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Despite fears that there will be no capacity at London’s business aviation airports for executive jets during the Olympics, it seems that only 2% of slots have been booked so far for the July festivities.
Speaking at an event to launch the new Execujet managed FBO at Cambridge Airport, managing director Archie Garden said, “According to the WS Atkins slot booking system fewer than 2% of slots have been booked.” This is likely to include the 240 diplomatic flights scheduled to enter the country in July.
Of greater concern is transport onwards to the Stratford site. Private aviation users tend to employ bodyguards and high security and to date there is no helicopter airbridge approved, so airports are looking at alternative means of transport. Possibilities include river and red routes, which will prove inconvenient to many Londoners. (She says with vested personal interest…)
On a brighter note for Cambridge, Swiss aircraft management and maintenance services firm Execujet has appointed Karen Hein-Jones to manage its new FBO Manager at the airport.
Nicole Gut, director European services said,”We are delighted to welcome Karen to the team at our new FBO at Cambridge. We are looking forward to developing business aviation at our first full-service FBO in the UK. Having someone with Karen’s experience and knowledge will help us tremendously in realising our plans, especially as London will host the Olympics this year and we anticipate an extremely busy summer at Cambridge.”
The Cambridge facility and other development work at the field is slated to bring a further 150 jobs to the site over the next year.
Like many in the aircraft sales business Steve Varsano is a pilot by inclination. He has eschewed flying for a living in favour of making bigger bucks buying and selling bizjets. However, his love of technology and all things aeronautical permeates his new showroom in Grosvenor Place London. Doorhandles are designed to look like engine cowls, branding is based on isogonal lines on aviation charts and his business address includes the shop’s latitude and longitude coordinates.
He prefers today to sit in the back, as he says, “sipping wine and enjoying the journey.” (Just as well he’s not in the cockpit then). What he’s offering clients is a supercharged broker experience and “raising the game” for aircraft sales and acquisition. 20% of his business is from new customers, so he is working with bizjet manufacturers.
People new to jet ownership, or even old hands, can source an aircraft that meets their needs in minutes, rather than months, courtesy of an app he’s designed that offers graphical comparisons projected onto a huge screen the size of a Gulfstream G550 cabin. The design is simple and takes the viewer easily through a series of questions, such as ‘how far do I want to go?”, ” How much should I spend?”, and ”how many people will I have on board?’ .
Aircraft floors and cabins are overlaid on top of each other and the viewer can stand in front of the screen to get a true idea of cabin height and width. Once the field is narrowed down, Varsano pulls up a list of available aircraft on his books, for which he has lots of photographs and specs.
Like any brokerage, there is a full time team of analysts sourcing aircraft. Varsano is also offering his showroom to manufacturers should they wish to take their clients there to take a detailed look at their product range.
The back of the shop contains a full-size mockup of an Airbus ACJ, outfitted by Design Q (they of the camper jet fame), which is stunning. Varsano took me through the differences in dB levels on board, with an app that does just that. Each 5 dB really does make a huge difference. I mean I knew that – but I never really knew how much difference each increment makes. 10 minutes of playing – er testing – was a revelation.
More wizadry and fun comes with a special secret entrance behind the shop for clients who really don’t wish to be seen, and a dimmable window that clouds the front window, hiding what’s going on inside from prying eyes. Expect startled drivers for the next wee while as the hologram beaming out from the reception window engages people driving past. With offerings from each of the major bizjet manufacturers, the planes seem to fly out to the road. In the five days the room has been open Varsano has pulled in two prospects on spec -a Canadian and a someone from the Middle East.
The Jet Business is aimed at upping the customer experience. If clients are unable to meet at the shop, the team will travel to any destination in the world and bring a mobile version on a specially customised IPad. Next stop is China. Varsano is also keen to develop the app further, moving into interiors, with what he calls the “Star Trek” version.
Will it work? Having invested what he says is ‘the price of a small jet’ into the concept, Varsano believes so. If it does, it will change the face of used aircraft sales forever. Well worth a look.
Not strictly bizav – but this issue affects anyone who goes up in an aeroplane in Europe.
Ulrika Lomas of Tax News in Brussels reported today that the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) is calling for the European Union to stop pushing through its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) for aviation and instead pursue a global agