,” said Shell director of corpo- ing plans to require a minimum percentage rate aviation, Stan Medved. “Sharing of SAF to be blended with jet-A. n important safety data and spending more time with the progressive audi- tor will provide more learning oppor- tunities on both sides, providing a EBACE Connect’s sustainability session was moderated by Rohit Jaggi (top left), deputy editor more collaborative environment that

of the Financial Times. Participants included Airbus scientist Patricia Parleviet (lower left), YOUR SOURCE FOR AVIATION NEWS will allow us to further strengthen our Hydroplane CEO Anita Sengupta (top right), and European Commission advisor Sebastiano G.P. www.ainonline.com safety culture.” Fumero (lower right).

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Elite S Print Ad - Continuous Innovation - AIN.indd 1 5/24/21 10:09 AM Cloughley said operators will be able to air taxi services, mainly due to its insis- reconfigure the interior for these different tence on going straight to autonomous roles in little more than 15 minutes. operations. He also confirmed that the Pipistrel chief technology officer Tine company will soon unveil plans for what Tomazic revealed plans for three differ- it calls its “sixth-generation” aircraft, ent versions of the Slovenian company’s and this is expected to be a larger, longer- planned Miniliner family of electric aircraft. range eVTOL model. The standard model would carry a single Meanwhile, flight testing of the Cora pilot and up to 19 passengers and be able to is continuing in , where Dal- operate from 2,600-foot runways, flying four ton said Wisk is enjoying a high degree of 220-mile missions on a single charge (with a cooperation from the government, indus- Faradair Aerospace’s Bio Electric Hybrid Aircraft will be able to carry up to 18 passengers or 45-min diversion margin for each trip). try partners such as Air New Zealand, and carry cargo on utility missions. “It is like a minibus and will have 40 local communities. This is allowing it to percent lower direct operating costs than evaluate the autonomous, all-electric today’s commuter aircraft, and it will be model in controlled airspace alongside much quieter,” said Tomazic. He argued other aircraft. mobility that by taking the AAM approach, avia- Germany’s Volocopter, which on Mon- tion can be far more productive, becom- day announced its own plans for a new ing “more like the fast-food industry than eVTOL model called the VoloConnect, pioneers present to bizav a Michelin-starred restaurant that is still also participated in the EBACE Connect peeling potatoes with a scalpel.” session. CEO Florian Reuter said that the by Charles Alcock Later this year, Pipistrel will begin multirotor architecture of its aircraft is flight testing its new four-seat Panthera low risk from a certification point of view The business aviation community got a “We are going to see a democratization 152 aircraft. This is program is being sup- because its 18 rotors, each with their own virtual introduction to some of the pio- of the regional air travel model,” CEO Neil ported by the European Union’s Mahepa electric motor, provide a high degree of neers of so-called advanced air mobil- Cloughley told the EBACE Connect audi- program and will start operating with safety redundancy. ity (AAM) during an EBACE Connect ence. “Covid has brought a huge oppor- hybrid-electric propulsion before transi- According to Reuter, Volocopter pri- session on May 18. Speakers from four tunity. We’re seeing a lot more interest in tioning to all-electric power at a later date. marily conceived its eVTOL aircraft to be electric aircraft developers explained sustainability and new business models From California, Dan Dalton, v-p operated autonomously but took a stra- how their plans to transform the air because technology is proving itself [in for global partnerships with Wisk Aero, tegic decision to put a pilot on board to transport business model have made terms of value to society].” reported that progress with the startup’s fast-track commercial operations, requir- strong progress while other aviation According to Cloughley, MagniX’s Cora two-seat, autonomous aircraft has ing the addition of a control stick. “When sectors have been held back by the Magni500 electric motors will have been boosted with expertise supplied by we first talked with the regulators, they Covid-19 pandemic. achieved certification in time for the first and its sub- asked how we could be sure that flight In the UK, Faradair Aerospace is about full-scale BEHA prototype to start test sidiary. Boeing, which co-owns the Wisk testing would be safe and we were able to to complete the design of its Bio Electric flights in 2024. Honeywell is supplying a joint venture with Kitty Hawk, last year show them failure modes from hundreds Hybrid Aircraft (BEHA) and start struc- turbogenerator that will be able to run on said it would wrap up its Boeing Next tech- of flights [made with the autonomous tural engineering work. Over the past sustainable aviation fuel and/or jet-A. nology incubator project, which had been control system] to demonstrate how the eight months, the company has added The company hopes to achieve Part 23 working on several eVTOL designs. Evi- [flight] computer dealt with them,” he major new partners, including propulsion type certification by the end of 2026 and dently, this move has freed up expertise that explained. “This gave them a lot of com- providers Honeywell and MagniX, as well by 2030 expects to have at least 300 of the is now being redirected to Wisk’s program. fort before we even put a pilot on board, as expanded its workforce at a new head- 18-seat aircraft in commercial service, with Dalton acknowledged that Wisk likely so there is definitely a paradigm shift quarters at Duxford airfield. a mix of passenger and cargo missions. will not be the first to start commercial [towards autonomy].” n

ACH deals with challenging but resilient market by Jerry Siebenmark

While Airbus Corporate Helicopters our customers and still continue to accom- (ACH) had to navigate the global pan- pany those wanting to acquire a helicopter.” demic in 2020, the company managed to Lemos noted that the company has “maintain a good of bookings” by net- developed a 70 percent share in the yacht- ting 62 orders for the year, which is down ing market with its ACH135 and ACH145 by about 10 percent from the previous models primarily satisfying that niche. two years, said Frederic Lemos, head of Demand in that market should remain ACH. Even with the softened demand, that robust, he added, as 78 yacht projects means “we’ve been grabbing market share with helidecks are in the pipeline. “Yacht- from the competition,” added Lemos, who ing as a whole has also been pretty much reviewed the company’s business activi- resilient,” he added. “Customers [are] Airbus Corporate Helicopters has developed a 70 percent share in the yachting market with ties on the eve of May’s EBACE Connect. looking more and more to isolate on their its ACH135 and ACH145 models primarily satisfying that niche. While the pandemic has prevented yachts…and it’s probably what they will do many face-to-face meetings with custom- next summer, trying to have more privacy Lemos also briefly reviewed the able to exchange and progress and make ers because of travel restrictions, the per- and not mixing with large crowds.” ACH ACH160 program. While the all- the necessary flight tests,” he said, “but sonal and business aviation sector “has is considered “a trusted adviser” in the composite intermediate twin received we are in this mode of delivery progress demonstrated a great resilience.” With yachting market, a reputation developed EASA type certification in July, its FAA and certification and will indeed this 28 Airbus Helicopters customer centers through interactions in the early stage of type certification has been hampered year deliver the aircraft.” He said the around the world, “we’ve been able to yacht construction with designers, manu- by Covid. “It’s been even more difficult first U.S. copy of the ACH160 will go to maintain a certain level of proximity with facturers, and customers, he said. because of these travel restrictions to be a customer in . n

6 EBACE Convention News \ June 2021 \ ainonline.com

aims for the smaller VoloCity aircraft to begin commercial operations before the end of 2023, with Paris and Singapore still likely to be the cities in which its air taxi services launch. He said the company has ambitions to build and operate as many as 100,000 aircraft. Earlier this year, Volocopter raised a fur- ther $240 million in its latest private funding Volocopter’s new round, taking its total capital raised since VoloConnect eVTOL its launch in 2011 to almost $400 million. aircraft will have a “We see huge interest, including from the range of up to around public investment community, and we are 60 miles. confident we can raise the necessary [fur- ther] funding,” Reuter said. “We are having interesting conversations with numerous investors for different [investment] routes.” range and payload. All three models will fea- Several of Volocopter’s rival eVTOL Volocopter launches larger, ture batteries that can be quickly swapped developers have announced plans to raise between flights, but the company has yet to significant amounts of funding through demonstrate this capability. initial public offerings via mergers with longer-range eVTOL aircraft “We can now cover all segments of special purpose acquisition companies. the $290 billion urban air mobility mar- Volocopter has long been rumored to be by Charles Alcock ket,” Volocopter CEO Florian Reuter told considering this approach as well. n reporters. “We will offer a seamless end- Volocopter has announced plans to bring several patents for the technology used. to-end customer experience through our For more information about the advanced a larger, longer-range eVTOL aircraft into The aircraft features a wing connected to VoloIQ digital platform.” air mobility industry see our special report operation by 2026 to serve markets beyond a V-shaped tail by a pair of parallel beams Volocopter sees the VoloCity aircraft on page 42. those addressed by its VoloCity model. supporting six sets of electric motors and accounting for $110 billion in revenues The all-electric VoloConnect will have four rotors. To the rear of the , there is a from urban services by 2035, with the seats, with a range of up to 60 miles and pair of ducted fans to support cruise flight. VoloConnect operations between cit- a cruise speed of 110 mph (rising to a top Like the two-seat VoloCity, Volocopter ies bringing in an additional $60 billion. speed of around 155 mph). intends to certify the VoloConnect under The company anticipates that the Volo- Charter experts Unveiling the new lift-and-push con- EASA’s new Special Conditions-VTOL rules. Drone will generate $120 billion in reve- cept during the EBACE Connect event on The VoloCity is limited to a range of just 22 nues by that time, including $50 billion discuss market May 18, the German company said its engi- miles and a speed of 60 mph. The company is from “on-site transport,” $30 billion from neering team, led by chief engineer Sebas- also developing an autonomous freight-car- “urban parcel” deliveries, and $40 billion after pandemic tian Mores, has been working on the design rying version called the VoloDrone, which for flights in remote areas. As the Covid pandemic begins to for more than two years and has filed will have the same performance in terms of Reuter confirmed that the company fade, more new customers have been drawn to private aviation, particularly charter. In an EBACE Connect panel on May 18, experts examined what they believe are issues facing the industry. Guidor app helps fleets fly efficiently Ian Moore—chief commercial o!- cer of VistaJet, which purchased XOJet by Matt Thurber last year—sees an opportunity for light /short-haul flights as com- Toulouse, France-based Skyconseil is offer- overlays and also a vertical depiction to help mercial have contracted their ing EBACE Connect participants a free six- pilots choose an optimum altitude. Users routes. “We feel that that area and that month trial of its Guidor software, which can slide back and forward in time to see market is something that the XO brand helps dispatchers and flight crew optimize how the weather changes in relation to the can go after in a combination of work- flight paths to avoid hazardous weather and aircraft’s past or projected position. Built-in ing with the operators that already improve efficiency and situational aware- tools let users optimize the route by chang- have light jets in that market but also ness. Guidor is available for Apple iOS and ing waypoints, altitude, and speed to see adding light jets ourselves.” Windows devices, although full functional- how that affects fuel consumption. He ties the growth that the market ity is currently possible only with iOS. How- are shown with color-coded has experienced over the past year to ever, the company does plan to add the full Skyconseil’s Guidor app is designed to help graphics to indicate weather conditions, clients who have tried private aviation feature set to its Windows version. operators reduce aircraft emissions. and Guidor shows a constantly updated for the first time. “It’s all of our jobs to According to Skyconseil, while world- dynamic list of airports with the flight keep them in the industry,” Moore said. wide aviation traffic decreased significantly information management provider M-click, time to each, in case a diversion becomes Bernhard Fragner, CEO of - during the Covid pandemic, projections call and connectivity expert Atmosphere to pro- necessary. Users can also hand draw a “no- based light jet operator GlobeAir, for traffic levels to resume climbing. This vide services to Guidor users. go” area on the map, and Guidor will auto- spoke about factors concerning will make it difficult for the aviation indus- The Guidor app helps pilots view matically route around that restriction. “one-click” charter pricing, noting that try to meet objectives for emissions reduc- detailed information about weather Guidor isn’t just for pilots; it can be the European market is very supply- tions by 2050. At the same time, hazardous phenomena, including real-time turbu- deployed with ground-based decision- driven. He suggested the estab- weather remains a serious threat and will lence, and it is updated automatically via support personnel such as dispatchers. lishment of a centralized inventory become increasingly challenging due to onboard airborne connectivity systems. Companies can also use Guidor to track database. “Our pricing varies roughly impacts from global warming. Aircraft position information is plotted a fleet of aircraft. 20 percent up and down depending To mitigate these problems, Skyconseil’s on the Guidor moving map, delivered via Skyconseil estimates that flight opera- on the demand,” he said, adding that Guidor app is designed to help customers external GPS connected to the iPad or tions that use Guidor can lower operating variables such as crew availability fly optimized trajectories and adjust flight from an aircraft interface device that is costs by an average of 1 percent and also must also be considered, in addition plans dynamically to adapt to rapidly chang- connected to the aircraft’s avionics. reduce carbon emissions significantly. to aircraft costs. “This is a real-time ing weather. Skyconseil has partnered with Guidor shows both a moving-map display Guidor can be used anywhere in the world, pricing factor,” he added. C.E. IBM’s Weather Company, aeronautical with the flight-planned route and weather according to Skyconseil. n

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Tel: (631) 474-2254 | sales@aircra!lighting.com | aircra!lighting.com Oxford adds News Clips VistaJet Aims To Be Flexjet’s Operations Go Carbon- Carbon-neutral by 2025 neutral in U.S., Europe 15th hangar, new fuel farm VistaJet has not only committed to Flexjet’s year-to-date flight operations in becoming the first carbon-neutral the U.S. have been carbon-neutral and by Curt Epstein business aviation operator by 2025, but those in Europe have been carbon-negative also released a white paper as a roadmap through its partnership with 4AIR and at London (EGTK) has serve tenants such as Airbus Helicopters for the broader aviation industry to no additional cost to its customers, the embarked on a major infrastructure (whose UK headquarters is on the field) go beyond its current goal of a 50 fractional provider announced. Flexjet has development project, the centerpiece of and other rotorcraft operators, as well as percent emissions reduction by 2050. been purchasing verified credits via 4AIR which will be the airport’s 15th hangar. complement operations at the co-owned “The industry as a whole must step up that fund solar, wind, and other projects that When completed in the third quarter, the Edmiston London Heliport, the capitol’s to combat climate change and its impact offset carbon emissions from its flights. 6,000-sq-m (63,000-sq-ft) structure will only CAA-licensed heliport. today—it’s the right thing to do and In the U.S., Flexjet said, it will offset include two bays with offices and work- In addition, a new fuel farm will qua- we all have to act now,” urged VistaJet an estimated 400,000 tonnes of carbon shops and will be capable of sheltering up druple the storage capacity of the original founder and chairman Thomas Flohr. emissions this year alone. Meanwhile, Flexjet to six large-cabin business jets. facility while also providing future stor- The company plans to meet its target by Europe is offsetting 300 percent of the The UK facility will be used predomi- age space for sustainable aviation fuel. A offering a certified carbon offset program; carbon dioxide equivalent for every flight to nantly by the airport’s established tenants, centrally located fire station is under con- adopting the use of more sustainable reflect CO2 emissions and other pollutants, many of which are currently occupying struction as well. aviation fuels (SAF); adding more efficient including water vapor, aerosol sulphate, WWII-era hangars, as well as for space to “In a new post-pandemic economic aircraft to its charter fleet; and using more and nitrous oxides. The company is also store larger business jets, which has been environment, it’s crucial that the UK sustainable in-flight products. Further, working with 4AIR to offer shareowners the limited at EGTK. Those eight-decade-old ramps up its capacity to provide growth the company has pledged to move to option of upgrading their environmental hangars will be progressively replaced and further employment, especially in use renewable electricity at its facilities commitment by using sustainable aviation with new ones based on customer demand, high value, high-skilled and knowledge- and will publish annual greenhouse gas fuel for their flights where it is available. according to the airport, which is home to based industrial sectors,” said Will accounting and climate risk reports. “Flexjet has long been on the leading edge several MRO operations. To further sup- Curtis, the airport’s managing director, VistaJet’s carbon offset program of applying innovation to its operations, port their activities, London Oxford has adding that the timing of the develop- introduced in January 2020 has already and our partnership with 4AIR brings that bolstered its electrical grid, allowing “sig- ment is crucial as business aviation and helped to make big gains toward the same spirit to protecting the environment,” nificantly more power onto the site.” aerospace are set to rebound. “Now that carbon-neutrality goal, with 80 percent of said Flexjet CEO Michael Silvestro. “In While the airport has also expanded its we have put in the infrastructure for its customers opting to purchase carbon supporting carbon offset projects around ramp to make room for more aircraft park- growth, we can build further facilities credits to offset aircraft emissions on their the world, Flexjet can offer peace of mind ing, it also recently added seven new ICAO/ with relative ease and speed and further flights. The company has also removed that today’s efforts are having an immediate EASA/CAA-compliant helipads, which will bolster employment opportunities.” n more than 90 percent of single-use items positive impact on the environment.” across its fleet and replaced them with sustainable alternatives. Additionally, it DC Aviation Joins EBAA partnered with SkyNRG in September Networking Program to increase global access to SAF and Stuttgart, Germany-based DC Aviation invested in flight-optimization technology has joined the European Business that has reduced fuel consumption by Aviation Association’s (EBAA) peer- an average of 8 percent per flight. networking Ambassador program. The program allows industry leaders to Greenlights participate in closed workshops and Sustainable Fuel forums to address pressing issues and As of June 1, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) opportunities for business aviation. is now continuously available at Germany’s “It is extremely encouraging to see Munich Airport as part of its pledge to that several leading business aviation become CO2 neutral by 2030. The blended companies have joined together to make drop-in fuel is being delivered to the an additional commitment to EBAA and A new 6,000-sq-m hangar under construction at the UK’s London Oxford Airport will add airport’s 42,200-cu-m tank farm by various the industry,” said EBAA secretary-general much-needed large business aircraft shelter to the airport and the London-area in general. fuel providers on behalf of the airlines. It Athar Husain Khan. “We look forward to then travels via a 17-km pipeline to the working closely with our Ambassadors airport ramp, where it is pumped into the towards improving the industry and society.” airplanes by fuel farm manager Skytanking Complementing the initiative, the newly Munich and other refueling services. launched virtual platform ambassador. Embraer appoints new UK service center Both commercial and private aircraft ebaa.org will share stories about EBAA draw from that same fuel supply, but Ambassadors, celebrate their achievements, Embraer has appointed Jets Bour- said Frank Stevens, Embraer’s MRO global FBOs at the airport such as ExecuJet and and allow space for discourse on making a nemouth as its newest authorized ser- v-p of services and support. Signature Flight Support will not be able change for the better. So far, 15 companies vice center supporting Phenom 100 and Founded 17 years ago, Jets also holds to offer the environmental credits for the have joined the program, including leading 300 light jets. Located at Bournemouth Part 145 approval for Hawker 700s through SAF usage to their customers as the fuel OEMs, trip planners, operators, and International Airport in southern , 900XPs, as well as Bombardier Challenger is being purchased by the airlines, which service and maintenance companies. the EASA Part 145 repair station will per- 600-series aircraft. “We are delighted to will be entitled to receive the emissions- “DC Aviation has been a supporter of form scheduled and unscheduled main- enter the next chapter of our relationship accounting benefits from that fuel. EBAA’s work for many years,” said DC tenance, component and part exchange, with Embraer, being chosen as the latest “By approving our refueling facilities for Aviation CEO Michael Kuhn. “We are fully and inspections at di!erent levels of com- authorized service center in the UK,” said sustainable aviation fuel, we are enabling aligned with their goals and are extremely plexity for customers in Europe, Middle Jets CEO and accountable manager Daniel airlines to reduce their CO2 emissions,” said happy to take our support to the next level East, and . Rogers. “Jets looks forward to providing Munich Airport CEO Jost Lammers, adding by becoming an EBAA Ambassador. Being “This new partnership with Jets…will help industry-leading service from AOG and that “green fuels” have a key role to play an ambassador allows us to show our to bolster the network of the ever-increasing line support through to heavy base main- on the way to complete decarbonization commitment to the industry and gives us a fleet in the Western European region, o!er- tenance that ensures the Phenom family of of air transport. “We expect the share platform to showcase such projects as the ing an additional option for maintenance of aircraft remain the best-selling business jet of these sustainable fuels in total energy efficient [lighting] upgrade in the hangar the Phenom 100 and Phenom 300 aircraft,” in its class for many years to come.” J.S. consumption in aviation to increase in Stuttgart, the Covid spectrometer, and continuously in the coming years.” Covid-19 testing at our facility in Dubai.”

10 EBACE Convention News \ June 2021 \ ainonline.com EVENTS !"#$%#&'()(*"*+)#&)!$,( -$#'.+(%,/)0+1,&+( !"#!"#!$%#&"'(!)%*+!%',-./0!+,("%'/1!2%'),+,'2,#!%'!#*#&/"'/3"1"&0!/'.!&$,!! 4%.,+'!)1"($&!.,5/+&4,'&6!7,/+'!)+%4!/'.!,'(/(,!8"&$!!"#!,."&%+#!/'.!1,/."'(!4/+9,&! ,:5,+&#!/#!&$,0!."#2*##!&%5"2#!#*2$!/#!;<=>!2/+3%'!2+,."&#>!"45/2&!%)!1,("#1/&"%'>!/'.!4%+,6

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'#*++%#,+'-"((.%#"/ /"2#%)-,05!% 9)!!)0$%25##5% =&/0!:/A0!4B+/(+#, E4F4 >4?@ 789:79;7 ;<=>=?<=@7A>BC@D@=EF !"#$%&"'%"#%()&$)'*"#+,-)"'.$&/0,%0$1"'-,1-$$ 2"3#$#0�%0'-,-)40$"#$%,/0%5,)'"'/)'061"+ departure at the Milano Prime terminals SEA Prime at Linate and Malpensa. Through this agreement, passengers and crewmem- bers can also arrange this service at their weathers the hotel or at home and have easy access to medical services provided by San Donato. As a result of the pandemic, and in rec- Covid storm ognition of the levels of health and safety offered, Milano Prime is now able to offer by Curt Epstein its terminal services at Malpensa to pas- sengers traveling on commercial charter Business Aviation in continued its flights, such as sports teams. Thus far recovery in the first four months of 2021 it has handled approximately 150 such with year-over-year activity that was flights, consisting of 6,000 passengers, nearly 37 percent above the depths it said Marco Funel, SEA Prime’s commer- reached in early 2020, when the Covid-19 cial manager. In another indication of pandemic was starting to reach full effect activities slowly returning to normal, in in the country and lockdowns were taking June the company will hold its first static After the darkest days of the Covid pandemic, Milano Prime and its parent company SEA Prime place across Europe. aircraft display at Linate since before the are seeing light at the end of the tunnel. “That is remarkable, considering Janu- pandemic hit. ary and February 2020 were pre-pandemic “In the first phase of the crisis, our focus Lastly, to accommodate the needs of While Sirio—which was purchased by months,” said Chiara Dorigotti, CEO of was not on the expansion of the business Italian aircraft maintenance and manage- Kenn Ricci’s Directional Aviation in 2018— SEA Prime, which manages the private but how to survive and understanding ment provider and long-term tenant Sirio, has had its own hangar at Linate since aviation infrastructure at Milan Linate how to go on,” explained Baiardo. After SEA Prime will construct a new 4,500- 2001, its space is split between its main- and Malpensa Airports under the Milano the lockdowns subsided, the company sq-m (48,500-sq-ft) hangar at Linate, tenance activities and aircraft storage on Prime brand. “Our airports never closed began to reengage with its sustainability which will be able to accommodate air- behalf of its aircraft owners. This new pur- operations even during the hard-luck goals, including acquiring a pair of new craft up to ACJs and BBJs. The €10 million pose-built hangar that will feature offices, down months in March and April 2020.” BMW i3 electrically powered vehicles, ($12 million) facility, the 11th hangar on conference rooms, a parts warehouse, and Speaking at EBACE Connect in May, which are used for “follow me” duties at the Milano Prime ramp, will be completed a built-in crane system for moving heavy she noted that while the private aviation both airports. in 2022. components will remedy that. n traffic numbers at the two airports are still down from 2019, they are on a trend to return to normal by next year. Since the beginning of 2021, while Europe’s private flight activity has been Brexit fallout shutting down LPV approaches at UK airports up by 10.6 percent, Italy has been a front runner, with movements up nearly 37 While the loss of unfettered access to the confirmed that the UK government could are “likely impacted by the loss of access to percent. “The traffic, however, has been EU market has been a huge loss and frus- not agree to terms with the EU for continu- EGNOS.” This includes London Oxford Air- merely domestic and inter-European, but tration to UK operators following Brexit, the ing to use the service. “The government port, which has been “aspiring” to establish we are gradually seeing an increase of country’s departure from the bloc will soon recognizes that after this date [June 25] LPV approaches at the site for several years intercontinental traffic,” explained Dorig- deal a blow for UK airspace users. Start- airspace users will not be able to benefit and said the loss of EGNOS access “takes otti, adding that business at the Milano ing June 25, their ability to perform LPV from LPV approaches and instead, where us back to the drawing board.” Prime general aviation terminal at Linate approaches will be removed following the possible, rely on lateral navigation proce- “Rather than pursuing a traditional is up nearly 31 percent compared to the cessation on that date of the UK’s partici- dures,“ said Shapps. ILS approach solution for the southern previous year, with a triple-digit increase pation in the space-based EGNOS position- He described the outcome of the dis- approach to our 01—we already in the first weeks of May alone. augmentation service, which supports cussion with the EU as “disappointing” and have ILS on Runway 19 for approaches With the increasing efficacy of the approach guidance for landing aircraft. confirmed that the government has begun from the north—the GNSS/RNAV alterna- Covid vaccines, the company is expect- LPV permits aircraft-guided approaches, work on exploring alternative options for pro- tive with an LPV-200 option was supposed ing that trend to continue through the operationally equivalent to a Category 1 viding a commensurate navigation system. to be easier and less costly,” said James remainder of the year with the news instrument landing system, but without This includes discussions with the UK Space Dillon-Godfray, London Oxford’s head of that several of the city’s signature events, the need for ground-based navigation Agency for a dedicated UK replacement ser- business development. including Design Week, Fashion Week, aid infrastructure. vice. “But it is, unfortunately, going to take Making greater utilization of the south- and the Formula One Grand Prix are on In a letter dated March 18 to the Instru- some time and considerable investment to ern approach, he added, “would have track to return as live events. ment Rated Pilots Organization, Secre- implement,” said Shapps. provided faster transition o! the airways, According to Fabio Baiardo, the com- tary of State for Transport Grant Shapps The CAA suggested 18 airports in the UK creating less noise, fewer emissions, and pany’s operations manager, SEA Prime enhanced capacity and flows.” instituted a full range of Covid mitigation The BBGA’s Marc Bailey described the measures in response to the pandemic that UK’s decision not to continue with EGNOS hit the region quite hard. Among them are as “fundamentally flawed.” This move, he improved cleaning and sanitation; enforce- said, “shows a lack of understanding by ment of social distancing; personal protec- the government about how important the tion equipment for passengers, operators, facility is to the environment, safety, and the and employees; paperless documentation; potential economic development of the UK and the timely and constant flow of infor- aviation network.” mation regarding new traveler require- Despite Shapps’s admission in his March ments to handlers and operators, all of 18 letter that there is “little prospect of the which earned it Hygiene Synopsis Certifi- UK government renewing negotiations with cation from safety and quality audit pro- the European Commission on the matter,” vider TÜV Italia. Bailey has called on fellow associations— In addition, the company started a including AOPA, Airlines UK, and the Air- partnership with Gruppo San Donato, port Operators Association—to help force a the largest private hospital operator in rethink. “It is not too late to admit that this Italy, to perform Covid nasal swab test- was a mistake,” he said. K.S. ing immediately after arrival or before

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Learn how our expert AIN team can tailor a solution for you across any of our brands /marketing.ainonline.com companies that might be in a country struggling with the pandemic or where transportation issues may be a bit more complex. However, he did say the com- pany was watching the pricing of com- modities as a result. Many manufacturers have had to work with their suppliers to ensure a continued flow. During the release of Spirit AeroSys- tems’s year-end results, president and CEO Tom Gentile outlined measures his com- pany took to ensure a stable supply flow. “In Pilatus is one of the last 12 months, we have provided assis- the numerous tance to hundreds of suppliers. This support manufacturers includes contract extensions, purchases of that has struggled finished goods and raw materials, and ven- with supply chain dor financing,” he said. “Our suppliers are issues during the critical partners to our success and this pandemic. level of support is important as we work to secure our supply chain as production rates recover over the next few years.” UK-based Ontic, which specializes in spe- March, Bunce stressed, “our supply chain cialty legacy parts, has faced a similar situ- Supplier issues loom is very fragile….[manufacturers] have had ation. CEO Gareth Hall told AIN that the to stretch out delivery times because the company had also reached out to its suppli- supply chain is very disrupted.” ers early on as concerns about their contin- over industry recovery ued viability intensified, he said. Ontic even An Across-the-board Issue offered to pay for some of its parts up front by Kerry Lynch During GAMA’s State of the Industry to secure the future of its vendors, he said. annual press conference in February, While most declined, it was a necessary As business optimism improves Bunce first sounded the alarm about Bunce noted this was a topic throughout move for some and even with that offer, one and business aviation prepares for a supply chain vulnerabilities right after his membership. “It’s across the board,” small long-time business could not survive. post-pandemic rebound, lingering issues global shutdowns began to roll in from the he said. In fact, a GAMA survey of its JetNet iQ’s Vincent noted that with the surrounding supply chain threaten to Covid-19 pandemic. A number of smaller members earlier this year found that 70 thousands of small companies aerospace slow progress and hamper a full recovery, suppliers were forced to halt operations percent of the respondents reported manufacturers rely upon, it would take only industry leaders agree. in the face of positive Covid-19 tests or experiencing supply chain issues that had a few to disrupt an entire production line. Business optimism has reached levels regional restrictions. slowed production and deliveries. Mean- not seen since the 2003 to 2007 time- This has been particularly critical since while, 50 percent had noted that they had Labor Pool Another Concern frame, according to Rolland Vincent, the industry had transitioned to a just-in- to either limit or shut down operations Vincent and Bunce also raised concerns JetNet iQ creator/director and president time approach toward managing its pro- due to national, regional, state, or local about a key issue moving forward: the of Rolland Vincent Associates. Speaking duction flow. This marked a change from decisions or for economic reasons. labor pool. With the downsizing that during a recent National Air Transporta- the days of stockpiling parts for produc- Many manufacturers and other aviation occurred over the last year, the fear is that tion Association webinar, he added that tion predictability. Logistics had advanced businesses have publicly referenced those labor—and along with it, expertise—is lost. economic signs were very encouraging to the point where ordering parts on- issues. GAMA chairman Nicolas Chabbert, During the NATA webinar, Vincent and some forecasts suggest “rocketship- demand still provided predictability, even senior v-p of Daher’s Aircraft division emphasized that point. The industry like” acceleration. with a global base of suppliers. and CEO of Daher Aircraft and Kodiak slowed down so quickly that it rapidly Vincent also differentiated between Bunce warned early in the pandemic Aircraft, called it one of the top issues for shed its talent and disrupted the supply this recovery and that of a decade ago that the “supply chain becomes very crit- the association, adding that “the industry chain, he added. “We need to bring peo- with used aircraft transactions remaining ical to what the course will be as we go has had to adjust and mitigate so we can ple back into our industry who have either strong and inventory low, and a return of through the rest of the year.” continue production.” He noted his com- been scared off or fired off. We also need interest in the light-jet sector. Even so, A year into the pandemic, some of the pany has faced these issues. “We see the to find younger talent.” Vincent warned that it could take a few dynamics have changed but many of the demand. My concern is supply.” Bunce expressed concern that even years before the OEMs return to pre- same concerns linger. “It’s a combination president Dave Paddock if the supplier is a sixth or seventh tier, pandemic levels as supply chain con- of a lot of things,” Bunce said. Rolling shut- agreed. “We are facing new constraints,” it might require specific expertise that straints temper overall industry growth. downs have continued globally and without he said during GAMA’s State of the Indus- could be lost to unemployment and then He noted that most OEMs are forecasting predictability, preventing or stalling trans- try event. These constraints are partic- lured into another industry. “All of a sud- flat growth at least for now. port of parts, he noted. Some locals have ularly noted on the completions side, den they get a brighter offer from some General Aviation Manufacturers Asso- shut down factories, backlogging work. Paddock said. But maintenance activities other industry that loves that expertise ciation president and CEO Pete Bunce Airlines often will carry parts in their also have experienced disruptions as it because these are highly skilled techni- agrees with that sentiment. Bunce told cargo belly space, but many routes have has been difficult to move parts and mate- cians,” Bunce said. “If they get sucked AIN that while his “crystal ball is no bet- been curtailed, shrinking that capac- rials around the globe. off to another industry, that hampers our ter than the others, all the conditions are ity. During the pandemic, a significant In its year-end results released in April, ability to rebuild that expertise.” right with demand out there. With the amount of commerce moved online, Pilatus Aircraft echoed those sentiments: To help buffer that trend, U.S. Congress backlog that we have, we could have a requiring shipping “that is filling up all of “The biggest challenge was not only dealing in the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan really good 2021 and 2022.” the traditional ,” Bunce said. with the pandemic itself but, in particular, included a cost-sharing program to help The business and general aviation In addition, some small shops have finding answers to disrupted supply chains aerospace manufacturers and maintenance markets fared far better than the com- struggled to remain open as they have had and the threat of production delays.” organizations to retain or recall workers. mercial sector during the pandemic, outbreaks or faced financial difficulties. Bombardier president and CEO Eric Bunce, who strongly backed that measure, Bunce added. But he cautioned that sup- In other cases, companies have had to lay Martel said supply chain was an area said, “This program will help strengthen ply chain issues remain an overarching off workers, eroding the talent base with where the company is constantly mon- our fragile supply chain, keep highly skilled concern for both corners of the market, expertise that is hard to replace, he said. itoring—“We’re talking about it every workers in the industry, as well as support noting that suppliers are intertwined in Explaining the global nature of the sup- week.” He praised his team for managing some of the smaller companies that need both markets. ply base to a U.S. congressional panel in issues that cropped up, particularly with assistance to maintain operations.” n

14 EBACE Convention News \ June 2021 \ ainonline.com Pandemic lessons: Ontic looks to support suppliers by Kerry Lynch

While many manufacturers have strug- counterintuitive pre-pandemic because gled with logistics surrounding their people wanted to use low-cost regions supply chains throughout the pandemic, as a solution. But because our business UK-headquartered legacy parts manufac- model was basically low volume, high turer Ontic benefited from relying on a mix, high complexity, our supply chain is largely local supply base. However, Ontic almost without exception localized.” had also learned lessons from its reliance That turned out to be a “huge initial on a base of small suppliers, some of bonus for us” because Ontic did not have to which were single sources for materials, navigate around cross-border restrictions. With a $230 million expansion set to begin at its Rotterdam refinery and a similar according to CEO Gareth Hall. Ontic executives were able to visit most of project already underway at its Singapore location, Neste expects its annual output of Ontic—which produces and/or sup- its suppliers early on and “really get a sense” sustainable alternative fuel to exponentially increase by 2023. ports more than 7,000 parts for aircraft how the pandemic was affecting them. ranging from the Sikorsky Sea King and “I wouldn’t say we weren’t impacted,” Bell 206 to the Gulfstream IV and Boeing Hall added, but the primary concerns of Neste moving forward with plans to 777 and engines such as the Pratt & Whit- obtaining the necessary materials and expand sustainable fuel refinery ney JT15D—faced a range of uncertainties components for its manufacturing oper- when the pandemic spread globally. ations were reduced. However, the big- Major sustainable fuel producer Neste has industry in 2019. The SAF component of Its first focus was managing the employ- gest risk revolved around the impact of finally greenlit a long-discussed expansion the blended Neste fuel can o!er an up ment base: ensuring that those who could the pandemic on smaller shops and the project at its Rotterdam refinery. Requir- to 80 percent lifecycle carbon-emissions work from home do so, enhancing clean- potential for closures from either the ing an outlay of approximately $231 million, reduction over the same volume of con- ing guidelines (Hall called those helping virus or financial constraints. the expansion, which is expected to be ventional jet fuel it replaces. with that effort the “unsung heroes” of Worried about its suppliers suffering completed by mid-2023, will add another “We have made a commitment to the pandemic), and employing practices from cash-flow issues, Ontic approached 500,000 tons of sustainable aviation fuel support our customers to reduce green- such as bubble groupings to limit virus its smaller suppliers and offered them pre- (SAF) a year to the plant’s annual capacity. house gas emissions by up to 20 mil- spread opportunities. payment to help get them through the ini- Neste’s current output capacity for SAF lion tons by 2030,” said Peter Vanacker, Ontic determined that it was deemed tial part of the pandemic. “It was a really is 100,000 tons a year, but combined with president and CEO of the -based an essential business, but it did shut down interesting response, not one you would upgrades underway at the company’s fuel supplier, citing SAF’s considerable for a day “really just to kind of assess what expect,” Hall said. Roughly two-thirds Singapore production facility, that total is potential in that arena. “As the aviation we needed to do and make sense of the turned down the offer, saying they did not expected to increase more than tenfold— industry is likely to resume on a growth guidance because it was emerging. It was need the prepayment at the moment but to 1.5 million tons—each year by the end of trajectory after its recovery from the less than clear at the time,” Hall said. that Ontic should use that upfront cash 2023. There is certainly room for growth Covid-19 pandemic, there is a growing However, its focus quickly turned to to support others that were in need of it. in the field, as SAF accounted for just 0.01 need and urgency to act on aviation- maintaining its supplier base, he noted. “I think that’s probably a different percent of all fuel used by the aviation related emissions.” C.E. “Once we realized we could stay open and behavior than you would normally see,” we can keep our people safe, our next con- Hall said, but he added that the response cern is obviously the supply chain.” “probably defined the mood at the time.” With advancements in logistics, many Ontic did end up making some signif- manufacturers have turned to a global icant investments with certain suppli- “They had been in business for a long time.” batches of relatively small parts, finding supply base and just-in-time delivery. But ers, relying on trust and goodwill, but it But overall the company was able to mini- transport options was a little easier. Ontic, which has operations in the UK, was “by far the right thing to do,” he said, mize that impact. Having said that, Hall also Regarding business demand, Ontic California, New York, and North Caro- adding that it has paid dividends both in noted that the experience did cause an eval- did not see “too much degradation” in lina, has largely relied on a regional and terms of maintaining supply and helping uation of how to approach its supply base. its business aviation work, with most of national supplier base. “There’s a lot of businesses survive. Ontic did consider acquiring some of the the drop coming from its business involv- debate around supply chain,” Hall said. Ontic did lose one machine shop that smaller, at-risk operations but concluded ing airliners. However, military demand “Having a localized supply chain was closed permanently, Hall said, adding, that that wasn’t necessarily a solution. As picked up, Hall said, and Ontic found that the major business for small suppliers, by cross-training its technicians, it was Ontic typically received really good ser- able to shift work to where demand was. vice from them, he noted. “The downside Ontic also saw customers moving up was that during these circumstances, they orders as it navigated through the pan- became high risk because they didn’t have demic and priorities changed. This caused flexibility,” he said. “It made us go back and some challenges to ensure it could meet reassess which suppliers we have that could shifting demand, Hall said. In addition, represent a single point of failure.” OEMs have begun to “rethink their strat- Ontic is now looking at possibilities for egies” toward their in-house product multiple suppliers to build in redundancy portfolios. This has spurred multiple con- and balance risk. versations about transferring some of that Hall was encouraged that taking some work to Ontic, he said. of the proactive steps to protect its supply What might be more of value to them to chain will help the company come out in keep in-house pre-pandemic may be dif- a strong position. ferent post-pandemic, Hall said. “There’s While Ontic relies on a supply base, it a number of organizations going through too is a supplier, of parts that OEMs no that review. Because of our unique posi- longer support. But Hall said the com- tion in the market and the relationships Ontic, which supports a range of legacy parts for a variety of products such as for the Pratt & pany did not encounter the issues that that we have with the OEMs, we are in a Whitney JT15D, jumped in to support its smaller supplier base as concerns for the long-term some large-component suppliers faced. good position to participate in those con- viability of those shops began to surface during the pandemic. Because Ontic primarily produces small versations and then offer a solution.” n

ainonline.com \ June 2021 \ EBACE Convention News 15 transporting the resulting synthetic fuel to deputy accountable manager, Claudio Peer, Climate expert tells aviation where it is needed by aircraft operators. reported growing interest among business Patt urged the business aviation commu- aircraft owners, who have plenty of ques- nity to pay attention to new European Union tions about how they can use the new fuel. to back carbon capture legislation anticipated for this summer that Peer also acknowledged the logistical will introduce requirements for minimum challenges associated with all the carbon- by Charles Alcock blends of synthetic fuel in aviation fuel. He reducing measures. “If we have to move predicted this will start modestly at just 2 it [SAF] from Singapore [where it is man- In debates over the best steps to achiev- The trouble is that, for now, these percent in 2025, but is due to rise to 100 ufactured] to the other side of the world, ing zero-carbon goals for aviation, some solutions don’t come cheap. The CarbFix percent by 2050. In the meantime, he said, it won’t happen,” he commented. “But I see sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) as Project to store emissions underground in the industry can expect more aviation car- am sure we have a good chance to make it a somewhat limited stopgap measure to Iceland is resulting in costs that amount bon taxes, even though he doesn’t feel these work if we put our heads together.” be superseded by longer-term advances to around $1.80 per liter of fossil fuel are likely to be high enough to discourage Jet Aviation said that, working with sis- in propulsion technology, such as elec- burned, which Patt said is around three demand for air transport. ter company Gulfstream, it has bought 1.4 tric- and hydrogen-powered aircraft. times average global prices. He predicted For now, though, SAF seems to be the million gallons of SAF since 2011. The busi- However, according to Anthony Patt, that this cost should drop by as much as business aviation sector’s clearest option ness aviation services group plans to start professor of climate policy at Swiss 80 percent by 2040, to just 35 cents per for making some progress in reducing the offering the fuel at FBOs in university ETH Zurich, even those solu- liter. “But you are probably going to have industry’s carbon footprint. Jet Aviation’s and Rotterdam in the Netherlands. n tions won’t be sufficient for aviation to accept a doubling in costs if you want to play its part in achieving the Paris to achieve true climate-neutral aviation,” Agreement’s goal of a net-zero world he warned the business aviation audience. in 2050. Using direct air capture to make syn- In an EBACE Connect webinar on net- thetic fuels involves an easier process and, Europe’s regulations help zero carbon emissions last month, Patt according to Patt, has unlimited potential made the case for aviation to get behind to scale up. However, the cost currently what he portrayed as more progressive amounts to around $3 per liter, although it move technology forward initiatives such as direct air capture of car- should drop to more like $1 by 2030. bon dioxide from jet-A fuel. He explained The main driver for reducing production by Jerry Siebenmark that this process can either involve stor- costs will be lower electricity prices, the ing the emissions underground to prevent professor explained. And these are most The regulatory framework that exists in challenge we have, not the framework, is climate damage or, better still, using what likely to be achieved in sunnier parts of the Europe for certification of new airframes, the capacity of the regulator side to really gets captured to make synthetic fuels world, like and Saudi Arabia, which powerplants, and other aerospace tech- be able to deal with all these innovations.” from hydrocarbons. could mean additional costs associated with nology is flexible enough to adapt to Based on the observations he’s made in electric- and hydrogen-powered aircraft his travels to other countries such as and other advanced air mobility (AAM) and the U.S., “I think we have a big, big technologies. But it’s also a framework opportunity in Europe now to be one of the that needs additional regulatory capacity big leaders in this new advanced air mobil- to keep pace with innovation, according ity if we ensure that there’s enough capacity to a panel of experts during an EBACE of the regulator side,” Dingemanse said. n Connect seminar on May 19. First and foremost, the panelists agreed, is that any new aviation technol- NEWS note ogy undergoes the same level of safety Pratt & Whitney (P&W) has launched a scrutiny as any technology before it. “The carbon offset service for operators of regulations that are in place are on the P&W-powered business jets with en- one hand capable of both accommodat- gines enrolled in its Eagle Service Plan ing innovation [and] on the other hand (ESP) maintenance program. Through ensuring that safety is being guaranteed,” this carbon credit program, operators said Joachim Lucking, the European Com- can offset their aircraft’s carbon footprint. mission’s head of unit for aviation safety. “Pratt & Whitney has a long-standing A good example of the accommodation commitment to offering environmentally of innovation is EASA’s type certification responsible products and solutions to its Aviation announced the Citation CJ4 Gen2 in February. in June of Pipistrel’s Velis Electro two- customers—from being one of the first seat trainer, Lucking added. “They have companies to certify its engines for use been able to certify the airplane despite with sustainable aviation fuels to finding DALaviation named first Cessna Citation the rules [that] were written in a pre-elec- ways to minimize the impact of its oper- CJ4 Gen2 customer in Europe tric age,” he said. “In addition to certifi- ations and engines on the environment cation, they needed to create a number throughout their entire lifecycle,” said DALaviation is the first Euro- options; new ambient lighting, and a gal- of rules around this in relation to opera- P&W v-p of customer service Satheesh- pean customer for the Cessna Citation ley with improved storage. tions of such an electric airplane, training kumar Kumarasingam. CJ4 Gen2, announced on “Citation business jets have a solid rep- of pilots, etc. And they have been able to Under this program, globally recog- May 19. The $10.75 million twinjet will be utation among our customers as reliable, deal with all these challenges by using the nized environmentally sustainable solu- the third aircraft to join the Geneva-based high-quality aircraft, and we are proud existing rules in a flexible way.” tions provider South Pole, will estimate charter operator’s fleet, which includes a to be the first company in Europe to add Robert Dingemanse, PAL-V CEO and and compensate aircraft emissions for CJ2+ and a CJ1. the CJ4 Gen2 to our charter fleet,” said co-founder, said that “in general” EASA’s the customer, making the service con- The Citation CJ4 received EASA type DAL-aviation founder and CEO Nicolas regulatory framework has accommodated venient and transparent. Customers pay certification in 2011, and certification of Trefeil. “Flexibility and wellness are top-of- his company’s development of the Liberty service charges on their ESP invoice the Gen2’s interior is expected in June, mind for our customers as travel resumes, flying car, which in February received a based on flown hours and also receive the Wichita airframer said. Textron Avi- and our client base is growing as people “clear path” to certification from EASA. a certificate confirming that their carbon ation announced the Gen2 in February are increasingly turning to charter services “That’s what we found out,” Dingemanse emissions have been offset. as an upgraded model with new folding for an exclusive and comfortable flying said. “It takes time, about 10 years, but P&W parent Raytheon Technologies airstairs with a lower step to the ground, experience. The CJ4 Gen2 will help us it works.” Still, some adaptations to has also committed to offsetting emis- step lighting, and handrail; added seating continue expanding our business.” J.S. pilot training had to be made to the legal sions of its corporate aircraft fleet. " framework, he added. “I think the main

16 EBACE Convention News \ June 2021 \ ainonline.com under that of an ultra-long-range business jet. Defforge said the model has “opened the door…to a much wider market.” He was further encouraged by the momentum is sus- taining in 2021. While conceding that 2020 was a difficult year for Airbus, it marked one of the strongest at Airbus Corporate Jets, with six deliveries—matching the After recently company’s production plans for the ACJ receiving the first family—and orders for 12. That marked ACJ TwoTwenty a book-to-bill ratio of 2:1, Defforge noted. fuselage at its In 2021, he added, “We started the year plant in Mirabel, with the same spirit and the same cus- , Airbus tomer engagement as 2020,” including Corporate Jets landing another order for an ACJ319neo anticipates handing and delivery of three ACJs. over the first green The ACJ319neo order, from an unnamed aircraft to Comlux customer, boosts the tally for that model in early 2022 for to six. In all, Airbus Corporate Jets has completion. received orders for 16 of the ACJ320 fam- ily from 12 customers. The latest order will have the ACJ319neo equipped with ACJ220 completions is also progressing CFM International’s LEAP-1A engines. according to plan and highlighted an air- As for the deliveries reported thus far First ACJ TwoTwenty craft configurator application that Airbus in 2021, two involve ACJ320s and another Corporate Jets has developed to enable was for the ACJ350, marking the third of customers to select interior layouts that model to be handed over. fuselage arrives in Mirabel and styling. Defforge also announced a partner- While not announcing more orders ship agreement with Latécoère Inter- by Kerry Lynch for the newest member of its ACJ fam- connection Systems (LIS) to develop an ily, Airbus Corporate Jets executives were ACJ Smart LiFi (light fidelity) monitor. Less than nine months after Airbus Cor- Benoit Defforge said the development upbeat about the reception the aircraft Designed as a plug-and-play system, the porate Jets launched the ACJ TwoTwenty of the TwoTwenty is “progressing in has received, with Defforge saying the 4K monitor will incorporate the latest with six orders in hand, the first fuselage line with our plans,” with final assembly company has found the “sweet spot” for wireless communication technology to has arrived at the company’s A220 final anticipated to begin around mid-year and a model it is positioning as “an alternative offer Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and LiFi con- assembly line in Mirabel, Canada, keep- first flight later in the year, “which means to the traditional large-cabin business jet nectivity and provide for analog audio ing the aircraft on pace for induction into it will be quick.” and the bizliner.” output and USB-C ports, as well as completions early next year and delivery Airbus expects to hand over the first edi- The ACJ TwoTwenty offers six VIP HDMI connections. by 2023, the airframer announced on May tion in early 2022 to Comlux, which is the living areas for up to 19 passengers and The system can be used for audio- 17. Kicking off the EBACE Connect media exclusive outfitter for the first 15 aircraft. a 5,650-nm range, but at a price that Air- video on-demand, casting, mirroring, web day, Airbus Corporate Jets president Defforge added that the development of bus Corporate Jets executives say will be browsing, live TV, and videoconferencing. Airbus Corporate Jets will offer the moni- tor for retrofit and new cabin outfitting by year-end. n KlasJet takes on ‘most demanding’ repatriation mission

KlasJet, an Avia Solutions Group private jet 10 flights—including aircraft repositioning days, despite working through logistical, NEWS note charter company, took on what it said was and overfly permissions from 14 countries medical, and operational issues. Using a After predicting a tough second-half one of its “most demanding assignments” on three continents, crew positioning and Boeing 737-500, KlasJet compartmental- of 2020 following the Covid-19 out- when it repatriated a group of Covid-19 pos- safe accommodation, and Covid testing. ized the aircraft to keep passengers, crew, break, Geneva-based charter broker itive workers from Ghana to South Korea. A mission that would normally take up and onboard medical sta! from spreading Luna Jets finished the year with “the The mission lasted five days and required to two weeks to plan instead took five the virus. best performance in our 14-year history, The mission required organizing multi- mainly fueled by an all-time-high fourth ple crews who needed to be tested, reposi- quarter,” said managing director Alain tioned, transported, and accommodated in Leboursier. Revenue at Luna Jets rose isolation. It also required specially prepared 30 percent in 2020, translating to gains and packaged food to be delivered along in market share and expectations for an with the requirement to dispose of any even stronger 2021. waste safely. Additionally, ground transpor- In 2020, the company organized tation had to be arranged in minute detail. more than 6,000 flight movements In case any technical issues arose during and expects that number to climb to the flights, an aircraft technician from Klas- 7,000 this year. Already, its private jet Jet’s sister company, FL Technics, accompa- charter activity this year is 20 percent nied flight crews. higher than pre-Covid levels, helped by KlasJet COO Ugnius Valiauga added a “record number” of new clients and that knowledge the operator gained increased demand for longer trips on before and during the pandemic prepared larger aircraft, according to Luna Jets. it for this mission. “Our teams are proof “As we see our existing clients starting that we have the operational readiness to fly again and new clients taking off, Avia Solutions Group’s KlasJet team pulled out all the stops to repatriate a group of and the right attitude to deal with what- we are therefore expecting a very strong Covid-19-positive workers from Ghana to South Korea, a five-day, 10-flight mission. ever comes our way,” he said. J.S. summer 2021,” Leboursier added. #

ainonline.com \ June 2021 \ EBACE Convention News 17 to visit with our customers in person.” Pilatus CEO Markus Bucher said his Bizav OEMs optimistic about new customers company’s biggest challenge has been supply- chain disruption, calling it “the by Kerry Lynch single biggest risk in our business.” Bucher said the company has had to Business aviation OEMs are increasingly people and they will stay in our business.” “The pandemic was challenging last evaluate supply channels moving for- optimistic about an industry rebound with Seeing this opportunity, Textron Avia- year, but I think it has created for our ward, specifically “whether our sourcing reports of as many as one million custom- tion last summer launched its “A Differ- industry an amazing opportunity looking strategy is right.” ers flying private for the first time during ent Sky Awaits” campaign to educate on forward as borders reopen,” Martel said, Draper echoed concerns about supply 2020, but the company leaders believe they safe travel through private aviation, said noting the anticipation of a bit of a surge chain, saying Textron Aviation is seeing still face a range of challenges from ongo- Textron Aviation president and CEO Ron when that happens. supply constraints and inflation with ing restrictions and supply-chain shortages Draper. “That campaign was very well “The outlook for aviation is strong,” raw materials. to workforce diversity. The heads of nine received. And since that time, I think agreed Detwiler. However, despite the complexities of OEMs gave their views on how the pan- we’re all seeing the industry data of new However, while presenting an opti- the pandemic, Daher CEO Didier Kayat demic has shaped the industry and dis- entrants coming into private aviation.” mistic picture, the OEM heads agreed praised the efforts of both the FAA and cussed their outlook on the future during Burns further noted that Gulfstream that they face obstacles. Detwiler EASA, saying they “have been very help- an EBACE Connect Keynote “Lightning has seen first-time buyers through the pointed to pandemic-related quaran- ful and supportive…they have been very Round with the CEOs” session. pandemic. “People started to reassess tines and restrictions, as well as “the efficient” even with the limits in contact. “We were not really prepared for such a their situation.” continued challenge of not being able The industry leaders also mulled issues pandemic crisis,” conceded Dassault Avia- such as workforce diversity, bringing in tion CEO Éric Trappier. “We had to adapt a younger generation of workers, and ourselves.” But, he added, the industry efforts to remain sustainable. learned it could adapt during a major crisis. “It’s important to emphasize our indus- Bombardier president and CEO Éric try is more than just pilots, mechanics, Martel noted that his company made this technicians. It’s engineers, accountants, shift as it was transitioning to a pure-play specialists, programmers, public relations, business aviation company. “This was not and business management specialists,” without pain,” he said, adding that like said Amalfitano. “And we need to find new

the rest of the industry, “we needed first INTOSH ways to attract people to our continually c to take care of the safety of our people… evolving industry. The aviation industry

that was a challenging time for all of us.” DAVID M encompasses multiple career paths and is Gulfstream president and CEO Mark During a virtual EBACE Connect session, the heads of major business aviation companies an attractive industry with exciting new Burns noted that his company made a expressed encouragement about newcomers to the market. technologies.” n decision to focus on health and safety, business continuity, and good stewardship, not only in terms of fiscal discipline but also to ensure that investments continued This involved a focus on health, safety, to be made throughout the pandemic. Bombardier lays out plans and environmental considerations “The first thing we learned is how much during design, production, support, and we missed seeing our customers face to end-of-life. face,” added Airbus Corporate Jets pres- to build on Global 7500 EPD Operational lifecycles, including an ident Benoit Defforge. However, the evaluation of noise and fuel burn, were industry was able to adapt, underscoring by Kerry Lynch considered, along with recyclability and another key lesson: “The private aviation recovery rates for end-of-life. Bombar- industry is quite resilient.” Bombardier, which last year paved new about environmental lifecycles. But the dier reported that material recycling and Michael Amalfitano, president and ground when its Global 7500 became Global 7500 was the very first from the energy recovery aggregate to an 85 per- CEO of Embraer Executive Jets, agreed the first business jet to achieve an Envi- business jet community. cent recoverability rate by weight for the with that sentiment, saying, “During the ronmental Product Declaration (EPD) Bombardier called the EPD an import- Global 7500. pandemic period, business aviation fared through the International EPD System, is ant milestone in its overarching envi- Through its assessment of factors such very well. The industry has proven to be planning to pursue similar declarations ronmental sustainability strategy, saying as CO2 emissions, recyclability rate, water resilient.” Business aviation provides for on all of its new aircraft and upgrades it has not only provided lessons learned scarcity, and renewable energy, Bombar- fewer “touchpoints,” attracting travelers moving forward, the company said. about taking a more sustainable approach dier said, it was able to design a Mach 0.925, during the pandemic. Third-party verified to ISO standards, throughout the lifecycle of the product 7,700-nm, four-zone business jet that “So, in turn, we have seen more first-time the EPD discloses detailed environmen- but has also helped the company and its emits 15 percent less CO2 than previous- buyers than ever before, while corpora- tal information about the Global 7500’s suppliers develop more efficient products. generation ultra-long-range aircraft. tions are also experiencing renewed inter- lifecycle, such as CO2 emissions, noise, A Bombardier Eco-Design team applied Bombardier has received a positive est in private aviation,” Amalfitano said. water consumption, and other key envi- product innovation lifecycle processes response to this effort from the business Boeing Business Jets president James ronmental impact indicators. The Inter- throughout the development process to aviation community and from its cus- Detwiler added, “We have seen a significant national EPD System has built a library of ensure that the ultra-long-range busi- tomers. “Our Global 7500 customers and increase in interest from a very important published EPDs for products from more ness jet minimizes its impact on the operators…appreciate that this EPD allows segment of our customer population, and than 30 countries to foster transparency environment from design to end-of-life. them to properly evaluate the environmen- that is the charter business.” Noting reports tal impact of their aircraft over its lifetime,” that more than a million people have trav- the company said. “With a greater focus eled private for the first time, Detwiler said, on the environment and with customers “They now see the value of chartering a pri- becoming increasingly savvy and informed, vate jet for both work and leisure purposes.” our sales teams also received numerous A year ago executives questioned inquiries from potential buyers interested whether the pandemic would help turn in the environmental aspects of our prod- some travelers to business aviation, Martel ucts, including the Global 7500.” noted. “A year ago, this was just a theory, The EPD provided customers with the but it became true through the year. I am ability to do an honest, apples-to-apples confident that if we do a good job together comparison of the environmental impact as a community, we will attract a lot of new The Global 7500 is paving new ground with its environmental product declaration. of aircraft products, Bombardier added. n

18 EBACE Convention News \ June 2021 \ ainonline.com flight is performed illegally, it could inval- That is something we as an industry must UK prosecution shines light idate any otherwise applicable insurance promote to the traveling public.” coverage, including the passenger’s own Hill fears the Sala incident has had little life insurance.” impact on unscrupulous operators, not- on illegal charter flights Passengers on an irregular charter ing, “Helicopter owners don’t think the “think they have scored a great deal with- incident applies to them, and fixed-wing by Kate Sarsfield out realizing that they are being flown aircraft operators have already moved on.” by a pilot who is generally not qualified He singles out the cost-sharing mar- A little more than two years have passed incur a fine and imprisonment, it added. for the type of flight being conducted,” ket for particular criticism. While this since the crash off the French coast of a In the aftermath of the crash, the CAA said EBAA COO Robert Baltus. “The practice was established to allow private Piper Malibu that ended the life of Argen- launched a campaign to raise awareness aircraft is maintained to a different pilots to build up their hours by sharing tinian soccer player Emiliano Sala. The of the “serious risks” of illegal public standard and less flight preparation has the costs of the flight down the middle English Premier League star—who was on transport flights. It joined forces with a been conducted than for flights under an with travelers heading to the same desti- his way to , where he had just been host of “stakeholders,” including soccer’s AOC. In short, they have no idea of the nation, Hill argues that it is increasingly signed by Cardiff City—was the sole pas- UK governing body, the Football Associa- risk and consequences of being flown to being used as illegal charter through the senger on the U.S.-registered piston- single tion, and other sporting organizations “to lower standards.” back door. “It has become so relaxed to (N264DB) being flown by pilot David target specific areas where we think the He splits the law flouters into three the point where it is nearly impossible to Ibbotson, who was also killed in the crash. risk of using illegal charters might arise.” groups: the clueless, the careless, and the prove a criminal act.” The accident on Jan. 21, 2019, made It said: “Agents may genuinely not criminal. “The first two parties either don’t Hill’s view is supported by the ACA’s headlines globally due to Sala’s celebrity. understand the law and regulatory understand that they operate illegally or Hogben, who said that even during a ramp The European charter industry noted at requirements in relation to the carrying of are not paying attention to the specificities check at an FBO, passengers on a sus- the time that the crash bore the hallmarks paying passengers and so we simply want of their flight,” Baltus explained. “This is pected illegal charter are often instructed of an illegal or “gray” charter operation. to ensure they do not book travel for their the group that we [in the industry] try to by the pilot to say they have not paid for Under European regulations, if a flight clients with unlicensed operators.” educate on an ongoing basis.” the flight, rendering a criminal prosecu- is operated for hire and reward, it is clas- tion hopeless. “It’s very difficult to bring sified as an air-taxi service and must be these operators to justice,” said Hogben. approved by the relevant aviation author- He points to only one prosecution ity to carry paying passengers. The aircraft in the UK “in recent history” that has must also be approved for this role and resulted in a prison sentence. The guilty piloted by a professionally trained crew party in that case was Robert Murga- under an air operator certificate (AOC). troyd, the pilot of a Piper PA28, who was UK investigators confirmed the indus- detained in March for three years and six try’s hunch about the legality of Sala’s months for carrying out an illegal charter flight in March 2020. In its final report flight in September 2017. into the crash, the Air Accidents Investiga- Despite holding only a private pilot tion Branch (AAIB) concluded that Ibbot- license, Murgatroyd charged his three son—a private pilot who was unqualified passengers £500 ($580) each for a bird- to carry passengers for hire or reward— watching trip, from Manchester to the Isle received a fee to transport Sala. It also The Piper Malibu PA46-310P that crashed, ending the life of Argentinian soccer player Emiliano Sala. of Barra in . The piston-single found that Ibbotson, whose body has never was 193 kg (426 pounds) over the aircraft’s been recovered, had been paid on numer- The CAA also distributed new guidance The criminal group is of more concern, maximum takeoff weight of 975 kg, and it ous occasions to carry passengers, in bla- material to airfields and charter operators he admitted, and it requires the assistance crashed into a field soon after the flight tant breach of regulations. highlighting the safety risks for anyone of aviation authorities to bring prosecu- began. Nobody was seriously injured. According to the AAIB report, Sala— using illegal public transport. tions. “In that area, we are supporting the Murgatroyd was convicted on seven whose remains were retrieved from the “We are also working closely with the ACA authorities with data on flights provided by charges, including recklessly endanger- aircraft wreckage on the seabed on Feb. 6, and UK trade body the British Business and our members and by education if needed. ing the safety of an aircraft or persons in 2019—had been exposed to potentially General Aviation Association [BBGA] to This is an ongoing activity,” he said. an aircraft, conducting a public transport lethal levels of carbon monoxide, which help us tackle the problem,” the CAA added. EBAA and other industry associations flight without an AOC, and acting as a pilot may have incapacitated Ibbotson. The pair are founding members of the admit that it has been difficult to gauge without holding an appropriate license. “The Sala crash really did highlight the Air Charter Safety Alliance. Launched in what impact the Sala crash and the inves- Hogben hopes David Henderson’s prose- dangers of flying with an unregulated oper- December 2020, this coalition of global tigators’ damning findings have had on cution by the CAA, if successful, will send ator,” said Glenn Hogben, chief executive trade associations—including the Euro- illegal charter activity in Europe, due to a strong signal to potential illicit operators. of the Air Charter Association (ACA). “The pean Business Aviation Association the Covid-19 pandemic, which has stifled For its part, the CAA said it takes illegal business and general aviation community (EBAA) and its counterparts in Africa, the travel market since early 2020. “There public transport flying “extremely seri- has been fighting this scourge for many years, Asia, the Middle East, and the U.S.—has is no clear measure to see if the activity ously.” It calls the practice “a clear safety with little impact, but it took a high-profile, launched an online educational campaign has changed as there is no overall data risk” to unsuspecting passengers and said horrifying incident like this one to bring this to warn the wider industry and the public available and because Covid-19 travel it undermines the livelihood of safety- practice to the public’s attention.” of the “dangers of illegal charter,” encour- habits have changed,” said Baltus. conscious, law-abiding operators. “We will Determined to answer calls from legiti- age individuals to report gray charter As Europe slowly emerges from lock- continue to investigate and prosecute indi- mate commercial operators, the UK Civil activities, and “hopefully dissuade those down over the coming months, the viduals engaged in illegal public transport Aviation Authority (CAA) has launched seeking to compromise safety for profit.” pent-up demand for travel is likely to flights and will always push for the stron- a prosecution against David Henderson, ACA’s Hogben said illegal charter “goes provide rich pickings for unscrupulous gest possible sentences,” the CAA said. the individual believed to be responsible against everything our industry works operators and for unsuspecting custom- The agency urges anyone “thinking for arranging Sala’s flight. Henderson’s hard to deliver. It increases risk to passen- ers looking for a good deal to fly privately. about paying for a flight in a light aircraft” trial is scheduled to begin on October 18 gers, damages the reputation of our indus- “Many people will use these services out to check that the individual or company in Cardiff, and it is hoped that a success- try, and impacts careers and businesses.” of ignorance and because they are typi- conducting the flight has an AOC. ful prosecution will set an example to The benefits of using established pub- cally cheaper than hiring an AOC opera- Adam Twidell, founder and chief exec- potential future rule breakers. lic transport providers are clear, Hogben tor to conduct the flight,” warned John utive of one of Europe’s largest business “There is no typical sanction for illegal explained: “An AOC holder takes all of the Hill, chief pilot and head of operations aircraft brokers, PrivateFly, urges the charter,” said the CAA, as each case is operational risk of public transport and is for UK-based charter company Capital industry to remain scrupulous. “The most “treated individually.” However, a breach responsible if something goes wrong. For Air Services. “Public transport operators important part we can all play is to always of Article 250, under Schedule 13 of the private owners who allow their aircraft to are more expensive because of the over- report suspicious activity, no matter how Air Navigation Order legislation—the be used for illegal public charter, that risk heads involved in meeting the required little evidence there appears to be,” said charges brought against Henderson—can and liability remain with them—and if a levels of oversight, safety, and security. Twidell. n

ainonline.com \ June 2021 \ EBACE Convention News 19 getting the industry to 100 percent [SAF].” be honest with everybody that producing With mandate looming, Many in the business aviation industry this way costs more than making petro- are interested in the fuel, according to leum. It’s typically capital intensive and Joao Martins, Jet Aviation’s vice president that means investing for the long term, Europe looks to future of SAF for European regional FBO operations where you need stability in the market and general manager of the company’s for sustainable aviation fuels.” by Curt Epstein Zurich location. “We know there are cus- Neste is among those businesses that tomers from all of our lines of business are ramping up the production of SAF, Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has been a like amount of conventional jet-A. asking for SAF, [including] the MRO, the according to Jonathan Wood, the Finland- viewed as a vital part of the business avi- While there is growing talk about the completions, aircraft management, char- based company’s v-p for renewable avia- ation industry’s decarbonization efforts future of electrification and hydrogen- ter, FBO customers,” he said. tion. “In terms of production, we have since 2009 when general aviation groups powered aircraft, those technologies are Yet widespread adoption of SAF still about 100,000 tonnes’ worth of capacity issued the Business Aviation Commit- not near the point where they can be con- faces hurdles ranging from the most basic currently available and product being dis- ment on Climate Change (BACCC). sidered for long-haul aircraft. “Certainly of education about the safety and benefits tributed across Europe, in , Included in that document’s aspirational the products we are producing are for of the fuel to the current price premium and indeed into Asia,” he said. goals was the reduction of CO2 emissions long-range and medium-range flying, and over conventional jet fuel to availability. Wood described a $1.5 billion invest- by 50 percent by 2050 relative to 2005. the gas turbine won’t be replaced for a “I think foremost among fellow operators ment in infrastructure that will increase More recently, the European Union has very long time,” said Frank Moesta, senior I have spoken to…is that misconception that amount more than tenfold by the committed to climate neutrality in 2050 v-p for strategy and future programs with about safety, and that’s why it’s very start of 2023. While Neste’s current pro- and intends to increase its 2030 climate Rolls-Royce Deutschland. “We obviously important that we stress again that [SAF] duction relies upon the HEFA production ambitions by cutting emissions by at least are committed as an industry and as an is safe to use,” said Juergen Wiese, head pathway, it is looking ahead to a second 55 percent compared with 1990 levels, and industry player to introduce SAF.” of BMW’s flight department and EBAA phase of technology that can utilize other included in its scope is aviation. methods and other pathways, and even to “We have committed to ambitious emis- e-fuels, which will use renewable electric- sions reduction targets to decarbonize avi- ity to create liquid fuels from hydrogen ation,” said Adina-Ioana Vălean, European and carbon taken from the atmosphere. commissioner for transport. Speaking at In her opening statement at the EBAA the recent inaugural European Business SAF Summit, commissioner Vălean said Aviation SAF Summit, she noted that “for the EU Committee expects to adopt a the European Union to hit its goals of cut- ReFuelEU Aviation legislative proposal ting emissions by at least 55 percent by before the beginning of the European 2030 and attaining carbon neutrality by summer. While the exact terms were 2050, sustainable fuels must account for an not discussed, Filip Cornelis, the Euro- increasing share of aviation’s fuel mix over pean Commission’s director for aviation, time, to reach more than 60 percent.” explained it will involve an SAF mandate That is a broad leap for the industry that “we hope to shape in a way that will as SAF usage currently accounts for less both boost the supply and uptake of sus- than 1 percent of total jet fuel use. The tainable aviation fuels but also maintain summit examined what needs to be done Events such as 2019’s pre-EBACE mass business aircraft sustainable aviation fuel refueling at and secure a level playing field for oper- for the industry to meet those goals. the UK’s have served to highlight the safety of the blended renewable fuel. ators working out of European airports.” In 2009, the BACCC identified four He believes the measure should apply to pillars of carbon reduction: improved air- Indeed, SAF has been growing in rec- chairman. “That misconception is not both domestic and international flights; craft technology, air traffic control infra- ognition over the past several years. The only on the operator side…but the airport the latter tend to burn more fuel due to structure and operational improvements, Business Aviation Coalition for Sustain- operator and tank farm operator who the longer distances involved. market-based measures such as carbon able Aviation Fuel, a group of industry have some concerns about the safety and As the geographic distribution of the offset purchases, and alternative fuels. organizations sponsored an education the technical aspects.” fuel slowly expands, a process known as Thierry Lamant, ’s session/flight demonstration at Cali- Getting those operators on board is book-and-claim will become a major tool. Falcon training program coordinator and fornia’s Van Nuys Airport in January crucial to the expansion of SAF capacity. “Certainly book-and-claim is being talked the airframer’s lead on SAF, explained that 2019. A similar event was held at the It has been described as a “chicken and about a lot at the moment,” said John the company is working continuously on UK’s Farnborough Airport ahead of that egg” question. Will there be more SAF Angus Smith, Signature Flight Support’s its product, lightening and improving air- year’s EBACE, and in January 2020, Jet because there are more users, or will EMEA managing director. “It’s enabled by frames in its efforts to increase efficiency Aviation sold the first SAF in Switzer- there be more users because there is more the substitutability of SAF for jet-A, and it and lower carbon emissions. “This is giv- land. Since then, following a number SAF? One has to come first, and the fuel is key in our view to accelerate the adop- ing us some percentage of improvement, of one-off demonstration deliveries at producers, which require investment to tion of SAF by our industry.” but it’s not a big step; each time it’s a lot various airports, continuous supplies of build the facilities that produce renew- The plan, which Signature expects to of effort for obtaining a small percentage,” the approved drop-in SAF, blended with able fuels, need the demand to come first. roll out soon across its 200-plus-location he said. Likewise, newer, more efficient conventional fossil-based jet-A at a ratio John Cooper, the director-general of worldwide FBO network, enables an oper- engine technology can also result in an of approximately 30 percent SAF, have Fuels Europe, the trade group that rep- ator to purchase SAF in an area where it’s improvement of possibly up to 15 percent. begun, mainly in the U.S. resents 40 fuel companies that operate not yet available but still receive the envi- SAF offers the biggest potential for avia- SAF can currently be produced through refineries in Europe, noted that his mem- ronmental benefits while the actual fuel is tion’s carbon reduction through its lifecycle several approved production pathways uti- bership acknowledges the changes that dispensed elsewhere. “The best analogy benefits. One big misconception about the lizing various feedstocks. The ratio of the will occur in the fuel industry over the I can give you is depositing money for a fuel is these carbon reductions are derived SAF blends is determined by the ASTM, coming years as electrification and hydro- family member at a local bank,” Smith from its actual use in the aircraft. The truth which approved the fuels as a direct replace- gen gradually supplant liquid petroleum said. “The credit is then transferred to is that what comes out of the tailpipe after ment for conventional jet-A, and while the fuels. But he singled out aviation and mar- that family member’s account in a dif- the burning of SAF is little different from blends can go as high as 50 percent, the itime as sectors where it will be difficult to ferent country, and it is withdrawn. He that emitted when burning fossil fuel. industry is already looking at utilizing 100 adopt these technologies. explained that the process would bridge Instead, rather than removing more percent SAF. Rolls-Royce did testing using “We have put together an integrated the local availability gap and enable the carbon from the ground in the form of pure SAF on its Pearl business jet engine, strategy to dramatically scale up the pro- expansion of the market. petrochemicals, the SAF production pro- as well as its Trent 1000 testbed. “The duction of low carbon liquid fuels with a Concluded Jet Aviation’s Martins: “We cess simply recycles carbon that is already products are ready and certified for 50 per- target of 150 million tonnes by 2050, and know that SAF is already starting to be in the environment. In its unblended cent blend, which we can introduce basi- that’s enough to supply all remaining liq- present [and] it is going to be the future, neat form, SAF can account for up to cally today without any problems,” said uid fuel needs across all sectors where but we still need to get there. We need to 80 percent lifecycle CO2 reduction over Moesta, “but obviously we are working on it’s still needed,” he said. “We do have to get traction to start the ball rolling.” n

20 EBACE Convention News \ June 2021 \ ainonline.com If you were asked to name one overar- EBAA chief sounds off ching concern, what would it be? Divergence of safety regulations between the EU and the UK. I would on SAF, bizav issues hope that the regulators on both sides Athar Husain would be wise, smart, and proactive by Cathy Buyck Khan, EBAA enough to understand that convergence secretary- should remain. With the in-person EBACE show canceled avionics—and we continue to build on general for a second year due to the Covid-19 that. For example, the book-and-claim How is EBAA weathering the pandemic, AIN spoke with Athar Husain system for SAF is a business aviation Covid-19 crisis? Khan, secretary-general of the European invention. It will actually help the geo- relief to remote areas; and providing This has been a challenging time for Business Aviation Association (EBAA), graphic spread of SAF uplift in a very high-priority travel for governmental everyone. In all frankness and honesty, ahead of the virtual EBACE Connect effective way. and scientific personnel involved in the I miss seeing my colleagues in the office. replacement event to get his take on Covid-19 response. EBAA is a pretty tight-knit and well- issues affecting business aviation in the The European Commission’s long- balanced outfit. I have a lot of respect for region. Though Covid-19 is still an imme- awaited ReFuelEU Aviation initiative What are the main challenges my team’s continued commitment and diate concern that he addressed, Husain aims to increase the uptake of SAF. The going forward? efforts to represent the members’ inter- Khan is very focused on what he sees as legislative proposal [Ed. Note: which Sustainability and post-Covid recovery ests throughout the pandemic. Obviously, the business aviation community’s next was not yet released when this interview rank on top of the list. They are followed it is very disappointing for all of us that biggest hurdle in Europe and elsewhere— was conducted] will likely include an by three topics that were on the agenda we had to cancel the in-person EBACE the environment. It is no secret that had SAF blending mandate. Does EBAA before the pandemic: correcting the for a second time. It is the premier event EBACE taken place this year, sustainabil- support this policy tool, which will wrong perception of business aviation for the European business aviation com- ity would have been a key focal point of increase costs and administrative bur- as a luxury, exclusive product; access to munity, with all stakeholders involved in the Geneva show, with sustainable avia- dens on the industry? infrastructure; and advocating for regu- nearly every aspect of business aviation tion fuel (SAF) at the top of the list as to We welcome the ReFuelEU Aviation lation that recognizes the specific needs flocking to Geneva to network, do busi- how business aircraft operators can most initiative because it provides for several and characteristics of business aviation. ness, and exchange views. n immediately cut carbon emissions. elements that can push the topic of SAF further, and many of them are aligned The European Union seeks to become with the policy recommendations con- carbon-neutral by 2050. How does that tained in our SAF strategic vision. A lot of impact business aviation in the region? questions still need to be answered—for The entire business aviation value instance, what the interconnection will be chain in Europe takes sustainability very with other market-based measures such seriously and the sector has been work- as CORSIA, ICAO’s carbon offsetting ing to reduce its environmental impact scheme and reduction scheme for inter- in several ways for years and long before national aviation, and the EU emission the launch of the European Green Deal. trading system. In regards to the blend- We recently presented our strategic plan ing mandate, it will even out the situation for advancing the production, availability, across the EU as all member states will and use of SAF in the region and co-hosted impose the obligation to mix jet-A with the first-ever European Business Avia- SAF, and the percentage of the blend tion SAF Summit. The SAF Summit saw should be the same across the EU as well. a ridiculous turnout, with almost 1,100 It will avoid the patchwork that is in the registrations and we recorded around making now. Also very encouraging is 650 participants at one point in time live the staggered approach—the proportion on the webinar. This proves how deeply of SAF will initially be low and gradually committed our members, operators, and increase. It is expected that the mandate Riviera Executive Aviation opened its new FBO terminal in May at Italy’s Riviera Airport. FBOs alike are to carbon-neutral growth will be placed on the fuel suppliers rather The facility, named Hadid Riviera, is managed by Hadid International Services. and a reduction in CO2 emissions. It is than on the individual aircraft operators now embedded in their DNA. and thus the additional admin burden should be minimal, at least that is what Hadid International Services-managed During the SAF Summit, green advo- we hope and lobby for. cacy group Transport & Environment FBO opens at Italy’s Riviera Airport insinuated that business aviation in the Business aviation in Europe has with- past has always been at the forefront stood the pandemic relatively well, The former Riviera Executive Aviation, Meanwhile, a runway expansion project of technical innovation but now seems certainly compared to the scheduled which is now managed by Hadid Interna- at the airport (formerly known as Albenga to be surpassed by the segment. airlines. Does this compound the tional Services and has been rebranded Airport) is expected to be completed a year Do you agree with that? image that business aviation is for the as Hadid Riviera, opened its new FBO in from now, in time for the 2022 holiday sea- KLM was the first airline worldwide to jet-set, for the rich who can afford lux- May at Riviera Airport, a private jet airfield son, according to Toussaint. A four-week operate a passenger flight on 100 percent ury travel and know their way around on Italy’s northwest coast. “The launch of suspension of operations in winter would e-kerosene, but for that to conclude that travel restrictions? the new FBO was planned for April last be required for work to lengthen the run- business aviation has been “surpassed” Quite the opposite. The pandemic has year, but with the international Covid cri- way to 5,900 feet (1,800 meters), but the by commercial aviation on technological enabled business aviation to highlight sis—and we are still in a situation where exact timing of the work would depend on innovation is a bit too much and slightly its profile as a safe alternative to mass nobody really knows when this will be sub- approvals from the Italian authorities. unfair on the business aviation industry. air travel, avoiding busy airports and big stantially over—we just postponed it,” air- Toussaint would prefer to operate under The European business aviation commu- aircraft, as an on-demand, pragmatic port chairman Clemens Toussaint told AIN. a 50-year lease rather than the current nity’s vision for further deployment of product that does not fly unnecessar- The announcement in 2018 of the 20-year agreement with Italian civil avia- SAF, which we presented at the SAF Sum- ily. In addition, the Covid-19 crisis has Hadid deal with Riviera Airport marked tion authority ENAC, as this would improve mit in April, clearly illustrates our pledge put the spotlight on business aviation’s the Dubai-based flight support specialist’s the economics of runway, MRO, and han- to SAF and how we can push its uptake humanitarian component—flying medi- first entry into the international FBO space. gar expansion. He said the airport’s busi- and distribution further. We do have a cal supplies and people needing medical Hadid also now operates an FBO at Jinnah ness model relies on servicing aircraft that track record on innovation—including assistance, whether pandemic-related International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan. use the field as a year-round base. P.S.S. winglets, weight and balance, flight deck or not; transporting humanitarian

ainonline.com \ June 2021 \ EBACE Convention News 21 EFVS’s advantages coming into focus for bizjet pilots by Mario Pierobon

Low-visibility procedures have been the approach can be continued if visual implemented in Europe for several references are seen with the help of years since the introduction of enhanced the EFVS. At an EFVS minimum of not flight vision systems (EFVS) for credit less than 100 feet, the visual references and the one-third runway visual range must be acquired with natural vision to (RVR) reduction. EFVS approaches are continue the approach,” the spokesper- currently implemented across European son added. airspace when landing at CAT I runways, The Single European Sky ATM using EFVS to 30-meter (100-foot) deci- Research Joint Undertaking (SESAR JU) sion height. has carried out extensive testing and The European Union Aviation Safety demonstrations of the EFVS solution, Dassault FalconEye Agency (EASA) is currently working on which was delivered by the program in the implementation of EVS-to-land that 2019. “We are delighted to see the equi- uses EFVS to touchdown and rollout. page of aircraft with this SESAR solution “With just three sensors within one cam- image, providing a truly combined solu- The related “CS AWO EFVS-Landing” and implementation of EFVS operations era, we have an EFVS approach and land- tion. Vision system and HUD options are certification specifications are set to starting in Europe,” said SESAR JU exec- ing certified product that has achieved available for retrofit at the OEMs’s dis- publish later in 2021. utive director Florian Guillermet. the highest visual advantage attain- cretion on select aircraft.” able today.” Dassault has certified an operational Progress So Far Enhanced Vision Technology Yahav observed that EFVS as part CVS known as FalconEye, which is EASA According to Dror Yahav, CEO of Univer- Enhanced vision systems (EVS) are of super-midsize and larger business and FAA certified for EFVS 100-foot sal Avionics, EFVS implementation has aircraft is done mostly as a forward-fit operations. The system is currently so far been limited because the opera- option or standard equipment, but in available on the Falcon 8X, 900LX, Fal- tors need to perform airport investiga- some cases is also available as a retrofit. con 2000 series, and will also be on the tions to ensure safety margins. “As EFVS He aims to expand the market with the Falcon 6X and 10X when certified in 2022 is expected to continue and become company’s ClearVision EFVS solution, and 2025, respectively. more common, EASA and the EU which is developed and certified based “This EVS, produced in partnership are working to establish more on a wearable HUD called the SkyLens with Elbit, which comprises six nose- streamlined processes where the Head-Wearable Display (HWD). mounted sensors and the HUD, has a airport certification for EFVS will “SkyLens allows the technol- field of view of 40 degrees horizontal be done by the airport itself, lift- ogy to become relevant and by 30 degrees vertical, showing the EVS ing some burden from the opera- affordable to two market and SVS imagery separately,” a Dassault tors,” said Yahav. segments, in particular new spokesman said. “This EVS camera is EASA has certified EFVSs small and medium-size air- multisensory and embeds fusion algo- on business aircraft based on craft—where the HWD can rithms. It is designed to see LED lights HUDs and infrared cameras. fit—and retrofit aircraft, to overcome the limitation of the first “Some aircraft also implement combined Universal ClearVision EFVS where installation becomes generation of EFVS. vision systems [CVS], which are a com- easier and more affordable,” he “The use of six different sensors allows bination of EFVS and synthetic vision said. “In addition, the SkyLens HWD it to present the best images from both systems [SVS], that provide a depiction available on most midsize and large busi- allows unlimited field of regard, which the near-visible and infrared spectrums. of the surrounding terrain based on a ness aircraft. “Collins Aerospace EVS is provides new functionality such as pan- For example, one can detect LED run- terrain database,” an EASA spokesper- available on several Bombardier and oramic synthetic vision.” way lighting before the pilots’ naked son told AIN. Embraer flight decks, as well as on the An EVS-equipped aircraft enables eyes could. Four sensors are dedicated “EFVSs have been certified for an oper- Boeing BBJ. It is a light and aerodynamic more than just lower operating minima, to light detection during daytime oper- ational credit on the decision height. It solution certified for EFVS low-visibil- according to Collins’s Johnson. “The ations. One is dedicated to night condi- is permitted to reduce the decision ity operations when paired with a HUD,” EVS provides greater situational aware- tions and one thermal sensor is used for height/altitude to a value not less than said Lorrin Johnson, principal market- ness during night flights, helps prevent terrain imaging”. 100 feet on precision and nonprecision ing manager for transparent displays the surprise of runway incursions, and approaches. At the published minimum, and vision systems at Collins Aerospace. allows pilots to see through weather Increasing Airport Access and low-visibility conditions during all Indeed, medium and small airports, phases of flight. This makes improved with their limited resources to invest in pilot safety another key reason to fly advanced ground infrastructure to sup- with EVS,” she said. port all-weather operations, have sig- “SVSs and synthetic vision guidance nificant potential gains to derive from systems [SVGS] are also available for EFVS technology. business aircraft,” Johnson added. “The cockpit solution increases the “Embraer’s Praetor was first in the indus- performance and reliability of landing try to certify SVGS heads down back in operations and enables business avi- November. SVGS allows pilots to receive ation, regional, and even commercial lower operating minima on a special airspace users to access all airports, but authorization CAT I runway with a cer- especially secondary ones, no matter tified SVGS system and a head-down what the weather, thereby avoiding can- display [no HUD required], changing the cellations, diversions, and delays,” said 200-foot decision height [DH] to 150 feet SESAR JU’s Guillermet. “We hope to see DH for CAT I landings. Our third vision more airports declared suitable for EFVS Collins Aerospace EVS system product, Collins Aerospace CVS, operations so that they can benefit from overlays EVS and SVS in a single blended this safety-enhancing solution.” n

22 EBACE Convention News \ June 2021 \ ainonline.com operations and include a scientific study European industry groups, commissioned by EBAA and the Euro- pean Cockpit Association,” said EASA. Based on the NPA and feedback pro- regulators tackle fatigue vided by stakeholders, EASA is planning to publish an Opinion of FTL for some by Mario Pierobon business aviation operations (air taxi and AEMS) in the third quarter of 2022. “The Regulators and industry groups are According to the European Business Opinion contains requirements for a ful- increasingly becoming concerned about Aviation Association (EBAA), the lack ly-fledged FRMS (appropriate for large risks related to fatigue that are inher- of predictability is one of the contrib- and complex operators), as well as for ent to business aviation and have been utors to fatigue. “It is also important FRM principles regarding certain duties— developing new regulatory require- to observe that our crews fly a lot less e.g., night duties appropriate for small and ments and industry best practices to than airline pilots. Therefore, for our non-complex operators,” said EASA. address this issue. The European Union industry, we do not normally speak According to van Wollen, the best prac- Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has cited of fatigue but rather of tiredness,” an tice is to have an FRMS in place that is a number of typical fatigue hazards in EBAA spokesman said. integrated with the scheduling system to business aviation, including operations “Unlike their airline colleagues— ingest schedule changes as they are made at short notice, long standby at home given the low number of annual flying in real-time, as well as a flight crewmem- or in the hotel, frequent change of duty hours—cumulative fatigue is rarely a ber data collection system to collect sub- assignments, time zone crossings, and problem for business aviation pilots,” jective and objective information about long positioning. he continued. “Due to the unique oper- fatigue levels from flight crews. “These Schedule-related risks and individ- ational model crews are more prone to systems need to be complemented by ual factors are the two main sources of fatigue problems associated with a peak appropriate workflows, policies, and risk fatigue risk in business aviation, said Mat- activity or a relatively complex or long controls—all of which should be docu- thew van Wollen, senior project manager mission. The periods of more or less mented in an FRMS manual,” he said. and CFO at Pulsar Informatics. “A robust intense activity are generally followed Currently, FRMS implementation is fatigue risk-management program recog- by long periods of lull, which allow the not very common, although business nizes these sources and makes safety pro- crews to recover. Regarding the miti- The problem for aviation operators do see the benefits of motion a shared responsibility between gating actions, following an appropriate having such a system in place, according the organization and individual flight fatigue risk-management scheme and our industry is to EBAA. “Business revolves around rep- crewmembers,” he said. implementing flight-time limitations that the fatigue risk- utation and EBAA’s members acknowl- It is a business aviation operator’s [FTL] systems would serve as barriers management system edge that the upfront money and time responsibility to create schedules that to fatigue-related occurrences.” investment in implementing the FRMS provide sufficient opportunities for rest Under a fatigue risk-management is based on historical and training their personnel outweigh the between duty periods. “This is not triv- scheme, the individual crew’s respon- data.” potential implications of a safety occur- ial—especially when travel over multiple sibility is to report for work fit for duty. rence caused by fatigue,” said EBAA. “The days and across multiple time zones is “How can this be accomplished?” asks job, performing home renovations, or only problem for our industry is that the involved. Air travel also frequently expe- van Wollen. “By making sleep a priority other projects, according to van Wollen. FRMS is based on historical data. This is riences delay due to weather, airport traf- during time off and being sure to obtain “Even simple things like staying up a huge issue for our operators that rarely fic, passenger requirements, and so on. the seven to nine hours of sleep per day late watching Netflix can adversely affect fly the same mission twice.” In addition, the nature of human fatigue recommended by health authorities.” sleep,” he said. “Then there are medi- The International Standard for Busi- and alertness is governed by a nonlinear The reality is that many people do not cal conditions, including not only sleep ness Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) was biological process that is complex and consistently obtain the optimal amount issues (sleep apnea, insomnia) but also the first standard to mandate—in 2012—a highly sensitive to factors such as naps, of sleep, for a variety of personal circum- body pain, anxiety, and depression that fatigue-management program, which is daylight exposure, and even workload,” stances including caring for a new baby or can interfere with sleep. Because there different from a FRMS. “IS-BAO audits van Wollen said. elderly family member, working a second are so many potential pitfalls in assur- validate that the operator has at least the ing enough sleep, organizations invest prescriptive elements (performance-based in technologies such as the psychomotor elements optional) and a systemic approach vigilance test, an objective assay to verify to fatigue-risk reduction,” said a spokesper- and validate fitness for duty.” son for the International Business Aviation EBAA ambassador program to elevate bizav Today, in European Union (EU) mem- Council (IBAC), which manages IS-BAO. ber states, the prescriptive limits of Wearable electronics and biomathe- EBAA has launched a peer-networking commitment to create a more sustain- Annex III to Regulation 3922/91 apply to matical models are slowly becoming more program—dubbed EBAA Ambassadors— able, diverse, innovative, and responsible commercial business aviation to a certain common. “However, it is a long winding that brings industry leaders together in business aviation industry,” added EBAA extent. “However, the maximum daily road until the operator gets a slightly closed workshops and forums to address COO Robert Baltus. “They are aware of the flight duty period in emergency medi- clearer picture of where its roster/plan- the biggest challenges and opportuni- challenges we face on a daily basis and cal services by airplanes [AEMS] and in ning will likely create hot spots for fatigue ties facing the business aviation industry. are committed to accelerating positive single-pilot operations is regulated by impairments and fatigue calls. At least one According to EBAA, these leaders will changes to overcome them.” national rules. Also, Annex III to Regula- large operator managed to greatly reduce come together several times each year Complementing this initiative, EBAA tion 3922/91 does not mandate a fatigue the number of those calls and repaid for its to reflect on the industry’s most press- has also created a virtual platform to risk-management system [FMRS],” said a FRMS by preventing the usual disruption ing issues. share stories about EBAA Ambassa- spokesperson for EASA. and costs that follow,” said IBAC. “As leaders of the industry, they are dors, celebrate their achievements, and To update and harmonize the legal “Considering how intrusive and legally raising the standard in the ever-changing allow space for discourse on making a requirements and promote fatigue risk challenging fatigue management can and evolving world they operate in,” EBAA change for the better. So far, 15 compa- management, in 2017 EASA published a potentially be, building confidence and said. “Ambassadors will be briefed on nies have signed up to the program: Air notice of proposed amendment (NPA) to fine-tuningYOUR SOURCEthe system FOR AVIATIONto adjust NEWS to human political and public policy developments BP, Bombardier, , Dassault the air operations regulations on FTLs variability canwww. easilyainonline take years.”.com n that impact the sector and are committed Aviation, DC Aviation, Duncan Aviation, for air taxis, AEMS, and helicopter emer- to giving back in the areas of sustainabil- FlyingGroup, Jetcraft, Jet Maintenance gency medical services. “The NPA used ity, diversity, innovation, and responsible Solutions, JSSI, MedAire, NetJets Europe, the input from five studies, specifically business practices.” Primus Aero, UAS International Trip Sup- commissioned by EASA to substantiate E!NEWSLETTER FOR BUSINESS AVIATION “The companies share a common port, and VistaJet. C.T. its proposals. Three studies specifically www.ainonline.com/alerts deal with hazards and mitigations in those

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FOR NEWS VIDEO FROM EBACE made from sustainable textiles from Pol- lack’s “Pure” Collection and wood veneers certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council from Booth Veneers. “These are a few examples of the many concepts we focus on when designing with sustainabil- ity in mind,” the spokeswoman said. Duncan Aviation Further reducing the aircraft’s overall has developed new environmental footprint, Textron cap- capabilities for tures, treats, and reuses wastewater from hydrodipping large its industrial processes, including parts components such manufacture, chemical processing lines, as table inserts or assembly, and painting. galley tops. A film- ’s Embraer Executive Aircraft transfer process, aims for a highly sustainable luxury inte- hydrodipping costs rior, a company representative told AIN, much less and is which is a goal pursued on multiple fronts. more sustainable Working rigorously with current and than traditional potential suppliers, the Phenom, Legacy, treatments for and Praetor business jet manufacturer is wood and other expanding its portfolio of materials that cabin interior meet the company’s sustainability criteria. materials. Furthering its aims, Embraer’s recently introduced Praeterra design concept fea- tures a multidimensional sustainable inte- rior that merges the digital future with sustainable resources, according to the Business aircraft cabins going green company. The design draws inspiration from “Mokume-gane,” a Japanese tech- by James Wynbrandt nique of making mixed-metal laminate, employing discarded materials—including Business aviation’s push for sustainabil- honeycomb—can be fed directly into of our focus on increasing sustainability titanium, copper, and plastic—as ingredi- ity and carbon neutrality has entered the a smelter; carpets are recyclable, while has been through technology,” Crow said. ents in, for example, cabinetry and table- cabin as the interiors of aircraft from tur- synthetics such as nylon and polyester He cited the data concentration net- top surfaces made from palm tree wood boprops to executive airliners are going are sought after by carpet mills to use as work onboard the new Gulfstream G500 sourced from commercial cultivation, green. And OEMs, completion and refur- feedstock to create more carpet; and nat- and G600, which in addition to provid- rather than using wild heart of palm fruit. bishment centers, and interior compo- ural fibers such as silk or wool “can have ing operational benefits “significantly nents providers are all getting onboard. second lives as jute, rags, or feedstock for reduces the amount of wiring required for Supply Chain has Come a Long Way Were EBACE held physically this year, paper mills,” he added. the cabin, galley, and flight deck systems,” Comlux Completion has been commit- these efforts would doubtless be center Meanwhile, as aircraft become increas- saving weight and materials. ted to sustainability since opening the stage, as the Continent’s aviation commu- ingly sophisticated and integrated plat- Textron Aviation’s Beechcraft and hangar doors of its purpose-built com- nity has embraced the goal of achieving forms, their systems work together to Cessna aircraft also have increasingly sus- pletion center in 2012, said CEO Dryer, net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. enhance sustainability in concert with tainable cabins. Woods are sourced solely starting with the facility’s designed-in “Supply chains are taking sustainabil- other operational efficiencies, and “much by selective cutting in carefully managed passive and active energy reduction ity very seriously—that’s the big turning forests and leveraging surplus inventory methods, including natural and con- point,” said Daron Dryer, CEO of Comlux “so that no new trees or other materials trollable lighting and environmental Completion, the VIP cabin-outfitting divi- are processed or shipped, to help reduce systems. What garnered more industry sion of Switzerland’s Comlux Group. Supply chains our [environmental] footprint,” a Tex- attention was consistent delivery of its “Today, action on sustainability is really are taking tron spokeswoman said. luxury cabins at below contract-spec- an important competitive criterion,” said sustainability very Textron also uses materials from ven- ified weights, resulting in significantly F/List director of research and develop- dors whose products and practices meet reduced fuel consumption and the atten- ment Domnanich Patrick. “Not only the seriously...” rigorous environmental standards, includ- dant carbon footprint. end customers, but also the OEMs are —Daron Dryer, CEO of Comlux Completion ing fabric headliners and window reveals “Ten years ago, the cabins were lighter and demanding verifiable sustainability from synthetic, but I wouldn’t call them sustain- suppliers and partners.” able,” said Dryer, because few sustainable Indeed, Gulfstream Aerospace mandates materials were available then. As he noted, “environmentally conscious business prac- the supply chain has since come a long way. tices” in its suppliers’ code of conduct, “Today’s wood-grain veneers are made complementing the airframer’s extensive from reclaimed and repurposed veneers,” internal sustainability efforts, said com- he said. “You cannot tell the difference pany interior-design director Tray Crow. [between] these reclaimed products Sustainable materials and processes [and non-sustainable alternatives], are found throughout Gulftream’s cab- and you get more usable material and ins, with extensive use of renewable nat- more supply.” ural fibers like cotton and wool, as well Customer demands have changed in as materials derived from renewable lockstep. “Clients are now asking specifi- resources such as natural latex and com- cally in proposals what you are doing [in posite veneers. Sustainable materials are the interior regarding sustainability].” also used “in places that don’t always Comlux will offer repurposed veneer come to mind—those invisible areas as an option on the forthcoming ACJ220, behind the walls, under the floors, and whose cabin it will design and outfit. The inside the furnishings,” Crow said. company has partnered with Airbus Cor- Many of the materials are recyclable, Embraer’s Praeterra interior design concept draws inspiration from the Japanese Mokume- porate Jets to outfit the first 15 of this as well. Cabinets—mostly aluminum gane technique, which uses mixed-metal laminates made from discarded materials. newest member of the ACJ family.

24 EBACE Convention News \ June 2021 \ ainonline.com Among other Comlux recycling/ solutions for the future, he said. The repurposing initiatives, its design studio newest innovation, Muirhead Active donates all carpet and leather samples to Hygiene Leather, is a sustainable leather local schools and other community insti- impregnated with antimicrobial Poly- tutions. “We’re trying to ensure we sup- giene ViralOff, which reduces the need port sustainability at an individual and for labor and caustic material to create company level,” said Dryer. sanitary interiors. At its Basel completion facility, Jet Aviation—which already incorporates Hydrodipping: A Sustainable Refinish robust weight-reduction programs For cabin refurbishments, Duncan Avi- and research—is investigating sustain- ation’s hydrodipping process offers able materials for use in its high-end a sustainable, low-cost alternative to completions and refurbishments, with refinishing wood and other interior ele- preliminary burn testing on some can- ments, and infinitely more options for didates underway. Concurrently, the the finished look. A film-transfer process, executive airliner completion and ser- hydrodipping allows a detailed 3D image vices specialist is in discussions with to be transferred onto almost any com- potential corporate collaborators on plex, solid shape, whether an image of fine sustainable aviation design, fuel effi- grain wood, marble, a fanciful scene, or ciency, and avionics programs, the com- anything in between. pany told AIN. Used primarily in the automotive Meanwhile, the company said new F/List aims to make its manufacturing processes more sustainable while developing new arena, the process involves dipping the products and processes—UV light cur- designs for interior materials that are lighter and use fewer solvents and mineral oils. selected component in a vat of water ing for cabinetry surfaces, water-based containing the film, and carefully join- paints, and plant-based leathers among A photovoltaic system installed at its ing the two. “We got the idea to try them—are enhancing cabin sustainabil- Austrian headquarters facility and effi- We focus on adapting it for table inserts or galley ity without sacrificing the look, feel, and cient heat-recovery systems dramatically countertops,” Duncan sales represen- quality that VIP applications and custom- decrease the plant’s carbon footprint. modifying these tative Angie Coleman said. ers demand. F/List also collaborates with startups that technologies [so the Duncan spent about two years exper- “We are committed to investing in solu- have developed superior sustainable tech- products] meet our imenting and developing hydrodipping tions that provide business aviation own- nologies and products. “We focus on mod- processes and techniques that met all EPA ers and operators the choice to contribute ifying these technologies [so the products] highest expectations requirements, replicating surfaces such as to sustainable aviation,” Jet Aviation said. meet our highest expectations for decora- for decorative carbon fiber tabletops indistinguishable “While the most important thing in VVIP tive materials in aviation,” Patrick said. from real materials, and achieving “fan- completions is to ensure that we meet One example: in a joint venture, F/List materials in aviation” tastic” results, Coleman said. The Lincoln, customer requirements in design, envi- and Hilitech are developing lightweight F/List director of research and development Nebraska company introduced the refin- ronment, and functionality of the aircraft, cabin systems and composite components Domnanich Patrick ishing option in late 2019, creating faux we are continuously innovating tech- using carbon monocoque technology ini- marble lavatory countertops and sinks niques that reduce the environmental tially developed for Formula 1 race car con- If a new generation is driving some of for a Gulfstream G150 and Bombardier impact of the finished cabin. struction. “Reductions of about 30 percent the sustainable-interiors movement, old- Challenger 300. compared with conventional aircraft inte- school purveyors are doing their share, Most of Duncan’s customers choose F/List Sets Net-zero Goal rior design have been realized,” Patrick said. as well. The UK’s Muirhead Leather, hydrodipping for its cost advantages— Austria’s F/List—which pioneered VIP Bionic design—those inspired by established in 1840, claims to be among some 20 to 25 percent below re-veneers. cabin innovations such as heated, ultra- nature that save weight and material by the world’s most “environmentally But, Coleman said, “For somebody who thin stone and wood flooring—is also supporting loads and forces only where focused leather manufacturers,” with wants to be environmentally friendly, committed to bringing the Continent’s needed—is another area of its sustain- an expertise in creating “the most nat- you’re keeping the existing veneer, not net-zero goals to its own operations and ability research. Other initiatives aim to ural, lowest-carbon, high-performance cutting into more trees, and getting the products. The company’s roots in using convert agriculture residuals and indus- leather for seat covers,” said sales director same elegant look.” However, she stressed natural materials—wood, leather, and trial leftovers—from banana leaves to Archie Browning. that that re-veneered wood remains “a stone—for high-end aircraft interiors the byproducts of its own stone machin- Today, Muirhead collaborates with beautiful, natural product.” have made sustainability a foundational ery department—into sustainable cabin- airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and avi- But re-veneering might not make eco- principle, said F/List’s Patrick. interior surface materials. ation design studios to develop interiors nomic sense for light and midsize aircraft, “We have two approaches,” he said. or Part 135 aircraft that get heavy charter use. “First, we focus on making our processes Repairing damaged veneer is costly and the more sustainable, using less energy and grain might be impossible to match. Con- cutting down emissions. Second, we versely, damaged hydrodipped surfaces can focus on lightweight designs that create simply be replaced with an identical film. fuel-saving products.” Hydrodipping options have advanced Its sustainable process efforts include beyond sinks and tabletops. After a cus- reducing energy consumed in produc- tomer asked if a cabinet could get the film tion, avoiding the use of solvents and coat, the Duncan finish team procured mineral oils, and sourcing responsibly a cow watering tank and developed a (and locally, where possible). The woods mechanical arm that could dunk an entire used in its veneers for European and galley or interior cabinet. Since then, the North American customers, for example, company had a custom dip tank and dip- are sourced from their respective conti- ping equipment made to handle these nents to reduce the energy used in trans- larger pieces. The first hydrodipped cab- porting the materials without sacrificing inet for a customer debuted on a Cessna quality, of course. All these sustainable Citation XLS in January. materials must meet stringent safety Now, Coleman added, an owner of a and flammability standards, in addition large-cabin Gulfstream wants a cabinet to offering the comfort, aesthetic, quality, hydrodipped, which would demand a larger and wear standards of the world’s most This credenza top and card table are finished using Duncan Aviation’s hydrodipping process, tank. “We’re working on it right now,” she high-end consumers. which replicates surfaces that look like the real materials. said of the needed equipment. n

ainonline.com \ June 2021 \ EBACE Convention News 25 Travel restriction relaxation to aid recovery in Europe by Cathy Buyck

Europe’s business aviation activity so far EU is expected to roll out this month is lagging behind the recovery pace wit- an EU-wide Covid-19 certificate attest- nessed in other regions, specifically com- ing that a person has been vaccinated pared to North America, but the gap is against coronavirus, received a recent likely to narrow in the second half of this negative test result, or recovered from year, analysts predict. the disease. The system—which will be “What we typically see is that Europe is valid in the bloc’s 27 member states and a couple of months behind North America open for Iceland, Liechtenstein, , in terms of overall market recovery,” said and Switzerland—aims to reinstate free Travis Kuhn, v-p of market intelligence movement inside the region and revive at Argus International. North America the beleaguered tourism industry. The recorded gains exceeding 2019 levels in UK has also allowed some international both March and April—business aviation travel starting May 17. logged 266,585 flights in the U.S., Canada, “There is a great deal of pent-up demand and the Caribbean in March, 33 more than and if that pent-up demand is released, in March 2019, and completed 262,277 then there will be a surge of business avi- flights in April, 359 more than in April ation activity,” said Richard Koe, manag- The recovery path to pre-Covid levels suppressed,” explained Kuhn. In the first 2019, according to Argus TraqPak data. ing director of , Germany-based will be uneven across the region, observed four months of the year, large-cabin activ- “In Europe, I expect August to be the market intelligence provider WingX Koe. He predicts UK activity will be “at ity was down 32.3 percent from the same first month that breaks through the 2019 Advance. “It’s not a matter of if. It is a least” 35 percent less in the second half period in 2019, while flights operated with numbers,” meaning business aviation matter of when,” he added, pointing out of the year compared to where it was in and light jets were down only movements, he said. “August 2020 was that business aviation in Europe is heavily the same period in 2019 owing to Brexit 19 percent and 18.6 percent, respectively. a strong month in Europe. It marked the leisure-oriented in summer. In fact, up to and the government’s reluctance to ease “We are observing a similar pattern in first growth spot in terms of year-on-year 60 to 70 percent of European business avi- international travel bans despite high vac- Europe as we have seen in the U.S.—a lot growth since the pandemic began and ation traffic is leisure-related in summer. cination levels. “The UK will be right at more short-haul domestic and regional activity actually exceeded activity levels the back of the pack, which is somewhat travel and a lack of long-haul flying inter- of August 2019. I expect August 2021 to be Strong Comeback ironic and kind of undermines the argu- national flying,” he said. “While the large- equally strong.” Recovery to pre-pandemic “So it is quite critical that travel restric- ment that vaccine programs will lead to cabin segment will probably improve business aviation flight activity in Europe tions get lifted sooner rather than later,” [air travel] recovery.” throughout the summer, I still expect a could even be as early as July, Kuhn added. Koe stressed. The comeback of business An Argus TraqPak forecast calls for a 3.3 double-digit decline in activity in the next The positive trajectory assumes no new aviation flying will be “pretty strong” in percent increase in business jet and tur- few months compared to 2019.” spikes in Covid-19 cases and the lifting the second half of the year, he contended. boprop flights in Europe in August com- The EU in March last year closed its of travel restrictions as vaccination pro- Koe predicts a 30 to 50 percent increase pared to the same period in 2019. Growth external borders as a measure to contain grams expand across the region. “There of activity year-over-year but a shortfall of is expected to slow down in September due the further spread of the virus within the is a move in a positive direction on that,” 15 to 20 percent versus 2019 levels. “That to the seasonality of activity in the region, bloc, halting nearly all intercontinental according to Kuhn. is a lot less good than in other parts of resulting in a 4 percent decline from Sep- traffic. in early May this year Several European countries have the world. We think that in North Amer- tember 2019 but still a 6.1 percent year- recommended easing restrictions on announced inoculated travelers would ica there is a good chance that in the next over-year gain. For October, November, non-essential travelers from outside the be welcome to visit quarantine-free— six months pre-pandemic activity will be and December, Argus’s outlook calls for 0.6 EU and allowing entry into the bloc for such as Italy from mid-May—and the pretty much completely recovered.” percent, 2.4 percent, and 0.4 percent gains foreign citizens and non-residents who over the same respective months in 2019. are fully vaccinated or coming from coun- Kuhn believes that flight activity in tries with a so-called “good epidemiologi- April 2019 vs April 2021 flights the second half of the year in Europe will cal situation.” Type of Aircraft APRIL 2019 APRIL 2021 come in about 3.1 percent down versus the At press time, member states had not second half in 2019. Meanwhile, he fore- yet endorsed the proposal, and travel 15,412 12,480 -19.0% sees North American business aviation into the EU was allowed from only eight Small Cabin 13,280 10,804 -18.6% flying to climb 2.5 percent in the second countries—Australia, , New Zealand, half versus the last six months of 2019. Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Thai- Mid-Size 12,049 9,292 -22.9% “The top end, the large-cabin inter- land, and China (subject to confirmation Large Cabin 14,939 10,120 -32.3% national operations are still heavily of reciprocity). Long-range, large-cabin business jets Total 55,680 42,696 -23.3% are definitely still less active than before SOURCE: ALL CHARTS ARGUS INTERNATIONAL TRAQPAK 2021 versus 2020 the pandemic, Koe confirmed. “Inter- BUSINESS AVIATION FLIGHT ACTIVITY IN EUROPE number of flights estingly, that segment is seeing a lot of 100K demand in the global aircraft transaction Forecasted 2021 Flights 2020 Flights market from very wealthy people who Numbers Country 80K January-April Entire Year have not been in the market before the France 22,544 84,172 pandemic,” he noted. 60K Flying in a controlled environment, Germany 20,200 71,594 away from crowded airports and large 40K UK 12,955 63,944 commercial aircraft, has become more of a theme, according to Koe. “A private jet 20K 10,159 40,760 is perfectly curated, all the complications

JFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASOND JFMAMJJASOND Switzerland 10,063 35,059 are effectively managed by expert brokers, 2019 2020 2021 who even if restrictions are in place have Italy 8,980 34,338 a way of handling that.” n

26 EBACE Convention News \ June 2021 \ ainonline.com

SOURCE: GE AVIATION data sharing programs that exist today. Data for safety offers collaborative “Critical mass is absolutely necessary to make valid assumptions about the data analyzed. There is more work to do and FDM for business aviation in Europe there are several regional efforts to estab- lish safety data-sharing programs, such by Mario Pierobon as D4S in Europe and APshare in the Asia Pacific,” Ertel said. Since flight data monitoring (FDM) pro- parameters to ADS-B Out, weather data, story.” Sharing safety data can be dif- As a way to sustain the path towards grams are currently mandated in Europe and ground-based radar surveillance ficult because the bulk of the relevant safety data sharing, EBAA invites opera- only for aircraft with an mtow above to many different forms of voluntary data is often proprietary to a particular tors to join FDM programs and to make 27,000 kg (59,525 pounds) and operated reporting information all within the con- stakeholder, be it an air operator, origi- FDM a part of normal daily operations, commercially, there is a limited number fines of appropriate governance and data nal equipment manufacturer, or main- even though FDM is not mandated for a of business aircraft operators that are protection, according to Ertel. “Different tenance provider. “A fundamental trust significant part of the business aviation required to have FDM. However, due to data sources and information provide between the industry and government fleet. “Safety is, and always will be, pri- the importance of safety in the business different benefits. Generally speaking, to adhere to the voluntary, non-punitive, ority number one in business aviation. aviation sector, several operators already airplane recorded data is often used in ‘just culture’ concept makes data sharing Safety efforts should include the instal- have an FDM program in place. In more the context of safety performance indi- possible,” Ertel said. “The main role of lation of quick access recording equip- recent times, with safety management cators [SPI],” he said. the regulator in this context is, in part, ment on board the aircraft on top of the systems (SMS) becoming more mature, “An SPI could be thought of as a pre- to facilitate the collaboration by bringing normal ‘black’ box commonly known to additional sources of safety data have cursor element to an undesired outcome stakeholders together.” most people. This additional recording grown, and with this richness, the poten- (i.e., an airplane accident or incident). Indeed, government and industry equipment is needed to participate in tial to generate useful insights from the Reporting information can give specific working together with the same goal of an FDM program as the data they pro- data has also grown. insight into certain types of incidents improving aviation safety have provided duce are more widely accessible,” con- Much like in commercial aviation, col- and often adds a human element to the a fertile ground for the initiatives and cluded EBAA. n laboration is critical to safety in business aviation, and government and industry are working together in this field. “An example of this collaboration is the FAA’s Commer- to magnify images up to 30 times for cial Aviation Safety Team (CAST), which closer inspection. comprises representatives from airlines, London City’s digital control tower manufacturers, labor, and government was installed in 2019 and the remote con- that analyze data from accidents and safety trol process has been extensively tested incidents to improve commercial aviation since then. The original air traffic control safety,” said Gunter Ertel, senior program tower will now be redeveloped as part of manager of system safety at Boeing. the modernization program at the airport, Currently, however, there is no orga- which received more than five million nized data sharing specifically for business passengers in 2019. aviation, both globally and regionally in “This is the UK’s first major digital con- Europe. “We see that there are some ini- trol tower and represents a significant tiatives where individual operators share technological and operational achieve- a limited amount of data between them- ment, especially against the backdrop selves, but this remains on a ‘best practice of Covid-19,” commented NATS oper- sharing base’ only,” said a spokesperson ations director Juliet Kennedy. “Digital for the European Business Aviation Asso- Aircraft landing and taking off from are now remotely managed from an air tower technology tears up a blueprint ciation (EBAA). “In Europe, the recently traffic management facility 72 miles away. that’s remained unchanged for 100 years, launched Data for Safety (D4S) is coming allowing us to safely manage aircraft to the end of the proof-of-concept phase from almost anywhere while providing in 2021 and is planned to start including our controllers with valuable new tools new operators in 2022.” Remote ATC services begin that would be impossible in a traditional D4S is a data collection and analysis control tower.” program with the goal to ensure the On April 29, new legislation came into highest common level of safety and envi- at London City Airport effect in the UK to modernize the coun- ronmental protection for the European try’s airspace and tighten control on the aviation system. “The program aims to by Charles Alcock illegal use of unmanned aircraft. The collect and gather all data that may sup- Air Traffic Management and Unmanned port the management of safety risks at London City Airport in April became facility, where they are displayed on 14 Aircraft Act will support efforts by the the European level. This includes safety the first significant international airport high-definition screens. Department for Transport to make reports (or occurrences), flight data (i.e., where traffic is fully managed from a This technology was developed by improvements to the way airspace is con- data generated by the aircraft via the remote digital air traffic control tower. Saab Digital Air Traffic Solutions, which trolled. The government has yet to pub- flight data recorders), surveillance data Landings and takeoffs are now overseen has previously demonstrated its use at lish a detailed plan and timeline for the (air traffic data), weather data—but those from the air traffic control center oper- the far smaller Ornskoldsvik and Sunds- improvements, which it says will reduce are only a few from a much longer list. ated by air navigation service provider vall airports in . Video images carbon emissions from air transport. However, this does not specifically target NATS at Swanwick on the south coast of can be overlaid with digital data about There have been several programs in business aviation,” said EBAA. England, which is 72 miles from the air- real-time operations to provide control- the U.S. aimed at exploring the potential “When and how smaller business avia- port that lies in the heart of the UK capi- lers with a so-called “enhanced reality” for remote tower air traffic control at air- tion operators will be able to join D4S is tal’s financial district. perspective. ports, including Leesburg Executive in still under evaluation, however, we sup- NATS controllers receive live video The combined visual display can Virginia and Northern Colorado Regional port EASA in the effort to bring forth a and audio feeds from the airport, with include information such as call signs, in Loveland. In 2017, libertarian think system that further increases safety and 16 high-definition cameras and sensors altitude, and speed for aircraft approach- tank the Reason Foundation published a operations in the European aviation sec- mounted on a 164-foot-high digital con- ing and departing London City, as well as study urging the federal government to tor,” it added. trol tower providing a 360-degree view of weather readings and any tracked moving take this approach to reduce costs associ- Sources for safety data sharing the airfield. These feeds are relayed via objects. The on-site cameras have a pan- ated with the FAA’s provision of air traffic range from airplane-recorded flight secure fiber networks to the Swanwick tilt-zoom feature that allows controllers management services. n

ainonline.com \ June 2021 \ EBACE Convention News 27 Farnborough Airport, UK

up to 60 people for high-volume flights, he said it has been encouraging to see conference rooms, crew lounge, and new customers gravitating toward private International FBOs shine snooze rooms, work area, passenger charter services in the months between and crew shower facilities, laundry ser- the UK’s three national lockdowns when vice, and gymnasium. Drive-through travel was permitted. in AIN’s annual survey customs and immigration clearance is Evidence of this glass-half-full perspec- available, along with an on-airport hotel tive can be seen in plans to add a third by Curt Epstein (The Aviator). hangar to add to the pair of three-bay CEO Simon Geere, who succeeded units already on-site that offer 240,000 Though the past year was one unlike any throughout the ongoing Covid-19 crisis Brandon O’Reilly in July 2020 follow- sq ft of climate-controlled shelter. The other the business aviation industry has and continued its more than decade long ing the September 2019 purchase of the company will seek approval for this con- faced due to the Covid pandemic and its reign as the most highly-ranked FBO out- property by Macquarie Infrastructure and struction later this year, as part of a pro- chilling effect on global aviation, there side of the Americas in the AIN survey. Real Assets, now feels able to anticipate cess in which it works closely with local remained at least one thing that went on While FBOs outside North America a resurgence in activity as travel restric- authorities to manage growth within as normal, uninterrupted: the AIN FBO tend to lag in terms of scores, Farnbor- tions start to lift. the currently agreed confines of 50,000 Survey. For more than three decades, AIN ough’s overall rating is high enough that Geere told AIN that he anticipates annual movements. has conducted its annual survey, in which the FBO, which was ranked second- a “sharp recovery” with business air- Farnborough is also proud of its we ask our readers to rate the FBOs they highest in the world by readers this year craft operators better placed to respond standing as the first purpose-built busi- frequent worldwide. in the facilities category (4.85), would to demand for flights than airlines that ness aviation airport to be certified as Readers are given the opportunity to place among the top 10 percent of North face ongoing struggles to manage yield carbon-neutral. evaluate FBOs they visited during the American service providers. and profitability from their less flexible “Our main focus now is on further previous year in five categories: line ser- Its immaculate three-story, 52,000-sq- scheduled services. While acknowledging improving the customer experience and vice; passenger amenities; pilot amenities; ft business aviation terminal features VIP that business aviation has suffered with we have an incredible canvas to build on,” facilities; and customer service represen- customer lounges that can accommodate “expensive assets parked on the ground,” he commented. In addition to initiatives tatives (CSRs). For each of these catego- such as new electric ground power units, ries, the participant is asked to assign a Farnborough aims to make sustainable number from 1 to 5, with 1 being the low- Universal Aviation, London aviation fuel (SAF) available to operators est. AIN’s online survey database now Stansted Airport, UK within 12 to 18 months. offers respondents a comprehensive list of 4,500 FBOs worldwide, and here we 4.61 Universal Aviation, London present this year’s top finishers in Europe, Stansted Airport (EGSS), UK Middle East, and Asia. Universal Aviation, the ground handling arm of -based Universal Weather EUROPE and Aviation, operates FBOs and general aviation terminals around the world, from 4.66 Farnborough Airport (EGLF), UK Beijing to Barcelona and Singapore to Of course, the 60 percent dip in 2020 Toluca, but its facility at London Stansted aircraft movements compared with the Airport continually earns its highest acco- 32,000 recorded in 2019 was a shock to lades, according to AIN readers. Home to the system, but overall the UK’s Farn- the company’s European operations cen- borough Airport has shown resilience ter, and its flight planning and trip support

28 EBACE Convention News \ June 2021 \ ainonline.com Jet Aviation, Schiphol Airport, ACJ or BBJ. valet parking, and crew concierge. Other Amsterdam, Netherlands Over the past year, like other FBOs in improvements were made to the ramp, the world, the location worked to estab- with new lines drawn to extend the park- lish protections and social distancing ing area and the maximum wingspan of during the pandemic. “We had to rapidly the apron increased to the latest ultra- adjust to the challenges of Covid and do long-range business jets such as the Bom- everything in our power to ensure the bardier Global 7500 and Gulfstream G700. health and safety of everybody visiting “This is an important step in our facilities and using our services,” future-proofing our service offering, as Niemöller told AIN. “Despite the uncer- new aircraft types are added to the indus- tainties and ongoing challenges posed by try, and means that the ExecuJet ramp is Covid, I’m very proud of how our teams now the only private, direct-access bay are supporting customers and flight oper- on the airfield that can cater for aircraft ations in this environment.” this size,” said Darren McGoldrick, the The FBO earned its IS-BAH Stage 1 company’s v-p for Asia-Pacific. The FBO registration in 2020 and, according to has access to two hangars, one occupied services, the two-story, 11,000-sq-ft facility Jet Aviation’s nearly 5,000-sq-ft facility Niemöller, is currently preparing for its by its collocated MRO facility, as well as offers a wide variety of amenities and ser- occupies approximately 60 percent of Stage 2 certification audit in October. the largest hangar on the field, which it vices, including VIP arrival and departure the airport’s general aviation terminal manages. The latter can accommodate lounges, conference rooms, crew lounge, and includes two passenger lounges, two ASIA-PACIFIC four large-cabin business jets, with room and crew business center, shower facilities, crew lounges with a pool table, beverage to spare for a midsize jet. dedicated in-house security screening, cus- bar, computer workstations, international 4.50 ExecuJet Australia, Sydney In operation for 35 years, and part of toms and immigration areas, and catering television channels, and on-site immigra- Kingsford Smith Airport (YSSY), the global ExecuJet chain since 2017, preparation kitchens. tion and customs clearance. Sydney, Australia the IS-BAH Stage 2-registered location “Our facility is often likened to a bou- Open daily from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. Earning its spot among the top-rated received its highest scores this year in the tique hotel,” said Sean Raftery, Universal’s with a staff of 22, it offers dedicated international service providers in AIN’s customer-facing line service (4.72) and senior director of international business refueling and deicing services on the FBO Survey for the second straight year CSR (4.69) categories. “The relaxed and for Northern Europe and Africa. “That is ramp. “This set-up allows us to perform is ExecuJet’s location at Australia’s comfortable nature of traditional Aus- probably as much about the team and the quick turnarounds and fuel stops for all Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport. Over tralian customer service seeps into every attention given to our customers as it is types of customers,” explained Edwin the past year, the facility which serves conversation with the ramp and cus- about the fixtures and fittings,” he said. Niemöller, the company’s senior director the country’s largest city, underwent a tomer service agents, where clients are Indeed, the location which has a staff of of FBO operations for the Netherlands. refreshment, including a complete inte- welcomed and the team’s combined 170 60 and is normally open from 7 a.m. until As a result, the facility tallied its high- rior repaint of its 3,230 sq ft of passenger years of experience bolsters confidence 10 p.m., received its highest score (4.79) est category total this year in line ser- and crew lounges, as well as its trio of in decisions and planning,” McGoldrick this year in the CSR category. vice (4.62). While the location does not conference rooms and catering prepara- told AIN. The facility, which has obtained possess hangar space of its own, it can, tion kitchen. The Sydney location—like all of the Stage 2 registration in the International depending on availability, accommodate The FBO also includes on-site customs, company’s FBOs—participates in the Business Aviation Council’s IS-BAH pro- aircraft all the way up to the size of an immigration and quarantine services, FlySkills Hygiene Certification Program, gram, has been in operation since 1984. with Socotec-approved Covid con- “Our in-depth local knowledge and our trol processes. long-established relationships with the MJets FBO, Don Mueang International regulatory and government authorities Airport Bangkok, Thailand 4.46 MJets FBO, Don Mueang help take the pressure off the customer,” International Airport (VTBD), Raftery told AIN. “Passengers arriving Bangkok, Thailand at London Stansted can be on the road MJets FBO, which serves Thailand’s cap- within minutes of landing, and are able ital city’s private traffic aviation at Don to concentrate on their purpose for Mueang International Airport, has been coming to the UK, and not be distracted in operation for more than a decade now. by complications.” Its new facility has impressed AIN read- With 40,000 sq ft of private ramp, the ers since its debut in 2016, resulting in it facility has the ground equipment to han- being the highest-rated FBO in Asia. dle the largest passenger aircraft. While The 26,000-sq-ft, two-story terminal the UK has been severely impacted by celebrates its fifth anniversary this year the Covid pandemic, Raftery noted the and is open 24/7. It features on-site cus- demand to fly remains. “Customers need toms, immigration and quarantine clear- borders to be open, but also hotels and ExecuJet Australia, Sydney ance with visa availability on arrival, crew restaurants, and while lockdown is neces- Kingsford Smith Airport suite with three sofa beds and shower sary, it has of course made travel difficult.” facilities, 3,400-sq-ft executive lounge He added that the company has worked that can accommodate up to 75 guests, ceaselessly with its clients to help them private passenger lounge, conference navigate the ever-changing regulations rooms, and concierge. These attributes and requirements. enabled the FBO to receive its highest scores (4.62) in the passenger amenities 4.48 Jet Aviation, Schiphol Airport and facilities categories. (EHAM), Amsterdam, Netherlands Those amenities are certainly there for In operation for more than three decades those who want them, but the facility is as the KLM Jet Center and from 2018 known for its quick-turn capabilities. “Nor- when it was acquired by Jet Aviation along mally, a passenger will spend less than with its sister location in Rotterdam, the seven minutes in the terminal for formal- FBO at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport ity and screening process before boarding has long been an outstanding performer the aircraft for an international trip,” said among our readers. Located just off the company chairman Jaiyavat Navaraj. “For airport’s Runway 04/22, which is primar- domestic trips, it takes even much less time.” ily used for general and business aviation, continues on next page

ainonline.com \ June 2021 \ EBACE Convention News 29 continued from preceding page Like many in the industry, Gahan noted Customers can even arrange security ser- that the location saw a significant drop in ExecuJet Middle East, Dubai International Airport vices through the FBO ahead of arrival. international traffic over the past year, the The location, which was the first in result of border restrictions brought on Southeast Asia to earn accreditation by the Covid pandemic. While business under IBAC’s voluntary International aircraft movements on the domestic side Standard for Business Aviation Handling were down as well, the facility has seen (IS-BAH), has now reached Stage 2 in the an uptick in local aeromedical operations, program and is currently in the process to sports charters, and military flights. The obtain Stage 3. location instituted a business continu- A full-service FBO with a staff of 176, ity plan that included PPE requirements the location offers aircraft charter and for employees and customers, increased management services, operates its own facility and vehicle cleaning measures, Part 145 repair station with AOG service, reduced face-to-face interaction between and has more than 86,000 sq ft of hangar staff and customers, and online training space, which is currently home to 14 jets for employees on signs and symptoms and turboprops. of exposure. 4.27 Jet Aviation, Sydney Kingsford MIDDLE EAST Smith Airport (YSSY), Sydney, Australia this location and its smaller facility at Al room, duty-free shop, on-site customs Private aircraft operators heading to 4.25 ExecuJet Middle East, Dubai Inter- Maktoum International Airport/Dubai and immigration clearance, and door-to- Australia’s largest city have their choice national Airport (OMDB), Dubai, UAE World Central. A new terminal and han- door VIP transfers for customers between of service providers at Sydney Kingsford One of the busiest airports in the world gar complex currently under construction commercial airlines and their private jets. Smith Airport, with two FBOs there earn- in terms of international flights, Dubai will open there in 2022. For crews, there is a lounge with a snooze ing recognition among FBOs outside of International has several FBOs to choose Ndebele explained that Dubai has room and flight planning area. Aircraft the Americas in this year’s FBO survey. from, including ExecuJet Middle East. In remained largely accessible during the cleaning, both inside and out, is available Jet Aviation’s facility, which was last operation for 15 years, the location offers pandemic, resulting in record flight move- along with fueling coordination. remodeled in 2017, consists of a nearly a 12,300-sq-ft terminal with eight pas- ments. Following the lockdown period, it The IS-BAH Stage 2-registered facility’s 31,000-sq-ft terminal with on-site cus- senger lounges, a transit lounge, prayer became a regional hub for connections 54,000-sq-ft hangar, which can shelter a toms, immigration and quarantine room, duty-free shop, showers, business between commercial airlines and pri- pair of bizliners, is currently home to nine clearance, passenger lounge with compli- center, and in-house customs and immi- vate jets, which saw many private aircraft based aircraft and the company’s Part 145 mentary refreshments and snacks, crew gration clearance, all of which combined operators reposition their aircraft there. repair station, which can provide every- lounge, shower facilities, and vehicle to earn the facility its highest score (4.42) Ndebele noted that traffic has increased thing from line to heavy base maintenance access to its 26,000-sq-ft private apron. this year in the passenger amenities cat- month-on-month, with March showing to scheduled checks to AOG service. The The company also has hangar space avail- egory. According to regional FBO man- a 40 percent increase over 2019 numbers, FBO’s ramp can accommodate aircraft up able to accommodate several jets, up to ager Dumani Ndebele, clients can walk off with much of the traffic originating from to a , and the company plans to the size of a , and two the airplane and pass through the facil- Russia and CIS countries. install a 400-sq-ft stand-alone staff can- large-cabin-jet parking bays directly out- ity—immigration and customs cleared— teen just outside the hangar. side the terminal. Established in 2002, within minutes. 4.18 Jet Aviation, Dubai International According to Phillippe Gerard, Jet the IS-BAH Stage 1 registered location is Flight crews have their own dedicated Airport (OMDB), Dubai, UAE Aviation’s director of FBO operations normally operational from 6 a.m. until 10 lounge with ensuite washrooms and mas- Global FBO operator Jet Aviation has an in Dubai, the 60 staff members there p.m., with after-hours callout available. sage chairs. The company has a complete extensive FBO network throughout the are experts at building and establish- The FBO earned its highest score (4.41) renovation of the facility scheduled for Middle East including locations at both ing long-term meaningful relationships in the CSR category. “We strive to get to this August, which will update the crew Dubai International Airport and, since with its clientele. “Our customers know know and understand our customers lounge with an entertainment center and 2017, Al Maktoum International Airport/ and trust us to ensure their safety and so we can anticipate their needs,” said add club and majlis lounges. Dubai World Central. The former earned well-being as they travel throughout the general manager Andy Gahan. “We also Home to a dozen private jets and tur- recognition in this year’s AIN FBO Survey. region and around the globe,” he told always try to provide a warm, person- boprops, ExecuJet also manages 55,000 The FBO, a member of the Air Elite AIN. “They are comfortable when they alized welcome, whether it’s washing a sq ft of hangar space at OMBD capable Network, and staffed 24/7 was founded as visit us and they feel safe in our care customer’s vehicle as a surprise when of sheltering aircraft up to a Boeing 737- a joint venture with the Al Mulla Business with every take-off and landing.” In they are away, starting their vehicle just 800, which can be used for transient Group in 2005. It occupies a stand-alone light of the Covid pandemic, the com- prior to the aircraft arriving to cool it aircraft storage or the company’s mainte- 10,700-sq-ft terminal, and tallied its high- pany has installed a temperature scan- down, collecting favored catering, or any- nance activities. est score for passenger amenities (4.30), ner at the facility’s entrance as well as thing else we can think of that we know In operation 24/7, the IS-BAH Stage 2 reg- offering executive lounges with a refresh- an in-house nurse to manage the PCR they’ll appreciate.” istered FBO shares 42 employees between ment bar, a conference room, a prayer testing for passengers. n

Jet Aviation, Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, Australia

Jet Aviation, Dubai International Airport

30 EBACE Convention News \ June 2021 \ ainonline.com place between the UK and EU post-tran- Finding sition to allow non-scheduled carriers to operate without securing costly and time-consuming permits on a flight-by- freedoms flight basis,” admitted David Lacy, head of commercial for business and specialist aviation services provider RVL Group. post-Brexit In contrast, the UK government allowed EU operators post-transition by Kate Sarsfield to continue exercising third and fourth Freedom rights—allowing flights to and Britain’s exit from the European Union from the UK—under a three-month block (EU) brought to an abrupt end for the permit agreement. Such freedoms were UK business aviation sector years of not reciprocated by many EU countries, operating on a level playing field with Lacy said. “We got to the stage where we its EU-based counterparts. When the didn’t bother bidding for jobs, and some 11-month transition period concluded brokers didn’t consider UK operators for UK-based SaxonAir saw charter activity drop dramatically earlier this year following the end on December 31, unfettered access to the EU-bound contracts,” he added. of the Brexit transition period on Dec. 31, 2020. markets of some 27 member states was These frustrations reverberated across halted for the UK’s unscheduled opera- the UK charter market and fed back to April 1 for unscheduled operators within could just accept the job without thinking tors, and a whole new relationship with the Department for Transport (DfT) and those offending countries. This stance about it,” he said. the bloc began under stricter and often Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The pair paid off, Bailey said. Many authorities Time-critical cargo operations are burdensome terms. began talks on January 1 with each of the were “persuaded” to adopt a more particularly difficult under these circum- “It came as a complete shock to us on 27 EU member states to replicate the benevolent approach to UK providers stances, noted David Lacy from RVL. “We January 1,” said Alex Durand, chief execu- flexibility of the UK’s block permit sys- following pressure from their domes- have one hand tied behind our back due tive of UK charter company SaxonAir. “We tem, with renewal conditional on each tic operators. to the length of time it can take to secure had already had a poor year in terms of EU country offering reciprocal third and He cited Portugal, home to fractional agreements from all EU countries con- movements and revenue due to the Covid- fourth-freedom services to UK operators. ownership provider NetJets Europe, as an cerned,” he said. 19 pandemic, so the end of the transition example. The country was “slow off the Since January 1 the East Midlands period was like falling off a metaphorical mark,” so NetJets and its legal team put airport-based company has undertaken cliff. It’s been a slow-moving car crash.” pressure on the aviation authority “and only one seventh-freedom flight. This Durand, who is also vice-chair of UK brought them to the table,” said Bailey. compares with around one flight a week industry trade body the British Business Austria is another case in point. With in 2020. “This was a side of our busi- and General Aviation Association (BBGA), the UK deciding not to renew the ness that we wanted to grow, but Brexit said during January and February the block-permit agreement from April 1 for has prevented us from doing so,” said company recorded a 90 percent downturn Marc Bailey, the country’s 20 unscheduled operators, Lacy. RVL operates a fleet of 14 air- in business year-on-year. “Europe-wide BBGA chief intense lobbying of the government fol- craft including six Reims-Cessna F406s, travel restrictions and border closures executive lowed, resulting in a reciprocal agreement four Beechcraft King Airs, two Cessna were already impacting demand across being offered to UK companies before the 404s, and a pair of Saab 340Bs (used for our fleet of helicopters and light jets, but March 31 deadline. cargo transport). we were also faced with the added chal- Negotiations are ongoing with member “We were faced with having to apply He described the current arrangement lenge of having to secure approval from states to secure fifth and sixth Freedom for a permit every time we wanted to fly between the UK and the EU as a “sticking each [27] EU member to perform a com- permit processes—allowing operators to to the UK—one of our largest and most plaster.” “Had negotiations between the mercial flight,” he noted. fly to or from a third member state and important markets—which would have UK and the EU 27 been permitted during Durand described this experience as to carry traffic via the UK. Seventh and been time-consuming and costly,” said the transition period, we could be in a “incredibly frustrating.” Overnight, he said, eighth freedoms, which permit operators Bernhard Fragner, founder and chief exec- much stronger position today,” Lacy said. UK unscheduled operators “went from to make flights to and from a third state utive of GlobeAir, Austria’s largest busi- The plight of RVL and other UK oper- having unfettered access to EU airspace and traffic between two points in a mem- ness aircraft operator. ators is acknowledged by the European to holding third-party operator status with ber state, are also being sought. By April 20, the CAA had secured Business Aviation Association (EBAA). new rules and restrictions to navigate.” “A return to full Open Skies between reciprocal arrangements with 24 member “Most European countries understand that SaxonAir’s poor performance in the our nations would be an ideal end-goal for states and said negotiations were con- it is not in the interest of anyone to apply early part of 2021 is reflected in the all concerned, but we have to take it one tinuing with Bulgaria, Latvia, and Lithua- procedures that would ultimately prevent depressed state of the UK business air- step at a time,” said BBGA chief executive nia. “At the moment these agreements are operators to fly to and from the UK,” said craft charter market as a whole during the Marc Bailey. renewed every three months, however we chief operations officer Robert Baltus. period. German data research company He described the UK’s block permit are hoping to formalize them into more Based on feedback from EBAA mem- WingX Advance recorded a 64 percent fall agreement as a “good-will gesture” from permanent arrangements,” said the CAA. bers, Baltus suggested that “the promo- in departures of UK-registered charter air- the government, and placing a time limit Fragner welcomed this strategy and tion of an Open Skies agreement between craft to EU member states in January and of three months has allowed the CAA and suggested long-lasting agreements “will the UK and the EU could be a solution February 2021, to 175 movements. This DfT to gather “vital evidence” from indus- provide much-wanted stability for the going forward.” compares with 482 departures during the try on the conduct towards UK operators industry going forward.” However, he stressed that a return same period in 2020, and 658 in the first of other aviation authorities and gain vital SaxonAir’s Durand proposed that to “pre-Brexit open access” only works two months of 2019. leverage over them going forward. It has future arrangements should offer more if there is a level playing field between Furthermore, the fall in traffic this been a mixed response. flexibility for UK and EU charter provid- the two in areas such as tax, flight-time year hit UK charter revenues by more “Some small EU states struggled to ers, especially as Covid travel restrictions limitation rules, and safety regulations. than €1 million ($1.19 million) a month. issue permits as they simply haven’t had are starting to ease across Europe and “This is a long-term process where the It also resulted in an estimated €6 million the manpower to do so and have had to set demand for business aircraft is expected UK needs to commit to EU rules like they deficit in landing, handling, and parking up a dedicated department from scratch,” to soar. “Flexibility is a key dynamic of did before. From that perspective this is fees across the UK’s top three business Bailey explained. But other larger estab- this industry and critical to a competitive a thorny issue that is playing out at the aviation airports: Biggin Hill, Luton, lished authorities such as Austria, Ger- landscape,” he said. highest political level,” said Baltus. and Farnborough. many, France, and Spain simply lacked Applying for seventh and eighth Free- Meanwhile, as laid down in the EU-UK “The most crushing aspect of our new the willpower, he said. dom permits today, Durand argued, can Trade and Cooperation Agreement, “it is situation on January 1 was to see our The dearth of reciprocal freedoms be risky and time-consuming for UK oper- in the hands of the 27 Member states to competitors take businesses from under persuaded the CAA to play tough and ators as they must secure a “no-objection” define what agreement they want with the our noses, as there was no agreement in not to renew UK block permits from from local EU carriers. “Before Brexit, we UK going forward,” he added. n

ainonline.com \ June 2021 \ EBACE Convention News 31 the situation was quickly resolved on that the Covid-19 related travel restric- European operators mixed the German level, asserted Siegfried tions have almost suppressed some of Axtmann, chairman and founder of the bigger impact of Brexit,” contended Nuremberg, Germany-headquartered James Foster, COO of Vertis Aviation, a about Brexit impact FAI Aviation Group. The company, which Swiss-based charter broker with offices in offers fixed-wing air ambulance, private Ireland, Switzerland, and the UK. “There by Cathy Buyck jet charter, and aircraft management ser- is less traffic anyway, particularly in the vice, was not affected, he said, stressing leisure market, which means that we have Usually, Athar Husain Khan is very diplo- and cargo flights between the UK and the that “our medevac business continued as not felt the impact as much as we would matic, measuring and weighing his words EU state where that operator is licensed. before Brexit.” have done in a normal year. carefully when describing a challenging The mechanism was designed to elimi- Overall, he sees no advantage or disad- “That is not to say that there have been situation. But when asked whether Brexit nate the need to apply for single permits vantage arising from Brexit for FAI. “We no logistical or paperwork issues owing to was as disruptive as some had predicted, per flight and would see the automatic never flew a lot within the UK, so the loss Brexit. It is adding an additional compli- the European Business Aviation Asso- renewal of the block permit after three of UK cabotage rights does not represent cation to delivering what are the benefits ciation (EBAA) secretary-general was months—starting April 1—conditional a handicap for us. Likewise, I do not see of business aviation, which is able to react unequivocal and atypically blunt. on the respective EU country giving the more intra-EU flying coming our way quickly, efficiently,” he added, pointing to “Yes, it was pretty disruptive even same deal to UK operators. because UK operators lost the right to the challenges to find an operator with though it did not hit the headlines every However, not all EU countries were operate within the EU,” Axtmann noted. the right permission and aircraft registra- day,” he told AIN. “I think as EBAA we responding with the expected reciprocal UK-registered airlines that performed tion to fly from and to the relevant desti- were ahead of the curve and we were able deal. “This was not always out of ill-will,” a lot of intra-EU flying pre-Brexit antic- nations. “Twelve months ago, we would to sensitize the membership that the an EBAA spokesperson noted. “Often the ipated the upcoming restrictions and not have to consider this.” UK’s complete exit from the European national aviation authorities did not have decided to secure an EU air operator While the pandemic is masking the full Union and EASA was coming, and we the legal framework in place to be able to certificate (AOC) ahead of the end of the impact of Brexit, it also helped prepare for alerted them with information sessions offer something equivalent.” transition period, which falls on Jan. 1, Brexit, Foster alleged. “In spring last year, on where we thought the risks were, for The issue risked escalating in April but 2021. Independent charter company Air we had to deal with short-notice travel instance with the registration of aircraft appears to have calmed down. About half Charter Scotland, for instance, decided Covid-19-related restrictions; flights or licenses of pilots.” of the EU member states—including Den- last year to put two of the 10 business air- between Italy and the UK or between But, he admitted, some issues were just mark, France, Germany, , Ireland, craft in its fleet on the Maltese register to France and the UK were suddenly not not foreseeable. One of them was the dif- Italy, , Portugal, , Spain, be able to continue flying between the 27 possible. It was sort of a rehearsal for ference in the way the UK and a number and Sweden—have either introduced EU states. short-notice travel restrictions due of EU countries dealt with granting third- a block-permit process covering third/ The Glasgow-based company now has a to Brexit.” and fourth-freedom rights and all-cargo fourth-freedom operations for UK air- Cessna Citation CJ3+ based in Malta and Axtmann’s main concern is not Brexit fifth-freedom rights. “There was a diver- lines or are negotiating such an agreement a Bombardier Challenger 350 at Nice in but the traffic recovery from Covid-19. gence, which frankly was detrimental for with the UK Department for Transport. southern France. It also employs three “Our core charter jet business is long and our entire ecosystem. Operators were Some bilateral deals, such as UK-Malta, flight crew residing in the EU to support ultra-long-distance flights. I cannot con- facing an administrative and legal night- also include the exchange of fifth freedom the aircraft, which was formerly based in firm that I see a recovery to 2019 levels mare,” Husain Khan noted. on nonscheduled flights and cargo flights. the UK. in the second half of this year as long as The UK put a so-called “block permit” Most EU operators faced certain com- The UK-EU divorce challenged the sta- North America, most of South America, scheme in place, allowing EU airlines to plexities or delays due to the renewal tus quo of open skies, from one day to the and Africa maintain their travel bans,” operate any number of ad-hoc passenger or refusal of new block permits, though next, “but in the practical application of he concluded. n

Bombardier’s Biggin Hill site adds mx apprenticeships by Jerry Siebenmark

Bombardier’s London Biggin Hill service an important pathway to an aerospace center is about two months into its first career—a powerful gateway to exciting, 36-month aircraft maintenance appren- new opportunities,” said Bombardier ticeship program that aims to create a executive v-p of services and support and pipeline of future maintenance techs and corporate strategy Jean-Christophe Gal- support the area’s economy, the Canadian lagher. “Our London Biggin Hill facility airframer announced May 13. Through a offers these students the best on-the- combination of virtual classroom and job training possible in a technologically on-site training, the 16 apprentices in advanced workplace environment—with the first class expect to earn EASA Part the possibility for full-time employment 66 modules (B license) certification and at the facility upon graduation.” Level 4 City & Guilds Diploma in Aero- Department for Education skills and space and Aviation. apprenticeships minister Gillian Keegan Bombardier maintenance apprentice Joshua Cadwallader with UK Department for Education A collaboration between the service noted apprenticeships like the one at the skills and apprenticeships minister Gillian Keegan. center and training and apprenticeships London Biggin Hill service center help to provider Seetec, the program is supported rebuild the economy by enhancing the program presents a brilliant opportunity the construction of a new and larger facil- by KLM UK Engineering and the Depart- workforce, boosting skills, and devel- for first-class training and superb future ity encompassing nearly 250,000 sq ft and ment for Education. Graduates will have oping talent for the future. “It is great job prospects.” simultaneously accommodating up to 25 an opportunity to earn full-time positions to see Bombardier’s continued invest- Bombardier added that the program aircraft, including Bombardier’s flagship at the service center upon completion of ment in apprenticeships and its com- will help to provide technicians for an Global 7500. The new service center will the program. mitment to giving people the chance to expansion of the London Biggin Hill replace the existing facilities Bombardier “Indispensable apprenticeship pro- train and launch fantastic careers,” Kee- site now underway, with completion has occupied since opening the Biggin grams provide qualified students with gan said. “Bombardier’s innovative new expected next year. The project involves Hill operation in 2017. n

32 EBACE Convention News \ June 2021 \ ainonline.com ACJ TwoTwenty Xtra Large business jet moves forward by James Wynbrandt

Market reaction to the ACJ TwoTwenty A220-100 single-aisle airliner. (220)—the newest member of Airbus Airbus Corporate Jets calls the Two- Corporate Jets’ executive airliner fleet Twenty an “Xtra Large Bizjet,” a new introduced last fall—has been “very pos- category of business aircraft and “an alter- itive,” according to company president native to the traditional large-cabin busi- Benoit Defforge. However, the continued ness jet and the bizliner,” in Defforge’s global pandemic lockdown has slowed words. It offers three times the interior sales activity. Notching orders is “taking space, yet the same hangar footprint and Comlux Completion will outfit the interiors of the first 15 ACJ TwoTwentys, and the first to be a bit longer than we expected,” he said, a lower price than the largest business jets, inducted will arrive at the company’s Indianapolis facility in early 2022. citing second-wave lockdowns and pros- meaning it will cost less than $72 million. pects’ continued caution. “Our custom- Bizliner operators opting for the A220 vari- 15 TwoTwentys, offering customers a selec- The interiors will feature a “very open ers have made a lot of money these last ant, meanwhile, can save significantly on tion of predefined configuration options design meant to provide spaciousness” and months, but the situation is so unstable.” purchase and operating costs, he added. that will provide “a unique interior within “use as much sustainable material—textiles The absence again this year of EBACE, The company launched the Two-Twenty a minimized time frame,” Comlux Com- and carpets using natural fibers without a prime stage for Airbus Corporate Jets, in partnership with Swiss-based bizliner ser- pletion CEO Daron Dryer told AIN. The chemical dyes—as possible,” Dryer said. won’t help, either. Defforge said the vices specialist Comlux Group, the world’s Comlux Group has ordered the first two The open design will reduce cabin weight, orders for six aircraft announced at the largest owner and operator of executive-con- ACJ220s for its own account, to be available lowering fuel burn, and together with the program’s launch are still in hand for figured airliners. Comlux Completion in for charter and sale through Comlux Avia- use of sustainable materials in the cabin the TwoTwenty, which is based on the Indianapolis will outfit the cabins of the first tion, its Malta-based operations division. will lessen the aircraft’s lifetime carbon footprint. Outfitting options will include veneers and other components created with sustainable processes without com- (TMS) are also part of that team. Dassault promising comfort, look, or feel, he added. Dassault’s 6X service entry acquired TMS as part of a roll-up of 19 The first green ACJ220 is scheduled MRO facilities—including Luxaviation’s for induction in early 2022, with service ExecuJet MRO centers and Ruag mainte- entry in early 2023. Engineering of stan- prep includes support plan nance and FBO operations at Geneva and dard and optional cabin and interiors Lugano airports—nearly two years ago. components is in development, and Air- by Jerry Siebenmark Additional staff at Dassault’s Falcon bus Corporate Jets is concurrently devel- Command Center (FCC) in Mérignac, oping a low- utilization maintenance plan As Dassault Aviation continues its Fal- components are exposed to extreme France, are conducting evaluations of for the platform. con 6X flight-test campaign, the French conditions such as vibration, tempera- raw data from the test aircraft’s Falcon- With a comfortable 6,000-foot maxi- airframer is also preparing to support the ture, and humidity, or “shake and bake” Scan advanced diagnostic system down- mum cabin altitude and 5,650-nm range, business jet’s 2022 entry into service— testing, Kayanakis explained. “If they loads. Last November, Dassault moved the ACJ220 will be capable of linking Lon- preparations that began long before the don’t fail through all of this, they’re a lot FCC and product support to Mérignac don and , Moscow and Jakarta, type’s March 10 first flight. less likely to fail in the aircraft.” to bring those operations closer to its Tokyo and Dubai, or Beijing and Mel- Key among those preparations is Product support staff also are involved engineering, production, flight test, and bourne. Though falling short of the Bom- ensuring the reliability of the 6X’s sys- in the Falcon 6X test program. The com- service center there. bardier Global 7500’s and Gulfstream tems and components, according to Jean pany has assigned seven experienced Kayanakis noted that in early April the G700’s legs, ACJ analyzed 16,000 flights Kayanakis, senior v-p of Dassault’s world- engineers and technicians to the flight- company began running failure simulations of private aircraft with a range greater wide Falcon customer service and service test aircraft. Their duties vary and include with FalconScan on the test bench to simu- than the ACJ220’s and found “only 2 per- center network. To do that, Kayanakis providing line service on the ramp, acquir- late as many fault configurations as possible. cent were more than 6,000 nm,” Defforge said, Dassault’s teams and partners ing and analyzing data, and validating the “FalconScan monitors 100,000 parameters, said, adding that many passengers would are going through intensive equipment FalconScan onboard diagnostic system so you can easily imagine that this system likely prefer a much larger cabin and a fuel testing and screening, including a pro- and maintenance documents. can track a lot of fault scenarios,” he said. stop for such ultra-long journeys. cess the company calls highly acceler- Technicians from Dassault Falcon A second 6X flight-test vehicle took to Airbus Corporate Jets also believes ated life testing (HALT). Under HALT, Service and TAG Maintenance Services the skies on May 5 and the third—which the ACJ220 is well-positioned for sales will be outfitted with a fully finished inte- in the U.S., business aviation’s global rior—is expected to join the fleet in the capital: The airframe is made in Alabama, third quarter. The third 6X will test cabin the engines are built in Connecticut, and systems and amenities, galley equipment, the completions are performed in Indi- flight entertainment systems, and options ana. The A220’s bones are also North such as Ka-band Internet connectivity. American. Developed by Bombardier as a “We’ve poured everything we’ve next-generation short-haul airliner (the learned about reliability and maintain- CSeries) and incorporating contemporary ability into the 6X,” Kayanakis said. “But technologies throughout the airframe, the if service-entry problems crop up, you program was acquired by Airbus in 2018. know we’ll do whatever it takes to keep ACJ doesn’t disclose projected orders, operators flying.” n but with vaccines promising a return of normalcy to global business aviation operations, Defforge said his company is optimistic that stalled TwoTwenty sales will take off this year. Summed up Stan Shparberg, v-p commercial at Airbus, “We YOUR SOURCE FOR AVIATION NEWS With a second Falcon 6X in flight testing, Dassault Aviation is also busy making preparations expect a good number of opportunities www.ainonline.com to support the aircraft once it enters service in 2022 will come our way.” n

ainonline.com \ June 2021 \ EBACE Convention News E!NEWSLETTER FOR BUSINESS AVIATION 33 www.ainonline.com/alerts

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FOR NEWS VIDEO FROM HELI!EXPO

FOR NEWS VIDEO FROM EBACE Asia Flight Services learns to be flexible by Chen Chuanren Aljoscha Even during its inception in 2012, Asia and government flights, and support for Asia due to lack of flight options or Subasinghe, Flight Services (AFS) had to deal with high-level events such as the ASEAN and closed airports. business changes. Initially set up to support the APEC summits. “We supported many such missions development launch of new routes for the German However, during the onset of the pan- both in terms of handling and by liais- manager, AFS leisure carrier Condor to Myanmar and demic in early 2020, AFS shifted away ing with the respective embassies for all Cambodia, the airline suspended ser- from business, leisure, and government clearances,” said AFS business develop- vices after a few months due to a change trips toward repatriation and evacua- ment manager Aljoscha Subasinghe. “But in strategy and AFS became a full-fledged tion flights, as well as cargo flights for not all repatriation flights were organized While aviation aviation services company to support personal protection equipment delivery. in this manner, though. Quite a few pas- continues to be nonscheduled aviation services with a By around April and May 2020, traffic sengers decided to organize their own focus on business aviation. halved to pre-pandemic levels. At that flights, using business jet operators, to a!ected by the It expanded to most of Indochina stage, numerous governments were maintain flexibility and distancing.” and saw its business quickly expand to chartering airliners to repatriate cit- Vietnam operations started in 2014 pandemic, AFS has its cargo, scheduled passenger, military, izens that were stranded in Southeast and are one of AFS’s brightest-growing eyes on expansion.” markets alongside the government’s investment in the aviation sector and its internal processes to root out ineffi- strong economic data. Although Vietnam ciencies and improve customer satis- managed to be one of the success stories faction, and in March achieved IS-BAH Covid creates conditions in the world in terms of controlling the accreditation for its services in Cambodia, virus, measures for visitors are extensive Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, and strict and the processing time is rel- while Bangladesh and Papua New Guinea for brokers to prosper atively long. stations are participating in the NATA “For this reason, hardly any leisure Safety 1st Ground Safety Program. by Peter Shaw-Smith traffic is taking place at the moment, but Moving into 2021, the company was business and repatriation flights are still able to maximize its decentralized “boots While one leading OEM was reticent in operating once the required documents on the ground” concept of operation and speaking to AIN about recent sales of are in place,” he added. provide timely updates, adapt quickly to new business jets in Africa, Jetcraft’s As one of the founding markets for Asia new situations, and provide services “as preowned aircraft brokerage has per- Flight Services, the unexpected coup in usual.” While the aviation industry con- formed well overall in the year since the Kani Saritas, Myanmar by the military on February 1 tinues to be affected by the pandemic, pandemic broke out. Jet HQ’s Dubai- gave the company another issue to pon- AFS still has its eyes on expansion. Danie Joubert, Jetcraft’s v-p of sales based sub- der. Known as Myanmar Aviation Centre “Our strategy has always been to look for Africa, said most OEMs were rep- Saharan Africa locally, it is one of the group’s larger local for areas where clients are not satisfied resented on the continent, with Bom- specialist teams and it supports both commer- with the service they are receiving and bardier and Dassault’s Falcon series the cial airlines and nonscheduled clients. finding a way to remedy this gap in the most prevalent business jet types there. The company now has to deal with fuel market. Most of our expansion has been “In addition, Embraer remains popular, provides,” he said. “As things are steadily shortages and strict entry restrictions for client-driven in this regard and we have while interest in Gulfstream is more opening up in Africa, we’re seeing a result- crew, although Subasinghe said operating done well with this approach,” Subas- likely to be seen in western Africa than ing increase in activity and transactions flights to Myanmar recently “is not easy, inghe said. “We will keep focusing on in ,” he said. coming together in 2021.” but not impossible either.” improving our core benefits of direct “Before Covid-19, interest in preowned While it now has an office in , Subasinghe said during the lull period communication, seamless service, and private jets sales was focused on particu- Kansas City, Missouri-based Jet HQ has of the pandemic, the company overhauled even better regional coverage.” n lar areas, but now this has spread across been expanding its sub-Saharan footprint the continent. Right now, we’re seeing via its UAE office. Dubai, UAE-based Kani serious widespread activity, with interac- Saritas specializes in north and west Africa tion between competent buyers in Angola, and South Africa and recently completed , South Africa, Ghana, Uganda, a transaction in Côte d’Ivoire, assisting DC Aviation Al-Futtaim sees double-digit Congo-Brazzaville, Kenya, and Namibia, the country’s air force in finding and pur- among others.” chasing a Gulfstream G450 based earlier rise in business aviation activity After a lull, Joubert saw an improve- in Latvia. “As a whole, the region has seen ment in activity towards the fourth quar- growth in midsize and super-midsize jet Crediting the UAE for its handling of the continue for the remainder of the year.” ter last year in the region. “At Jetcraft, in sectors,” the company said. Covid-19 pandemic, DC Aviation Al-Futtaim Increases in VVIP guests from the the last 12 months we’ve seen roughly The eastern part of sub-Saharan Africa (DCAF) in Dubai reported a 25 percent Commonwealth of Independent States, double the number of first-time buyers of is still untapped, according to Dawit increase in private and business jet activ- Europe, , and Pakistan, as well as preowned aircraft than in previous years, Lemma, CEO of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia- ity in the first quarter, which also fueled visitors from Israel—following the sign- which is a tremendously positive indica- based Krimson Aviation. “Eastern Africa gains in its other services such as charter, ing of the Abraham Accords agreement tor of the future growth of our industry,” and the eastern seaboard of Africa are ground handling, and MRO. to open diplomatic, trade, and economic he said. lacking in jets,” he said. “I want to clearly “The increase in flight movement is relations between the two countries— Covid-19 also triggered a fresh wave distinguish between turboprops and jets. the result of the increased confidence helped to drive business higher during of interest from new market entrants. “We don’t have that many corporate in the UAE government’s vaccination the period. The downturn in airline activity and the jets flying up and down the country. The program, tourism-related initiatives, A joint venture between German busi- demise of many airlines, or route reduc- turboprop market is phenomenal, while and other economic stimulus measures ness aviation operator DC Aviation and tions, led to a major increase in interest in the helicopter market is also strong, with taken to boost consumer and busi- UAE conglomerate Al-Futtaim, DCAF aircraft acquisitions. Kenya, of course, leading the way. Given ness sentiment,” said DCAF managing operates from Al Maktoum International “In particular, we’ve seen inquiries from the strategic location, especially with the director Holger Ostheimer. “We have Airport in Dubai South with a 1,300-sq-m those who had previously been happy to Red Sea corridor and the China One Belt, seen this increased number even into (13,993-sq-ft) VVIP lounge and two han- rely on the airlines for business travel One Road initiative, and the ports on the Ramadan, which is generally a quiet gars measuring 5,700 sq m (61,354 sq ft) but now want to explore the flexibility, Red Sea, long term we’re going to see an period, and we expect this trend to and 7,500 sq m. J.S. control, and security that flying privately uptick in business aviation.” n

34 EBACE Convention News \ June 2021 \ ainonline.com customers who are looking for increased Asia-Pacific optimistic with security and social distancing. In most cases, however, those inquiries were tenta- Vicky Tsui, tive requests and rarely transformed into Post-Covid bizav outlook v-p sales and actual bookings. “Moving forward, we see marketing the demand for requests for the summer by Anthony Lam and customer as vaccination campaigns are expected to service, Amber help ease travel restrictions. Clients seem Despite hopes of an uptick, most believe likely focus on building or rekindling Aviation to anticipate there will be some kind of that international charter flights remain those relationships. relaxation, and so they are beginning to challenging. But business has been much Hong Kong and Beijing-based Sino Jet make preparations in hopes there are real stronger for domestic flights in China, group president Jenny Lau agreed. “Even Tsui is confident that business jet char- options to travel very soon,” he said. and business aviation leaders see encour- though international flights have pretty ter will flourish when the pandemic is aging signs for the rest of Asia once the much been banned since October 2020, over. “The Covid-19 pandemic has played pandemic eases. domestic charter flights within China a pivotal role in popularizing business jet When the pandemic began, the indus- have really picked up, and we’ve expe- travel. As the wider public begins to iden- try experienced an influx of hype on air rienced a lot more activity than previ- tify both the safety benefits and cost via- charter inquiries and activity. “People ous years for both business and leisure bility of business aviation, business jets thought business aircraft charter would charter users. Some of these domestic are being justified as a practical choice Ian Moore, likely increase because of Covid-19, but clients were previously first-time clients and less of a luxury expense.” VistaJet chief unfortunately that’s just not true,” said who happened to have experienced char- Jet Aviation Asia region senior direc- commercial Denzil White, Hong Kong-based Metro- ter flying for the first time via their first tor Carlos Gomez has had a similar officer jet managing director of aircraft manage- international charter booking with us for experience and an optimistic outlook. ment and charter. “When you examine it repatriation,” she said. “In addition to the fear of the pan- and look at the details, we are an industry demic, the difficulties with the multiple VistaJet chief commercial officer Ian governed by Covid. It is not over, and we restrictions imposed on passengers and Moore was similarly bullish on the Asia are now seeing an uptick in mutations. crew made it a real challenge to plan region’s charter outlook. “In the second Whether it’s owner or charter flying, we’re and execute charter and owner flights. quarter, we have seen steady growth in still governed by the same restrictions, As if that was not enough, the different traffic month by month. And with the and it’s definitely tough to fly,“ said White. quarantine requirements for the crews likely improvement and easing of restric- The consensus is that it is taking too translated into additional costs to the tions expected by the summer and with long to reach herd immunity to provide Jenny Lau, operators, increasing the costs of the more people being vaccinated, we are a boost for the industry in Asia. While Sino Jet group trips,” said Gomez. optimistic that demand in Asia will con- domestic business aircraft travel in China president Gomez confirmed that Jet Aviation tinue to grow and there will be a strong has recovered by 95 percent, international also experienced additional requests recovery in the second half of the year for charter activity is still sitting at less than 20 for quotes and the arrival of first-time the industry,” Moore said. n percent. “This is where Hong Kong is really In some cases, demand for domestic suffering, as all of our flights are interna- China charter has been so high that there tional. At the same time, factors like the have been shortages. According to Lau, mandatory 21-day quarantine have pushed the major cities in China remain the most pricing up significantly, and customers popular charter destinations. There has L’Voyage expands with new shareholder don’t appreciate the increased costs asso- also been a noted increase in charters to ciated with crew quarantine,” said White. the city of Sanya in Hainan as well as to the AIN caught up with Hong Kong-based char- L’Voyage has been focusing on building Charter requests in the Asia region thus far Changbai Mountains in northeast China. ter broker L’Voyage’s new shareholder and its team and enhancing its product o!erings, have largely been for repatriation, medical, “More clients are getting used to charter, CEO, Jolie Howard, to discuss the recent he noted. “We are launching our member- crisis, and cargo purposes. and some of them have been converted to announcement of a strategic expansion. ship programs where members are able to owners, too,” said Lau. In terms of desired Howard has been in the business and gen- enjoy many more benefits from discounted aircraft size, Lau’s clients continue to pre- eral aviation industry in Asia for more than charter flights and exclusive access to lux- fer ultra-long-range aircraft such as the 20 years, spending the last five as CEO of ury hotels, villas, private islands, and cruises, Denzil White, and Bombardier Global TAG Aviation Asia before joining L’Voyage. as well as tailored arrangements and other Metrojet 7500, and there has been a notable uptick According to Howard, L’Voyage is well concierge services,” said Howard. managing in preowned business jet purchases. positioned to serve the expected influx of The company is also partnering with sup- director Lau believes that business jet charter new customers in the post-Covid market. pliers to support its clients’ travel needs. “In of aircraft and ownership are going to be “very hot” “We are investing in new technologies— the long term, in addition to expanding our management after Covid. “Prospective owners and including proprietary software solutions customer base and market share, we aim and charter charter users are more wary of the health that would augment our services—so that to continue to significantly improve clients’ and safety concerns in their travels now, we can lead in providing safe, transparent, booking and interfacing experience by and they want to go with the safer route.” legal, and sound charter services,” he said. investing more in technology,” he added. Despite the challenges, White remains According to Lau, another reason is that Howard noted that a growing number L’Voyage founder Diana Chou shared optimistic. “The positive side is that there’s many clients did much better financially of prospective customers are considering her vision for this expansion, saying, “This a new market segment being appreciated, with their positions in the stock market or already using business jets due to their strategic union and expansion augment the where health and safety are critical going during the pandemic and hence have safety and health advantages over air- company’s strength and growth in scaling forward. Those who previously weren’t greater spending power. lines, especially during a pandemic. “At the the business to the next evolution. As part- willing to allocate funds to business jets According to Vicky Tsui, v-p of sales moment, our charters are mainly essential, ners, Jolie and I have seen and built the are now considering or are willing to fly on and marketing and customer service for one-way travels,” he said. “On occasion, industry firsthand through our mutual long- them. When Covid-19 subsides, we expect Shenzhen-based Amber Aviation, “The however, we are seeing a demand with term confidence in the market. there to be an increase in charter and frac- domestic charter market has been recov- immigration flights to Europe, as well as “Jolie’s corporate expertise and experi- tional ownership,” said White. ering rapidly since July 2020, due to the requirements such as the need for passen- ence complement and enhance the funda- Even though many have become famil- stabilization of the pandemic in China.” gers and pets to travel together. We expect mentally bespoke and boutique elements iar with virtual meetings over the last There was a “long boom” in charter activ- to see an increase of charter requests of L’Voyage. With every crisis comes oppor- year, White believes that business avia- ity particularly from October to this past for personal, leisure flights, as well as for tunity, and L’Voyage is poised to lead and tion, like many other businesses, relies on February, and Amber Aviation’s charter essential business trips as borders begin to transform the industry in the post-Covid relationships. The return of cross-border activities in 2020 increased by 80 percent open up in the coming months.” environment,” she concluded. A.L. business aviation charter activity would compared to 2019.

ainonline.com \ June 2021 \ EBACE Convention News 35 to address both the possibility of reduced crew operations, which could be one pilot flying while the other rests. In fact, the flight deck will be fitted with fully reclin- ing seats for what is termed extended minimum crew operations. Dual FalconEye head-up displays (HUD) will be double as primary instru- ments, opening up the panel displays for other uses. Dassault expects to have EVS- to-land capability with FalconEye, allow- ing landings to touchdown and rollout in poor visibility with no natural vision out- side the aircraft. The Pearl 10X represents the first time a Falcon will be powered by a Rolls-Royce engine. For the new jet, the Pearl 10X will produce more than 18,000 pounds of thrust while delivering 5 percent lower specific fuel consumption compared to earlier-generation engines. The engine features a bladed-disk (blisk) fan design and a 10-stage com- pressor with six stages of blisks. An ultra- low-emissions combustor cuts noise and emissions, and a two-stage high-pressure turbine has a shroudless blade design. Testing will include running on 100 per- cent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Spirit AeroSystems will build the nacelle system, and it and the 10X engine to the DFCS will enable the addition of will be flight tested on Rolls-Royce’s Boe- New aircraft programs Recovery Mode. ing 747-400 flying testbed. Rolls-Royce With full control of all aspects of fly-by- will maintain a digital twin of the engine wire flight control as well as the engines, to track its performance, including cap- aim for improving market the DFCS will be able to return the 10X ture of more than 9,000 parameters. to stable flight after an upset, when the With so much cabin volume, Dassault by Matt Thurber pilot pushes the Recovery button on the designers are working on various configu- instrument panel. Incorporation of the rations with up to four lounges, including A slowdown in new business aircraft Dassault is leveraging its experience at Recovery Mode may also lead to the addi- a full bathroom with shower, private cin- development programs finally ended with manufacturing composite wings for the tion of an Automatic Ground Collision ema, and VIP master suite with a queen- the May 6 unveiling of Dassault’s entry Rafale fighter jet, and the 10X’s highly- Avoidance System (AGCAS). The single size bed and its own bathroom. into the ultra-long-range, wide-cabin swept wing will be made of carbon-fiber power lever, Recovery Mode, and AGCAS A dining table with four individual seats business jet market, the Falcon 10X. Of composite materials. Like all Falcons, the are standard on the Rafale. will allow passengers to exit their seats course, there are other ongoing programs, 10X will have leading-edge slats, flaps, The 10X’s DFCS has additional features, without disturbing seatmates. Passenger including the Falcon 6X, Gulfstream spoilers, and ailerons. The empennage is including a soft go-around and “comfort” seats will have an available full-recline G700, and Cessna Denali, but it seems also a big change for the 10X, switching climb and descent, designed to make pas- option like first-class seating on airliners. that many of the optimal niches are filled from the cruciform and downward-canted sengers more comfortable during maneu- The 10X will have a 3,000-foot cabin and it might be some time before we see horizontal stabilizers on earlier models to vering. The Smart Throttle also helps altitude at 41,000 feet and air filtered further new programs launched. a T-tail configuration. facilitate improvements for reduced- by ozone and VOC filters. Larger win- Also new for the 10X is an addition to thrust takeoffs and noise abatement. dows are fitted, with 38 in the 10X’s Falcon 10X the digital flight control system (DFCS)— Multiple touchscreen displays simplify long fuselage. The newest business jet program is the the single power-lever Smart Throttle the pilot interface, including a graphical Priced at $75 million in 2021 dollars, just-launched Falcon 10X, Dassault’s that was tested extensively during a 7X flight management system and simpli- the 10X is expected to be certified and 7,500-nm competitor to the Bombardier flight-test campaign last year. Dassault’s fied checklists with auto-sensing of many enter service in 2025. Global 7500 and Gulfstream G700. A plan to incorporate the Smart Throttle switch positions. Much of this is designed twinjet powered by Rolls-Royce’s Pearl Falcon 6X 10X , the 10X will feature a huge On March 10, Dassault’s next jet to enter cabin with a volume of 2,780 cu ft, the Falcon 10X service, the Falcon 6X, took off for the first largest cross-section of a purpose-built time from France’s Bordeaux-Mérignac business jet, with an interior width at 9 Airport, launching the new jet’s flight test feet 1 inch and height of 6 feet 8 inches. program. As of late April, the first 6X had With a mtow of 115,000 pounds, the logged more than 50 hours and flown to 10X will carry 51,700 pounds of fuel and its Mach 0.90 maximum operating speed. have a payload of 6,500 pounds. Accord- On April 30, the second flight-test 6X ing to Dassault’s preliminary performance made its first flight, and a third is expected figures, the 10X will be able to achieve its to begin flying in the third quarter. The 7,500-nm range at Mach 0.85. Maximum latter will be equipped with a full inte- operating speed will be Mach 0.925, but rior, and testing will cover cabin systems, the 10X will still be able to take off at max- galley equipment, inflight entertainment imum weight with a balanced field length systems, and Ka-band satcom. The fourth of less than 6,000 feet and perform steep 6X will be the first production version and approaches. Landing distance is projected it will fly around the world on a demon- to be less than 2,500 feet. stration tour.

36 EBACE Convention News \ June 2021 \ ainonline.com The twin-engine 6X is powered by Gulfstream G700 Gulfstream G700 Pratt & Whitney’s PW812D (“D” for Das- Gulfstream has made extensive progress sault), with each engine delivering 13,500 on its flagship G700 program, with six pounds of thrust. The PW812D features aircraft now in the test fleet as the com- a 44-inch single-piece fan, a 4.5:1 to 5:1 pany closes in on certification. Entry into , and the low-emissions Talon service is expected in 2022. First flight of X combustor. the G700 took place on Feb. 14, 2020, and Until the 10X enters service in 2025, that aircraft has flown to 54,000 feet and the 6X will be Dassault’s largest Falcon, Mach 0.999. with a cabin height of 6 feet 5 inches and The largest Gulfstream jet ever, the a width of 8 feet 5 inches, and also will G700 will offer up to five living areas, a have the largest cross-section dimen- range of 7,500 nm, and maximum oper- sions of any purpose-built business jet. ating speed of Mach 0.925. Flight testing With three lounge areas, the 6X’s aisle has demonstrated a balanced field length is five inches wider than earlier Falcons. of 6,250 feet at maximum takeoff weight Baggage is accommodated in a 155-cu-ft and a typical landing distance of about compartment inside the pressure vessel, 2,500 feet. G650. The new engine will meet or exceed until the Epic E1000, which was certi- plus there is another unpressurized com- Equipped with a full production inte- Stage 5 noise standards and have nitrous fied in November 2019. Textron Aviation partment of 76 cu ft. rior, the sixth test G700 is fitted with oxide emissions that are projected to be finally added its Cessna brand to the fray Dassault’s performance specifications Gulfstream’s new “ultra galley,” which 35 percent below the CAEP/6 standard. with the Denali single-engine turboprop, for the 6X call for 5,500-nm range at a has more than 10 feet of counter space, According to Rolls-Roycde, the Pearl announced in July 2016, though its devel- long-range cruise speed of Mach 0.80 dedicated crew rest space, six-seat confer- 700 features a 10-stage, high-pressure axial opment has been delayed. while carrying eight passengers and three ence and dining area, and stateroom with compressor; improved gearbox breather First flight of the Denali was origi- crew. At Mach 0.85 that drops to 5,100 nm. a full-length wardrobe. Further, the twin- exhaust; new Safran-Aircelle nacelle; nally planned for 2018 or 2019, and now Maximum operating speed is Mach 0.90 jet features the OEM’s ultra-high-defi- 24-blade, 51.8-inch blisked fan; bypass this is due to happen in the second half and the maximum altitude is 51,000 feet. nition circadian lighting system, 100 ratio in the 5:1 range; high-pressure com- of this year. Interestingly, a top former A new feature in the 6X design facilitates percent fresh cabin air, low cabin altitude, pression ratio of 24:1 (compared to 16:1 on Textron Aviation official involved in the short-field performance—the fly-by-wire and “whisper quiet” noise levels. the BR725); six blisked compressor stages; Denali launch told AIN that the reason flight control system’s use of electrically The galley is large enough to accom- low-emission combustor; two-stage for selecting the name Denali is because driven flaps and flaperons. This allows the modate a refrigerator, microwave, and shroudless high-pressure turbine; and an Denali is the highest mountain in North flaperons to act as both flaps (increasing conventional oven. A dining area in the enhanced four-stage low-pressure turbine. America at 20,310 feet, about three times lift) and ailerons (roll control)—a first for fourth zone can be configured in a club- A new feature for a Gulfstream jet is the higher than Switzerland’s Mount Pilatus a business jet. With the control surfaces six layout with a quick-deploy table that G700’s predictive landing performance and signifying Cessna’s desire to unseat working in tandem, lift-over-drag aug- spans the entire cross-section. system, designed to shield against runway the PC-12 as king of the single-engine mentation improves steep approach visi- Gulfstream showed a cabin mockup overrun and to warn pilots to go around utility turboprops. Of course, the Denali bility, control, and comfort and enables a with a master bedroom with a full-size when necessary. A new dual head-up dis- doesn’t offer three times the performance, low approach speed of 109 ktas at typical bed and dresser, in addition to an en play will include enhanced flight vision but it will be competitive. landing weights. Takeoff distance at sea suite lavatory with a toilet and vanity system with EVS-to-land (no natural The Denali is powered by GE Aviation’s level and mtow is 5,480 feet. opposite from a floor-to-ceiling stor- vision) down to touchdown and rollout. Catalyst turboprop engine, which has been The 6X flight deck features the latest age closet. In a first for a Gulfstream, Like its siblings, the fly-by-wire G500 ground-tested on GE’s testbed Beech- version of the Honeywell Epic-based the aft lav includes windows. Aft lava- and G600, the G700 is equipped with craft King Air 350. The Fadec-equipped EASy III avionics, with four 14.1-inch tory options not shown on the mockup BAE active inceptor sidesticks, which are 1,300-shp engine has a single-lever power displays, Honeywell’s IntuVue RDR- include a larger vanity with opposite toi- electronically interconnected and simu- and propeller control and features an 4000 radar, and the FalconEye head-up let, as well as a shower. A rear door in the late mechanical linkage to prevent simul- all-titanium, 3D-aero compressor design display with combined vision system aft lavatory allows in-flight entry to the taneous pilot input. for lightweight and efficient power gen- (overlaid synthetic vision and enhanced 195-cu-ft baggage compartment, which Avionics are Gulfstream’s touchscreen eration; cooled turbine blades enabling vision system imagery). FalconEye is can hold up to 2,500 pounds. Symmetry flight deck, which is based on higher thrust and fuel efficiency; and standard in the 6X and was developed The G700 is powered by a pair of Rolls- Honeywell’s Primus Epic avionics. The integrated electronic propulsion control with Elbit Systems. Royce Pearl 700 engines. Delivering 18,250 full three-axis digital fly-by-wire system to enable the single-lever power control. To enhance 6X maintenance, the jet is pounds of thrust, the Pearl 700 has 8 per- offers flight-envelope protection, stability With a four-passenger range of 1,600 the first Falcon fitted with the FalconScan cent more takeoff thrust, a 12 percent bet- augmentation, increased redundancy, and nm, the Denali will fly at a maximum cruise advanced diagnostic system. FalconScan ter thrust-to-weight ratio (8 percent more reduced maintenance. speed of 285 knots and be capable of carry- “monitors and reports on 100,000 mainte- thrust and 4 percent less weight), 3.5 per- Many of the visible switches found ing a full-fuel payload of 1,100 pounds and nance parameters,” according to Dassault. cent less fuel burn, and 5 percent greater in earlier designs have been eliminated. up to 11 occupants. The turboprop features Falcon 6X certification and entry into efficiency compared to the Rolls-Royce Instead, inputs are made through 10 a flat-floor cabin, a 53-inch-by-59-inch rear service are planned in 2022. BR725 engine on the current-production touchscreens like those in the G500/600. cargo door, a digital pressurization system In addition, cursor control devices are inte- that maintains a 6,130-foot cabin to 31,000 grated into the center console, giving each feet, and an optional externally serviceable Falcon 6X pilot control of three of the four main dis- belted lavatory with pocket door enclosure play screens and allowing data to be shifted in the aft of the cabin. between them in the event of a failure. The cabin design also incorporates Gulfstream has also redesigned the large passenger windows, a refresh- pilot seats for better comfort—an import- ment cabinet, and an in-flight-accessi- ant feature on an airplane with an endur- ble baggage compartment. In addition, ance exceeding 14 hours. the interior is designed to be easily and quickly converted between passenger and Cessna Denali cargo configurations. For many years, there was little com- Pilots will fly the Denali using Garmin’s petition in the single-engine turboprop G3000 touchscreen-controlled integrated market. While Piper has stepped up the avionics suite, which will include voice performance of its Meridian/M500 with command with automatic speech recog- the more powerful and longer-range nition, weather radar, , advanced M600, there were no competitors for terrain awareness warning system, and the TBM 900 series and Pilatus PC-12 ADS-B Out/In capabilities. n

ainonline.com \ June 2021 \ EBACE Convention News 37 in the past year. I think there will be more demand for preowned aircraft.” Hdairis had seen aircraft valuation metrics diverge. “There are two out- comes concerning this. On the one hand, for owners of the most expensive aircraft, if their business or industry was negatively affected, they sold their aircraft, and prices fell significantly,” he said. “On the other hand, I noticed that Challenger 604s, Legacy 600s and 650s maintained their value and in some cases these increased because of demand.” Mark Hardman, CEO of RightJet in In the Middle East Dubai, noted that the selection of aircraft the royal family charter type was more price-conscious and government under Covid. “The market is presently delegations super price-driven. It depends on the have, in the past, profile of the client as to whether they’re traveled in sizeable looking at a small, medium, or large jet, or aircraft, giving rise a bizliner,” he said. to the phenomenon “We are seeing travel for leisure and

INTOSH dubbed “royal business, but…with the exception of cer- c barge bizliners.” tain routes such as Dubai, Seychelles, Tur-

DAVID M key, and the Maldives, pleasure travel is not a pleasure at the moment. Most peo- ple are traveling for a compelling reason.” standards when it comes to comfort, and When it comes to royals and govern- ‘Royal barge’ bizliner sizes I don’t see them compromising.” ment delegations, Hardman questions Hamish Harding, chairman of Action whether they are traveling at full capacity Aviation in Dubai, believes the biggest at the moment. While he thinks not, some tested by pandemic effects business aircraft categories are making activity is being seen. way for smarter ones. “We are indeed “How price-sensitive is the charter mar- by Peter Shaw-Smith seeing that,” he said. “We do see some of ket? There’s quite a lot of new market the bizliners being sold now in the region entrants, who were used to traveling busi- With extremely large cabin sizes a tradi- family needs, and these aircraft are not and less demand for the really big aircraft. ness or first,” he said. “If you’re traveling tional feature of the Middle East business acquired annually,” he said. “It is chal- Obviously, Saudi was the heart of all that. with a group of people [and considering a jet market, AIN sought to canvass opin- lenging to state whether there has been The whole region seems to be less inter- business jet], you’ll probably not be too sur- ion on whether there has been a regional any meaningful shift by these entities to ested in the very big business jets. There prised at the price of chartering a jet. How- downsizing of aircraft types due to the smaller aircraft types. is more demand for the Gulfstreams of ever, if it is just one passenger then the price Covid-19 pandemic. Traditional royal “We observed some interest by some this world, or the Globals, Challengers, is considerably more than first class.” family and government delegations have of these entities to add more traditional and Legacys.” People on the commercial side were tended in the past to travel in sizeable business aircraft to their fleet. However, used to shopping around. “We’ve seen aircraft, giving rise to the phenomenon this was not always at the expense of the quite a lot of this, where many brokers dubbed “royal barge bizliners.” larger aircraft type already in their fleet. have been contacted and where there are While the pandemic has placed more Given the size of the traveling entourages parties working on the same trip,” he said. emphasis on “travel” than the “travel in for government or ruling family members, “This is fine, but it is not very efficient style” to which top-notch delegations there will always be a requirement for and usually does not lead to better pric- subscribe, there does seem to be evidence bizliners in the region.” Hamish ing. I believe the market, within certain that it will take more than a pandemic to Jeffrey Emmenis, a partner at Vertis Harding, sectors, is buoyant, but still very much unseat VIP-configured airliners in favor of Aviation in Switzerland, chose to refer- chairman, price-driven.” long-range traditional business jets. ence the debate by looking at the mar- Action Aviation Asked if bizliners had been edged out ket in Africa as well as the Middle East. on size and price considerations in the Simon Davies “There has been a seismic shift,” he said. last 12 months, Paras Dhamecha, man- sales director “We founded the business around the Boe- In the charter market, the argument aging director of Empire Aviation Group for the UK, ing BBJs and Airbus ACJs. can be more a question of long-range, (EAG) in Dubai, said: “No, the larger air- Middle East, “We are seeing more customers in the super-large, large, or super-midsize busi- craft have not necessarily disappeared. Africa, , Middle East and Africa using those aircraft, ness jets. The smallest aircraft in our fleet is the India, and but on official head-of-state business trips Sameer Hdairis, accountable manager Hawker 900XP and our charter fleet Eastern and government and diplomatic missions, for Arab Wings in Amman, Jordan, said he goes from the Legacy to the Global, and Canada, Global because the airline industry is absolutely had not seen aircraft size being affected the G650.” Jet Capital obliterated within Africa. It was never well by Covid. “I have not seen any downsizing. From time to time, EAG still gets connected anyway, but driven by Ethiopia We have definitely noticed an increase in requests for the larger bizliners but many and Kenya Airways, and now effectively, charter flight demand due to the prob- countries are currently closed. “Is any- Simon Davies—sales director for the South African Airways. We’ve now seen a lems the airlines are experiencing. I have thing going to change when things open UK, Middle East, Africa, Turkey, India, shift with those guys, where they would seen, let’s say, newcomers who used to up? I don’t really think so,” he said. and Eastern Canada at Global Jet Capi- prefer smaller budgets and traditional travel business class, or first class, who “People are still going to jump in those tal—said the majority of business aircraft business aircraft over executive airliners.” have started seeing the need to acquire airplanes and go where they need to go. in the region are what might be referred “Recent times have seen fewer VVIPs in aircraft or to use aircraft charter. We have seen no issue, in terms of people to as traditional business aircraft. the region flying, in general,” said Moham- “I have noticed certain businessmen looking at price when they know what they “While many large bizliners are in the med Husary, the co-owner, founder, and buying preowned aircraft because of the want to do with these airplanes, which serve Middle East, most of those acquisitions executive president of UAS International lack of commercial flights to meet their a very regular clientele that spends a lot of were related to government or ruling Trip Support. “Our clients have exacting needs. Arab Wings has added two aircraft money flying around the world.” n

38 EBACE Convention News \ June 2021 \ ainonline.com Charter

helps Middle Dubai-based Empire Aviation Group has seen demand for East weather charter continue despite Covid and, with the exception Covid storm of March, every month has been by Peter Shaw-Smith strong since July of last year. Aside from scheduled cargo, business jet activity has been the only sector in Mid- dle East aviation to prosper during the region to Europe—a surprise, as summer and then suddenly Covid hit. Obviously, it During these six months there was no pandemic, as the dearth of recent airline in the region is normally relatively slow. went quiet for a few months from March or little income, except for management activity has forced more people to look Demand for EAG charter has continued 2020 with the sudden worldwide shock of fees. It reduced salaries, as overheads, rent, into air charter or even business aircraft and, with the exception of March, every Covid. Nobody quite knew what was going fee payments, and certification approvals ownership. But the practical realities of month has been strong since July of on and everybody shelved decisions.” remained in place. “I wouldn’t say it was day-to-day restrictions have made aircraft last year. The firm saw one or two deals fall back to normal [in September] but busi- operators’ lives difficult. “The drop in demand in March 2021 through and deposits were also lost, as peo- ness gradually picked up,” Hdairis said. Factors complicating missions have perhaps reflected a new wave of Covid-19, ple could not complete. Business picked up “We had to adopt Covid-19 protocols on air- included border closures, differing with the UK and other European coun- again in the second half, particularly the craft sterilizations, with crew…wearing the immigration rules that often change tries closing down,” Dhamecha said. fourth quarter. “There was a massive sales necessary clothing and masks. The offices daily, lockdowns that limit access to sup- “Apart from March, we’ve seen good effort around the world and people trying also occasionally had to be disinfected.” pliers and amenities, health screenings uptake in our charter business since the to buy aircraft for U.S. depreciation,” he Arab Wings manages 11 aircraft, of which and long quarantine periods restrict- beginning of the year.” said. “We sold a couple of large jets around nine are on charter. “We have seen a slight ing crew entry and crew rest, reduced December 30 last year. ‘Just make sure it increase in the first quarter of 2021, com- airport opening hours, and manpower closes before the end of the year and let pared with the fourth quarter of 2020,” shortages. “We’re extremely positive me do one business flight.’” Hdairis said. “There is a gradual increase about the rest of 2021,” said Moham- Action Aviation aims to sell 20 to 25 in demand for charter flights.” med Husary, UAS co-founder and exec- aircraft a year. Though it had a very active RightJet CEO Mark Hardman said the utive president. “Recovery is happening, Paras 2020, this year seems to be even busier. “I return of flights from Doha would boost albeit slowly, but we must all consider Dhamecha, had actually thought [sales] might fall off the ability to use operators from across that the past 12 months have been the managing a cliff,” Harding said. “I wasn’t quite sure the region, including Executive, most challenging times aviation has director, Empire what the change of U.S. president might enhancing customer choice. The market ever experienced. Aviation Group mean. I thought maybe there’ll be a clamp- has also seen significant increases in FBO down on businesses, and 100 percent activity at Dubai International and Al Mak- depreciation of preowned aircraft might go. toum International airports. The firm has He cites research by GlobeAir, which “It seems the momentum has built, if advised on infrastructure development calculates the number of passenger anything, and now we’re hitting a problem projects in the UAE and Europe. touchpoints when flying on a private jet where there’s a real shortage of inventory. Simon Davies, v-p sales for the UK, Mohammed at just 20 versus 700 by airline. This is [W]e have sold most of the aircraft we Middle East, and India at Global Jet Capi- Husary, UAS because private aircraft passengers move were representing: for example, we have tal, said that while the pandemic affected co-founder through a smaller, less-trafficked terminal sold four G450s in the last few months. the business aircraft market in the Middle and executive and fly with a handful of people who are We are desperately looking right now for East significantly in 2020, his company president known to them. fresh stock, particularly G450, G550, and remained active in the market. EAG has also seen renewed interest G650, Global 6000, Legacy 600/650, and “We saw fewer opportunities during from customers, as well as new clientele, Challengers. These sorts of aircraft are in the middle of the year while noticing an “The UAE is open without any limita- on the aircraft acquisition side. Several constant demand. We cannot get enough increase in charter sales during the same tions or restrictions, making it excep- deals are in progress. “If you look at the of them. We have multiple buyers right period,” he said. “However, we observed tional among the majority of global market, the inventory of good-quality air- now and not enough good stock.” an increase in activity in the last quarter of states,” he added. “With Expo 2020 Dubai craft seems to be drying up fairly quickly,” New-market entrants are moving in. 2020, which has continued into 2021. We kicking off in October and running for six he said. “This shows that many people “Right now, we’ve got so many first-time cannot predict what will happen in 2021, months, we’re expecting a big increase in see business jets as a ‘safe-haven,’ a safe buyers who finally decided they want to but we expect to see continued growth in air charters to the UAE.” means of flying.” have an aircraft,” Harding said. “They could activity levels.” Paras Dhamecha, managing director have had an aircraft anytime in the past, The key driver for the international of Dubai-based Empire Aviation Group Brokers Stay Busy, Too but they’ve chosen now because Covid just markets outside the U.S. in 2021 will be (EAG), agreed that last year was difficult. Just as with charter, aircraft brokers have made traveling so unpleasant any other way.” the reopening of national borders from He said the second quarter last year, in been busy in the region. “The brokerage Jordan’s Arab Wings said that the past travel restrictions. Another critical mar- particular, was extremely testing, with world has worked extremely well recently,” 12 months had been tough. A six-month, ket growth factor will be the availability airports and nations completely shut- said Hamish Harding, chairman of Action countrywide airport closure last year— of aircraft. ting down. Aviation in Dubai. “The business jet market from mid-March until mid-September— “We expect to see a more vibrant market “There were two big challenges,” Dha- is effectively booming at the moment. We meant it operated only three or four flights, in 2021 than in 2020,” said Davies. “The mecha said. “One was having airplanes on couldn’t really have a more active market. impacting financials significantly. Every- larger-sized aircraft in the traditional air- the ground, but secondly, as an asset-man- “Overall, in 2020, it went extremely well,” thing was grounded, said accountable man- craft models have seen a dramatic reduction agement business, making sure that air- Harding added. “The beginning of the year ager Sameer Hdairis. in available preowned aircraft for sale as a planes were kept up the entire time, with was going well for us anyway. In January “We were ready to operate and had some percentage of their installed base. Simul- [difficulties] of moving people around 2020, we closed a brand new G650ER for requests, but in some cases we had to out- taneously, OEM backlogs have remained and completing maintenance.” around $60 million in a preowned sale, one source flights through special exemptions relatively constant for this aircraft market Charter business picked up in July, of the highest-value G650 preowned deals to bring humanitarian officials in from segment, which means fewer total potential with repatriation flights from within the last year. We had a couple of other deals Europe or elsewhere,” he said. transactions can be completed.” n

ainonline.com \ June 2021 \ EBACE Convention News 39 Vnukovo-3 FBO sees more growth

Vnukovo-3/Vipport, Russia’s largest FBO, is ready to strengthen its posi- tion in the domestic market this year thanks to the ongoing recovery of the country’s business aviation sector from the pandemic’s consequences, according to recent statements by representatives of the FBO and inde- pendent analysts. According to data A Russian Mi-171A2 provided by WingX Advance in April, and Mi-38. Vnukovo-3 is the leading airport in

VLADIMIR KARNOZOV Europe in terms of the number of busi- ness aviation flights year-to-date. At present, Vnukovo-3 continues The latter’s leather seats, satellite to show a positive momentum, as the Ruggedness and reliability phone, and air-conditioning inspired demand for business aviation flights in Indira Gandhi, and in 1971 her cabinet Russia steadily grows. However, a fur- approved the purchase of six broadly sim- ther expansion of Vnukovo-3, accord- keep Russian helos flying ilar Mi-8MPs. Bearing Indian Air Force ing to its representatives, will probably markings, they served with the VVIP be suspended until 2022. by Vladimir Karnozov Communication Squadron based at Palam, Anna Kislova, head of the develop- near New , until their replacement ment and quality-control department Albeit having a small share in the global Another novelty is an improved venti- came in the form of six Mi-17-V5s whose of Vnukovo-3/Vipport, told AIN that market for business aircraft, the Rus- lation system that manages a complete VVIP outfitting was done at the Base while the business aviation sector sian aerospace industry maintains one replenishment of air inside the aircraft Repair Depot at Chandigarh. in Russia is gradually improving, the important stronghold with VIP-config- within two to three minutes. A new Three Mi-8s—registration EW-25049, company will be unlikely to invest in ured Mi-8/17 series helicopters. Opera- trend involves the installation of Nuage- EW-001DA, and EW-002DA—operate for major projects this year. “Currently,” tional since 1965, the platform continues like seats—fashioned after the reclining Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko, said Kislova, “the infrastructure of in production with more than 13,000 cop- seats designed by Bombardier for its while two Mi-172VIPs fly for Venezue- our complex remains unchanged, and ies built so far, including hundreds for use Global business jet family—into the Rus- la’s Nicolas Maduro. Ugandan president there are no plans for new investment by corporations and government officials. sian-built helicopters. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni uses a Mi-17-1 projects this year. The most di!cult Exported to more than a hundred Tulpar is considering similar designs bought in 2016 and equipped with 12 pas- period we had was in April 2020, after countries, the helicopters logged some for a wider range of applications. “We senger seats, a cloakroom, snack bar, and which the situation began to improve 100 million flight hours and won world- are working hard on the creation of a a lavatory. rapidly, allowing the company to reach wide acclaim for ruggedness, reliability, similar seat for other jets and choppers,” Other recently delivered VIP-config- pre-pandemic results.” and predictability, the three merits that Onyanov said. Tulpar is also developing ured Mi-17s went to Sudan, Turkmeni- Kislova added that Vipport this year certain customers place above all else. A improved honeycomb panels for lighter stan, Egypt, and Bangladesh. In addition has particularly high hopes for the Hip (NATO code name for the Mi-8/17) weight and better noise insulation. The to Mi-171A2 UP-MI701 and UP-MI702, RUBAE Expo, which will be held Sep- can be much noisier and shakier than company buys them abroad but plans to ’s Berkut air company, which tember 8-10 in the traditional format, most modern designs, but its outstand- introduce local analogs made completely serves the government, has taken delivery the first Russian business aviation event ing flight record and classic appearance of Russian materials. of a UP-MI707. The Mi-8/17 helicopters to be conducted in-person since the prevail when a customer does not want Another outfitter doing VIP interiors also serve national leaders of Ukraine, Sri beginning of the pandemic. to take any chances. for the Mi-8/17 is AirTaxi-Service, which Lanka, the , Bulgaria, and About 90 percent of Russian busi- During the past decade, the annual has developed a quick conversion (pas- Slovakia, among others. ness aviation tra!c is in the Moscow production rate floated between 100 and senger/cargo/medical/corporate) cabin VIP-configured Mi-8/17 helicopters are region. In addition to Vnukovo-3, Termi- 200 units. No official statistics are avail- with a high comfort variant for up to 13 also found in the fleets of large corpo- nal A of Sheremetyevo Airport remains able for how many helicopters come with people. Initially an aircraft operator and rations such as Russia’s Gazprom, Ros- a center of business aviation. According a high-comfort interior. Most customers MRO provider, the company moved into neft, and other fossil fuel giants. Recent to local analysts, Covid-19 has not had a for those aircraft prefer to stay uniden- the aircraft interiors business in 1999. deliveries include a Mi-8MTV-1 to ZEST catastrophic e"ect on business aviation tified. But analyzing reports of Russian Together with the Mil design house, leasing company in St. Petersburg for in Russia, as local authorities did not outfitters on the installation of VIP inte- AirTaxi-Service outfitted a Mi-38 with operations with Russair. It is configured impose restrictions on business flights riors into green aircraft and conversions VIP interior, for which it received praise for four main passengers and eight mem- even during the pandemic’s peak. of used ones shows that, on average, there from Russian president Vladimir Putin, bers of their entourage. On the contrary, the cancellation are about six VIP/VVIP Mi-8/17 helicop- who showed the helicopter to Turkish Similar helicopters are easily avail- of the majority of regular flights and ters entering service each year. leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at MAKS able for charter across Russia at rates of closure of Russia’s borders with many “Installation of VIP interiors into the 2019. Developed as a growth replace- between 140,000 and 215,000 Roubles foreign states from the end of March Mi-8/17 family remains our core activity, ment for the Hip, the Mi-38 produces ($1,845 and $2,833) an hour depending on to August last year led to the growth with three helicopters done in 2020 and less noise and flies faster, while offer- condition. The pandemic caused a number of business aviation flights to and out- four orders won for 2021,” said Dmitry ing payload capability of 5.5 tonnes and of operators to place their VIP-configured side the country. In June last year, the Onyanov, general manager at the Tulpar cabin space of 29.5 cubic meters against Mi-8/17 for sale and others to buy them. number of flights almost doubled, with Aero Group. High-speed airborne connec- the Mi-8’s 4 tonnes and 23 to 27 cubic At the turn of the century, new VIP-con- a peak in September. tivity is now a standard customer require- meters, respectively. figured Mi-17s sold for $4 million, com- One reason for the rapid develop- ment, he added. The Covid-19 outbreak There is no Mi-38 yet in the Russian pared with today’s price tag of $23 million ment of business aviation in Russia prompted a desire for cleaner air inside government air arm yet since it buys for an outfitted Mi-171A2 new from the is the lack of traditional bureaucracy the aircraft through the installation of only products that have already proved factory, $16 million for a Mi-8AMT-1-VIP associated with the issuance of per- so-called “improved thermal filters.” The safe and reliable in operation. It oper- of 2014 vintage, and $6.2 million for a missions for such flights, which are work costs about €100,000 for a Mi-8- ates more than a dozen Mi-8AMT-1s 2006-vintage Mi-8AMT-VIP. The market usually provided by the Russian Fed- sized helicopter and can be done during and Mi-8MTV-1Ss, which replaced older for such equipment remains alive, keeping eral Air Transport Agency. E.G. a shop visit for maintenance. Mi-8PS VVIP helicopters. Russian industry and outfitters afloat. n

40 EBACE Convention News \ June 2021 \ ainonline.com were panel discussions on relevant topics moderated by Victoria Wilk, director of safety and regulatory affairs for Boeing in China; Rocky Zhang, Asia Business Avia- tion Association (AsBAA) vice chairman, chair of the AsBAA Mainland China com- mittee, and vice president of government affairs for Textron China; and Chris Wu, president of Sino Jet Beijing. US-China ACP executive director Geof- frey Jackson, along with Zhang and AsBAA board member and ExecuJet Haite Avia- tion Services China general manager Paul Desgrosseilliers, delivered opening and closing remarks for the event. Hosted by the Haite group in its physical conference and dining venues, attendees enjoyed a long-overdue opportunity to physically network over a luncheon, an afternoon tea break, and an evening cocktail to facilitate the exchange of awareness and ideas in aviation safety. China Business Aviation Safety Day 2021 was sponsored by Haite, Gulfstream, Boeing, Bell, and China Aviation Rescue & Emergency. “AsBAA is pleased to have co-hosted and co-organized the historic China Business Aviation Safety Day 2021 with the U.S.- China Aviation Cooperation Program,” said AsBAA chairman Wu Zhendong. “For AsBAA, ACP host inaugural and in-person years, AsBAA has led the industry with in-depth, knowledge-based safety train- ing for the Asian business aviation indus- China Business Aviation Safety Day 2021 try on a per-country basis.” “Since 2020, AsBAA’s first dedicated by Anthony Lam safety committee has been taking the association’s safety initiatives to the next Civil Aviation Administration of China were augmented with live English/Chi- plans, and especially amid the Covid-19 level, where we are constantly working (CAAC) deputy administrator Hu Zhen- nese dual language interpretation for pandemic. He encouraged budding Chi- closer with the relevant government jiang emphasized the agency’s commit- all attendees. nese GA and business aviation operators authorities and industry stakeholders in ment to aviation safety during a keynote Besides Hu, government keynotes fea- to “proactively adopt” safety manage- identifying country-specific safety issues, presentation at the China Business Avi- tured NTSB chairman RobertSumwalt; ment systems (SMS) and promised for highlighting regional safety concerns, and ation Safety Day 2021 in early April in Robert Ruiz, director of the FAA’s office the “parallel development” of both com- drawing lessons from experience to make Chengdu. The event, which was jointly of general aviation safety assurance; and mercial and general aviation in China. Asian business aviation safer.” held by AsBAA and the U.S.-China Avia- Xiong Jie, the director general of the Further, Hu echoed Sumwalt’s remarks Following the critical reception of tion Cooperation Program (ACP), hosted CAAC’s aviation safety office. on the importance of professionalism— AsBAA’s Virtual Safety Summit 2020, more than 150 business aircraft pilots, Sumwalt, who spoke virtually from not only among pilots, but among the which saw the first participation of an OEMs, MROs, FBOs, and EMS, airport, Washington D.C., presented business avi- “ecosystem of aircrew, operator, and air- Asian business aviation safety event by and government representatives in the ation accident case studies and discussed port management.” the NTSB and Civil Aviation Authority year’s first in-person event for the Asian the importance of following standard The event’s presentations discussed the Singapore (CAAS), it has also hosted the business aviation industry. operating procedures (SOPs) and “being necessity of cultivating a safety culture, Malaysia Virtual Safety Forum 2021 and In a historical first, NTSB, FAA, and a professional,” the latter of which he implementing effective SMS, strength- the China Business Aviation Safety Day CAAC officials delivered virtual keynote described as “doing the right things even ening investigations to ensure general 2021 with the participation of the NTSB, presentations followed by expert presen- when no one is watching.” aviation safety, safety innovations, data- FAA, and the respective Asian countries’ tation sessions covering a range of safety Meanwhile, Hu emphasized the driven SMS best practices, human fac- civil aviation authorities. In its mission to topics relevant to business and general CAAC’s commitment to aviation safety tors, maintenance, ground handling, and improve aviation safety for business avi- aviation in mainland China. All sessions as part of the administration’s five-year others. In addition to the presentations ation in the region, AsBAA aims to host its next physical and/or virtual aviation safety events in the Philippines, Singa- pore, and elsewhere in Asia-Pacific later this year. The Aviation Cooperation Program is a public-private partnership that works with aviation stakeholders in countries outside of the U.S. to design programs that promote technical, policy, and commercial cooperation in civil avia- tion. The program is industry-led and government-supported with coopera- tion from the U.S. Trade and Develop- ment Agency, FAA, U.S. Department of Transportation, Transportation Secu- NTSB chairman Robert Sumwalt spoke virtually at the China Business Aviation Safety Day 2021, which was held in-person in Chengdu, China, rity Administration, and Department of on April 8. The event was jointly hosted by the Asian Business Aviation Association and U.S.-China Aviation Cooperation Program. Commerce. n

ainonline.com \ June 2021 \ EBACE Convention News 41 Will business aviation be part of the advanced air mobility revolution? all stories by Charles Alcock

Seemingly oblivious to the disruption and around cities, under the urban is at the forefront of the What is perhaps surprising is that so inflicted on aviation by the Covid pan- mobility (UAM) business model. development of so-called advanced air far there appears to have been little demic, developers of new electric verti- However, some companies are look- mobility, with several eVTOL start-ups direct connection with the established cal takeo! and landing (eVTOL) aircraft ing to expand the envelope for new based in the continent and a wealth of business aviation sector, in part because are pressing ahead with plans for what electric-powered aircraft that could expertise to provide supporting infra- most of the startup companies seem to they say will be a revolution in how eventually operate autonomously with- structure and technology. There is also want to retain control of commercial people and things move around. Most out a pilot on board. In some cases, this pioneering work happening across the operations. But this could change in of the early commercial operations may involve fixed-wing aircraft o!ering Asia-Pacific region in countries such as the next few years as the advanced air are expected to involve short flights in greater range by operating from runways. China, Singapore, and New Zealand. mobility revolution goes mainstream. EASA PREPARES TO PUBLISH MEANS OF COMPLIANCE DETAILS FOR EUROPE EVTOL TYPE CERTIFICATION

EASA intends to publish phase two of the The enhanced category will apply for means of compliance (MoC) requirements the protection of third parties in com- for its Special Condition-VTOL (SC-VTOL) mercial flights over congested areas, as type certification rules by the end of June. envisioned by the so-called on-demand Confirming the European safety agency’s taxi urban air mobility business model. next steps in finalizing the SC-VTOL reg- This will cover factors such as require- ulations during a presentation to the Ver- ments for continued safe flight and land- The VoloCity aircraft being developed by Germany’s Volocopter is expected to be one of the tical Flight Society’s Forum 77 event on ing, including the possibility of having to first eVTOL designs to earn type certification under EASA’s SC-VTOL requirements. May 13, David Solar, head of EASA’s general divert from the planned destination. aviation and VTOL department, said that The basic category will likely apply for be on the same track. FAA is basing its start operating. “This work will have to phase three of the MoC document will be private operations and in less congested approach to eVTOL certification on its be done concurrently; otherwise the ini- made public in November. airspace. Aircraft operating in this mode Part 23 Amendment 23 rules. tial operations could be severely limited,” During his presentation, however, Solar will have to be able to make a controlled “One big question mark is China, he said. also reported that EASA’s operational rules emergency landing through means similar because we have very low visibility [of the GAMA’s Electric and eVTOL Certifi- will not likely be confirmed in time for to a controlled glide for a fixed-wing air- Civil Aviation Administration of China’s cation Progress committee is bringing the first urban air mobility services using craft or autorotation for a helicopter. approach to certifying eVTOL aircraft] together member companies to focus eVTOL aircraft. European manufacturers, The phase-two MoC requirements will and they may have some very local agree- on challenges around certification, oper- such as Volocopter and Lilium, have been cover aspects of eVTOL aircraft such as ments we are not aware of,” Solar told ations, training, infrastructure, and targeting the start of commercial flights in structures, hydro-mechanical systems, the Forum 77 audience. This comment airspace challenges. Lowell said the 2023 or 2024. He indicated that EASA will flight and human factors, electrical systems, would appear to be a reference to Chi- committee is encouraged by the will- probably allow some local exemptions so avionics, fire protection, and cabin safety. nese eVTOL aircraft manufacturer EHang, ingness of FAA and EASA to take a per- early operations can get underway. The phase-three MoC document will be which has enjoyed a high degree of coop- formance-based approach to aircraft The further MoC details will be eagerly presented at the next EASA Rotorcraft and eration from CAAC, allowing it to conduct certification and that around two-thirds awaited by eVTOL aircraft developers VTOL Symposium, which is to be held as extensive trial operations with its EH216 of MoCs for existing aircraft will be appli- seeking to certify their products under part of the European Rotors trade show in aircraft ahead of certification, which may cable for eVTOL designs with no changes. the new SC-VTOL rules. These are based , Germany, from November 16 to 18. come as soon as late 2021 or 2022. However, he expressed concern that on the CS-23 Amendment 5 rules for light According to Solar, industry-standards According to Lowell Foster, director the approach taken to type certification fixed-wing aircraft. EASA recently released group Eurocae is expected to publish of global innovation and engineering may still be too rooted in requirements the phase-one MoC requirements, which around 15 new standards related to eVTOL with the General Aviation Manufacturers for aircraft powered by fossil fuels, rather cover factors such as minimum acceptable type certification during 2021. He said Association, industry and regulators are than the new modes of electric propul- handling qualities, the structural design that EASA will step up efforts to support generally making good progress in estab- sion. “I’m concerned that we may miss and strength envelopes, load limits, and training needs for eVTOL aircraft opera- lishing the certification path for eVTOL an electric-specific safety issue this way,” emergency landing capability. tors and recently qualified the first virtual aircraft, while cautioning that more work he warned. The planned requirements for the reality training device developed by VRM lies ahead. “We’re about midway through Foster also advocated for a strong eVTOL category cover aircraft of the Switzerland for helicopter pilots. In April, the process and still have some huge emphasis on human-factors issues, such same size and capacity as the existing the agency published the final version of challenges,” he told the Forum 77 audi- as the need to closely scrutinize the design CS-27 rules for small rotorcraft, with nine the SC-VTOL rules covering electric and ence, “It took the airline industry around of flight displays used by pilots. He indi- or fewer passenger seats and a maximum hybrid-electric propulsion systems that 100 years to get the level of safety and cated that lessons learned from two fatal takeoff weight of 3,175 kg (7,000 pounds) will power the new class of aircraft. efficiency that they have today and we’re accidents involving Boeing’s 737 Max air- or less. It is anticipated that under the Spe- While EASA’s work on the certification doing it all in a very short time.” liner could have a bearing on how eVTOL cial Condition, there will be requirements of eVTOL aircraft appears to be closely Foster maintained that complete aircraft are treated. “In the fallout from for “enhanced” and “basic” categories of aligned with the approach taken in the requirements for operations and training the Max [accident investigations], the operation, depending on the purpose of U.S. by the FAA, Solar indicated that other will need to be worked out once the first human-factors folks have an even bigger flights and the operating environment. international safety agencies might not eVTOL models are certified and ready to magnifying glass now,” he concluded. n

These stories are from FutureFlight.aero, a news and information resource developed by AIN to provide objective, independent coverage and analysis of cutting-edge aviation technology, including electric aircraft developments and advanced air mobility.

42 EBACE Convention News \ June 2021 \ ainonline.com VERTIPORT PLANS SUPPORT SINGAPORE’S CASE TO BE WORLD’S FIRST EVTOL AIR TAXI MARKET

Singapore seems increasingly likely to infrastructure inspection across the East see the world’s first eVTOL air taxi oper- African country. ations, with services set to begin there no Skyports is also setting its sights on later than 2023, and perhaps sooner. Chi- another early-adopter market on the other na’s EHang is being no less bullish about side of the world. Both Germany’s Lilium when it expects to begin commercial ser- and California-based Archer have already vies with its two-seat EH216 vehicle and announced plans to start service in Flor- says they could start next year in various ida, and the UK-based vertiport developer Chinese cities. also wants a piece of the action, especially However, 2024 is now viewed as the in the densely populated Atlantic coast more likely launch date for U.S. rivals corridor of South Florida, extending from Skyports is working with local government agencies and its partner Volocopter to develop Joby and Archer in locations such as Los northwards to West Palm Beach. vertiports to support eVTOL air taxi services in Singapore. Angeles and Miami. And early adoption “We expect to see a very different in Europe is also viewed as being around build-up of vertiports there and different type of eVTOL aircraft with critical ser- city of Bristol. This project, which has three years away. types of [larger and longer-range] vehicles, vices such as recharging for their electric secured £2.5 million in funding from the Ground infrastructure specialist Sky- providing services between cities,” Walker batteries. Walker told AIN that his com- UK government’s FutureFlight challenge ports is working closely with eVTOL said. “This [higher volume of traffic] will pany is seeking to avoid what he called program, is being led by civil engineering developer Volocopter and local authori- reduce the price point. My gut feeling is “the A380 problem,” referring to Airbus’s group Atkins and also involves Vertical ties in Singapore to establish the first per- that the U.S. and Asian markets will slightly high-capacity, two-deck airliner, which Aerospace, which is based in Bristol. manent vertiport in the Southeast Asian precede Europe [in adopting eVTOL air- encountered operational challenges at However, it faces competition in its city-state. In October 2019, the two com- craft], but Europe will be fast followers.” some airports because it was too large to home country from Urban Air Port, which panies set up a proof-of-concept vertiport, In April, Japanese trading group be accommodated efficiently in existing earlier this year was selected to partner branded VoloPort, in Singapore’s Marina Kanematsu Corporation signed a memo- ramp space. with Hyundai to develop an eVTOL oper- Bay area as the base for flight demos of randum of understanding with Skyports to Singapore and Florida apart, Skyports ations hub called Air-One in the city of Volocopter’s 2X prototype aircraft. do joint development work on infrastruc- is also involved in two important research Coventry. The company claims that its The partners have been working with ture to support eVTOL aircraft services in and development programs aimed at lay- vertiports will be 60 percent smaller than the Economic Development Board of Sin- Japan. The partners are already working ing the groundwork for the expansion traditional heliports and that it will be able gapore and the Civil Aviation Authority together on drone delivery plans in the of the advanced air mobility market to install them in just a few days to sup- of Singapore on plans to launch services. country, where last year Japan Airlines in Europe. port operational flexibility. Design draw- “We are now working in greater detail and Volocopter launched a partnership to In January, it was among 30 companies ings show an elevated pod structure with with the regulatory authorities and it will provide passenger and cargo flights. and organizations selected by local agen- a landing pad on top of a terminal building certainly happen by 2023, or even sooner,” While Walker has high hopes for cies in Paris to conduct a series of exper- for passengers and support services. Skyports managing director Duncan the market to scale up significantly, he iments, mainly based around an eVTOL While there seem to be innumerable Walker told FutureFlight. “Singapore is a doesn’t see the potential for service pro- aircraft test area set up at the Pointoise- companies vying to be leaders in the beachhead for other Asian [air taxi net- viders to retain sole control and use of Cormeilles-en-Vexin airport. Volocopter advanced air mobility sector, the compet- work] rollouts.” supporting ground infrastructure. Just as is providing its two-city VoloCity aircraft, itive landscape for ground infrastructure On the assumption that operations with public airports today, he sees multi- and UK-based Vertical Aerospace and would appear to be less cluttered. How- will begin on a small scale, the company’s ple operators sharing vertiports, although EHang are also participating. Another ever, with early eVTOL air taxi services plan calls for the initial construction of there may be some “flagship locations” in key partner is French airport group ADP, supposedly now less than three years one vertiport in Singapore. This may sup- places where individual companies have a which is a shareholder in Skyports. away from launch, it seems highly likely port flights to existing suitable landing strong presence. Meanwhile, in the UK, Skyports is that other contenders will show their sites across the island nation as well as to The Skyports business model treats providing infrastructure expertise for hands, some potentially proposing alter- nearby locations, such as Johor in Malay- vertiports as miniature versions of air- a project to explore the feasibility of native business models to the Skyports sia and Batam in Indonesia. Progressively, ports, with aircraft operators charged launching eVTOL air taxi services in the model. n as demand for air taxi services grows, landing fees, and also for recharging and Skyports expects to build a network of storing their vehicles overnight. As part vertiports across Singapore, which has a of the offering, the facilities will include population of 5.7 million. a terminal building where passengers can Singapore is a major global shipping be accommodated. LILIUM PARTNERS WITH AIRPORTS port and Walker said this has the potential So far, most prospective eVTOL air taxi to support a strong market for eVTOL air- operators have not revealed much about TO BUILD REGIONAL AIR MOBILITY craft or drones to make deliveries between how the ground infrastructure to support ships and the shore, carrying urgent items these will be provided. One exception is NETWORK IN BAVARIA such as cargo manifests, as well as med- Germany’s Lilium, which has announced icines and cash to pay crew. Skyports is a partnership with Spanish infrastructure Munich and Nuremberg airports are set Rhine-Westphalia region and for Florida, already established as a drone delivery and airports management group Ferrovial to become the first hubs for Lilium’s with passenger services due to launch in operator, providing support to both the to develop vertiports across Florida, mak- plans to operate its Lilium Jet eVTOL 2024. From these hubs, Lilium intends to National Health Service and the Royal ing no mention of whether it will allow aircraft in a regional air mobility net- provide flights for up to six passengers Mail in the UK, where it is headquartered. rival service providers to use these. “Ulti- work across the southern German state in each aircraft to multiple cities across It has just announced a partnership with mately, operators will likely have to accept of Bavaria. The Munich-based company the region. The all-electric Lilium Jet will Kenya Airways that is expected to result shared use,” Walker predicted. recently announced agreements in prin- have a range of up to around 155 miles and in the launch of drone flights later this With this in mind, Skyports is design- ciple with both airports that mirror plans cruise at speeds of up to 175 mph. year for deliveries, logistics support, and ing vertiports to be able to support any already announced for Germany’s North continues on next page

These stories are from FutureFlight.aero, a news and information resource developed by AIN to provide objective, independent coverage and analysis of cutting-edge aviation technology, including electric aircraft developments and advanced air mobility.

ainonline.com \ June 2021 \ EBACE Convention News 43 WISK PREPARES FOR NEXT PHASE OF CORA FLIGHT TRIALS IN NEW ZEALAND

Wisk Aero says it is on track to begin in February 2020, with both parties now what it calls a “transport trial” of its Cora engaged in detailed planning for the next all-electric, autonomous eVTOL aircraft phases of the trials. in New Zealand during the second half of To date, Wisk has made around 1,500 2021. The two-seater is set to participate test flights with the Cora, backed by Boe- in demonstration flights in South Can- ing’s expertise in integrating piloted and terbury as part of the government’s Air- autonomous technology. Earlier phases space Integration Trial Programme, but of the program focused on understand- these will not be made with passengers ing and collecting the data to support the on board. safe integration of autonomous aircraft Wisk is preparing for the next phase of flight trials with its autonomous all-electric Cora To support the work, California-based into the airspace. eVTOL aircraft in New Zealand. Wisk has enlisted the help of Boeing A spokesman told AIN that the company subsidiary Insitu Pacific, which is a spe- will now undertake a program of flight test- Wisk has not published a timeline an injunction in the U.S. federal court cialist in unmanned aerial systems. Wisk ing, as well as simulation work and data for the anticipated type certification of for the Northern District of California is a joint venture between Boeing and analysis involving multiple government the Cora. The company is also working to stop Archer using what it says is its Kitty Hawk. agencies and New Zealand’s air naviga- with the FAA with a goal of eventually intellectual property to develop a five- The overall purpose of the flight trials is tion services provider Airways Corpora- receiving U.S. approval for autonomous seat aircraft that it intends to use for to safely evaluate, test, and demonstrate tion. “The goal of this is to provide robust, flight operations. commercial services from 2024. Archer, the integration of unmanned aircraft into platform-agnostic data that can be used by Meanwhile, Wisk is suing a rival which recruited 20 former members existing airspace. The program is based governments, air navigation service provid- eVTOL aircraft developer called of Wisk’s engineering team, says that on a memorandum of understanding ers, and civil aviation authorities globally to Archer for alleged theft of trade secrets it will defend itself vigorously in the signed with the New Zealand government advance standards,” he explained. and patent infringement. It is seeking case. n

continued from preceding page investing €100 million ($120 million) in Nuremberg and Munich are just over research and development for urban air 100 miles apart, in the north and south mobility services. The management teams of central Bavaria, respectively, and with of Nuremberg and Munich airports both a drive time between the two of at least view the planned eVTOL flights as com- two hours. The services could potentially plementing existing connections between connect other cities, including Wurzburg, ground transportation and established Bayreuth, Augsburg, and Ingolstadt. airline services. Early drawings show plans to establish In late March, Lilium announced plans dedicated vertiports on the landside of for an $830 million initial public offering each airport. Lilium, which is headquar- through a merger with a special purpose tered near Munich, also plans to develop acquisition company lead by General vertiports at locations such as Lake Nona, Motors North America president Barry near Orlando International Airport in Engle. The deal with Qell Acquistion Corp Florida, and the German airports of makes Lilium the best-funded eVTOL EHang’s all-electric, fully autonomous EH216 eVTOL aircraft is being developed for short flights Cologne-Bonn and Dusseldorf. aircraft developer in Europe, giving it the carrying passengers and for a variety of applications including logistics and fire-fighting. Through its Air Mobility Initiative funds to complete type certification and Bavaria, which is part of the wider High- start production on what it says will even- Tech Agenda Plus program, the state is tually be a large scale. n operate up to around 22 miles on a full EHANG CONFIRMS battery charge. The new types will also include a smaller model called the VT10. PLANS FOR VT30 EHang also announced plans to intro- duce a new piloted version of the fully LONGER-RANGE, autonomous EH216. It said that it aims to secure an experimental certificate to LIFT-PLUS-CRUISE start flying the EH216M in China before the end of May. EVTOL AIRCRAFT Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Adminis- tration of China (CAAC) has established China’s EHang is pressing ahead with a dedicated team to handle the type cer- development of a larger, longer-range tification of the EH216. The agency con- eVTOL aircraft than its two-seat EH216 firmed that its Central South Bureau gave model. In April, it said it would soon start the team clearance to proceed during an flight testing of a new passenger-carrying April 14 meeting in Guangzhou attended model called the VT30. by aviation safety inspectors, certification The VT30 will combine multiple rotors engineers, and experts from various Chi- and a fixed wing to offer a range of around nese aviation bodies and universities. 186 miles and be part of a VT family of EHang has previously indicated that Nuremberg Airport is one of two hubs around which Lilium intends to create a regional air autonomous aircraft to be marketed the EH216 might complete certification in mobility network serving the German state of Bavaria. alongside the EH216, which can only continues on facing page

These stories are from FutureFlight.aero, a news and information resource developed by AIN to provide objective, independent coverage and analysis of cutting-edge aviation technology, including electric aircraft developments and advanced air mobility.

44 EBACE Convention News \ June 2021 \ ainonline.com continued from facing page China before the end of 2021. In Decem- VOLOCOPTER FILES ber 2020, the company submitted its type certification application for the autono- FLIGHT PLAN FOR mous vehicle to the CAAC and the agency formally accepted it in January. UAM TAKEOFF Announcing 2020 financial results in April, EHang reported that it sold German eVTOL aircraft developer Volo- a further 70 examples of the uncerti- copter recently spelled out how it plans fied EH216 vehicles, representing a 15 to exploit the global market for urban percent increase over 2019. Revenues air mobility (UAM) that it expects to be totaled RMB 180 million ($27.6 million), worth €241 billion ($284 billion) by 2035. with a gross adjusted profit of RMB In a 2.0 white paper entitled The Roadmap 108.6 million. to Scalable Urban Air Mobility, the Ger- Revenues come from a mix of aerial man eVTOL aircraft developer explains media solutions, which mainly involve the steps it will take to launch commercial Singapore is likely to see Volocopter’s first commercial air taxi operations in 2023. light shows using its drones, and air operations in the next two or three years. mobility solutions. The latter income More than half of the projected mar- that early-stage services will be able to will harness artificial intelligence to con- source was not clearly defined in the ket potential for 2035 will be in passenger get underway using existing ground and nect the complex operational web of ser- annual report, and it is unclear whether services, valued at €141 billion ($171 bil- air traffic management infrastructure, but vices and support functions. it includes payments already made for lion), according to Volocopter, which has it now seeks to explain the “interfaces and According to Volocopter, most of the sales of EH216s to several partners in updated the estimates it gave in its June interdependencies” that will need to be early demand for UAM services can be met China and other countries. The company 2019 1.0 white paper, Pioneering the Urban established in the longer term to grow by the initial 22-mile range of its VoloCity also has not explained whether these Air Taxi Revolution. The company expects services. These include regulators, cus- aircraft, which will have a pilot on board partners are distributors or operators for the remaining €100 billion portion of the tomers, cities, operators, air navigation and just a single passenger seat. The white the aircraft. market value to be generated by cargo and service providers, staff, digital operations paper maintains that the core urban areas According to EHang’s chief strategy other logistics operations that it intends to platforms, and maintenance services. of major cities span less than 20 miles and officer Edward Xu, the company plans to address with its VoloDrone vehicle. The company is working with UK-based that its vehicle will prove competitive with transition its business model from aircraft In March, Volocopter announced that Skyports to identify and secure locations car services operating above gridlocked sales to an operating approach under which it raised a further €200 million through for its VoloPort vertiport facilities. At streets at speeds of around 56 mph. As bat- it would generate revenues from providing a Series D funding round supported by a the same time, it is focusing on plans to tery technology improves, the VoloCity’s a full array of urban air mobility services. group of venture capitalists. The startup has provide “first and last mile” ground con- range is expected to increase to 40 miles. He said that production rates for the EH216 now raised a total of €322 million, which is nections for passengers and has already EASA is the primary focus of Volocop- will significantly increase this year with the less than some leading rivals that have opted established a partnership with ride-hailing ter’s efforts to complete type certifica- opening of its new manufacturing facility. for initial public offerings through mergers app Grab, which provides connections to tion for the VoloCity aircraft. It recently The company said it will launch a “100 with special purpose acquisition companies. services in 339 cities across Southeast Asia. applied for concurrent U.S. validation by Air Mobility Routes Initiative” in China to The new white paper outlines what In Europe, Volocopter’s partners also the FAA and also expects to get this from support this business model. It expects to Volocopter considers to be the main include Fraport, which runs Germany’s the Singapore authorities within three to roll this out over the next 24 months, with elements of the so-called ecosystem to Aiport, and Lufthansa Industry six months of the initial approval from initial services focused around Guang- support the envisaged rapid scaling up of Solutions. The latter company is helping EASA under the new Special Condition dong, Hong Kong, and Macao. n UAM services. The company maintains to build the VoloIQ digital platform that VTOL rules. n

ROLLS-ROYCE TO PROVIDE PROPULSION FOR VERTICAL’S IMPROVED VA-X4 EVTOL

Rolls-Royce is developing the electric facilities across , Germany, the propulsion system for Vertical Aero- U.S., and the UK will support the Ver- space’s VA-X4 eVTOL aircraft. The aero tical Aerospace team, which is based at engines group recently confirmed that its Bristol in southwest England. In 2019, Rolls-Royce Electrical division will design Rolls-Royce acquired the Germany-based the system, which will incorporate 100 Siemens eAircraft business, and this has kW-class lift and push propulsion units, formed the bedrock for its ambitions in Vertical Aerospace has redesignated its new all-electric eVTOL aircraft as the VA-X4 to as well as power distribution and moni- the advanced air mobility sector. reference its capacity to carry four passengers. toring systems to support operations. The company’s development timeline UK-based Vertical Aerospace has calls for it to roll out the first full-scale In February, Vertical Aerospace selected between the aero engines group and the renamed what was announced last year prototype in July, and to then begin ground composites specialist Solvay to develop the Vertical Aerospace management team. In as the VA-1X as the VA-X4 to reference testing in late August, followed by initial main aerostructures for the fuselage and May 2020, Rolls-Royce chief engineer Tim its ability to carry four passengers. The tethered flights in September. Initially, the wing of the VA-X4. - based Solvay Williams moved to Vertical to head up its company now projects increased range prototype will use an interim propulsion is developing a mix of thermoplastic com- engineering group. Twelve months earlier, and speed of 120 miles and 200 mph—an system that will be replaced by the Rolls- posites, specialty polymers, structural adhe- Michael Cervenka also moved from Rolls- improvement on the earlier projections of Royce system for the version of the aircraft sives, and functional films for the aircraft. Royce to become the startup’s CEO. 100 miles and 150 mph. The all-electric used for the certification process, which Other key contributors to the program Recently, Rolls-Royce announced a design features four sets of coaxial rotors Vertical Aerospace aims to complete in include Honeywell, which is providing flight partnership with Tecnam to develop an on booms protruding from the rear of the 2024. Untethered flights are expected to controls, and TE Connectivity, which is sup- all-electric fixed-wing aircraft called the fixed-wing and four sets of five-bladed start in 2022, first in vertical mode, then plying electrical cables and connectors. P-Volt. With a pair of electric motors, this is tilting propellers on the front of the wing. in forward flight only, and, finally, in tran- The selection of Rolls-Royce as a key intended to be a short- and medium-range Around 150 engineers from Rolls-Royce sition between these two modes. partner is based in part on the strong ties passenger aircraft. n

These stories are from FutureFlight.aero, a news and information resource developed by AIN to provide objective, independent coverage and analysis of cutting-edge aviation technology, including electric aircraft developments and advanced air mobility.

ainonline.com \ June 2021 \ EBACE Convention News 45 said. “Ninety percent of the turboprop missions, 90 percent, take place in 440 The EcoPulse nautical miles or less. I mean, if you can hybrid-electric accomplish 90 percent of your missions aircraft is a for one-fifth of the operating costs on a project by aircraft brand new, high-tech, no CO2, no-noise manufacturers aircraft, bravo. Bravo.” Daher and Airbus and engine Left Behind? manufacter Safran, Foley believes the path to electric busi- which is providing ness aircraft the size of light, midsize, and the electric motors. super-midsize jets is a ways away simply Preliminary design because an electrically powered aircraft review is done and the size of a Cessna Citation Longitude or first flight could Bombardier Challenger 350 would require take place in 2022. enough batteries with “nothing short of a Mack truck in weight.” “But fast-forwarding to when that day arrives, where there’s some kind for future hybrid aircraft,” said Daher of change in business jet propulsion, Electric business aircraft chief technology officer Pascal Laguerre. it could likely begin with some kind of “The project reaffirms our commitment, as hybrid setup first where you might have a general aviation manufacturer with our the traditional turbine jet-A powered development ‘creeping up’ Kodiak and TBM product lines, to more engine for doing the heavy lifting, like efficient and eco-responsible aviation.” the takeoffs and getting up to altitude, by Jerry Siebenmark Recently, Bye Aerospace, which is and then you could potentially switch working toward FAA Part 23 type certi- over to some form of electric and cruise As the push for sustainability within busi- clear to analysts like Foley that the push fication for its two-seat eFlyer 2 model, at least,” Foley added. ness aviation grows, so too do efforts to move away from fossil-fuel-powered unveiled plans for the eFlyer 800, an Neither Foley nor Aboulafia thinks the by startup and established firms to offer aircraft is here to stay. “It’s creeping up,” all-electric aircraft with seating for seven current lack of participation in electrically all-electric fixed-wing aircraft. Though Foley said, and “eventually it will touch passengers and two pilots on flights of up powered business aircraft by the major not anywhere near as voluminous as the the corporate aircraft sector.” to 500 nm at 320 ktas. Powered by a pair business aviation OEMs means they will seemingly hundreds of proposed eVTOL In 2019, Daher, Safran, and Airbus of Safran’s Engineus electric motors, the ultimately be left behind in coming to mar- offerings and designs, a smaller group of announced an effort to develop the Eco- eFlyer would compete with existing tur- ket with such an aircraft. Aboulafia believes companies are proposing more traditional Pulse, a distributed propulsion hybrid air- boprops such as the that once the demand for such aircraft is business aircraft with electric powerplants. craft demonstrator backed by the French 260 and Daher TBM 910. there, OEMs could simply acquire the They include Pipistrel in Slove- government that is based on a TBM air- “The time is right, the technology read- intellectual property necessary to fielding nia, which last year certified in Europe frame with six electric thrusters, three iness is right at hand, the FAA regulatory such an aircraft, given that there are a lot an electrically powered light trainer; each mounted on the leading edge and tip process is becoming much better under- of players in the electric powerplant space, Ampaire in California, which in 2019 first of the TBM’s wing. The project has com- stood, and the program’s progressing albeit for largely eVTOL designs. flew a Cessna 337 Skymaster converted to pleted its preliminary design review and through to the normal category FAR Part Foley noted that new propulsion and hybrid-electric propulsion that it calls the is entering the assembly and integration 23 amendment 64 certification,” Bye Aero- battery technology will follow the same Electric EEL; and MagniX and AeroTec, phase at Daher this year. space CEO and founder George Bye told path in business aviation that it always has. which last May completed the first flight Meanwhile, Safran has finalized the AIN. “All of that is the building blocks for “Generally, in aviation, the technology that’s of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan with an technical configuration of the EcoPulse’s the eFlyer 2 and the eFlyer 4, and then the available to one manufacturer is available all-electric propulsion system. electric thrusters that will be fitted with 4 to the eFlyer 800.” for the next, too. So maybe we’re waiting In addition, two other proposed elec- 50-kW Engineus electric motors, as well Even with less than a third of the range for the battery suppliers and the electric tric airplanes—one hybrid, the other all- as integrated electronics and patented air of the King Air 260 and TBM 910, Bye powerplant suppliers to come to them with electric—are on the drawing board that cooling. DUC Hélices will supply the pro- believes the eFlyer 800 will more than some solutions. There will be a first adopter could mark the emergence of battery- pellers. For Safran, the next step will be effectively compete with those and other but the second will be right behind.” powered business aircraft: the Daher- to deliver an electric thruster to Airbus business turboprops. He argues that the Not all business aviation OEMs are sit- Airbus-Safran EcoPulse and Bye Aerospace for wind tunnel and endurance testing as range of the eFlyer 800 is consistent with ting on the sidelines, however. The parent eFlyer 800. While these two models and a precursor to qualification for EcoPulse’s the distance a turboprop flies on a typical company of Textron Aviation announced others that are sure to follow don’t rep- first flight, which is scheduled for 2022. mission and at a lower cost. in late March the launch of an eAviation resent an immediate threat to the tur- “With this demonstrator, Daher intends “The 500-nautical-mile number is a key division headed by former Textron Avia- bofan-powered product lineup from to develop the key architectural principles number for this category of aircraft,” Bye tion senior v-p of global sales and flight traditional business aircraft OEMs, these operations Rob Scholl. According to electric aircraft pioneers bear watching by Scholl, the division will bring together the them. “If you’re them, I think you have to work being done across Textron’s fixed- keep an eye out on it,” Teal Group v-p of wing and vertical-lift businesses around analysis Richard Aboulafia told AIN. emerging electric technologies. In reality, it may be several years before Scholl told AIN, “eAviation is looking at all-electric aircraft become a viable all options when it comes to the develop- option for operators and serious compe- ment of electric, fixed-wing as well as VTOL tition to business aircraft OEMs, indepen- aircraft for urban air mobility. Electric pro- dent business aviation analyst Brian Foley pulsion is just one such technology and we explained to AIN. Business jet-size elec- will continue to evaluate its potential role tric aircraft “are probably a little further with our future aircraft development plans. down the path,” he said. The role of eAviation is to drive collabora- Nevertheless, with flight shaming on tion on a variety of new technologies and the rise and the desire by corporate cli- capabilities across the Textron enterprise. ents to demonstrate their commitment We continue to evaluate new aircraft tech- to leaving a smaller carbon footprint to Bye Aerospace’s proposed eFlyer 800 could be the most serious electric-powered challenger nologies to determine how to best serve our shareholders and the public alike, it’s to traditional business turboprops, including the King Air 260 and TBM 910. customers and operators.” n

46 EBACE Convention News \ June 2021 \ ainonline.com THE FUTURE OF ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY

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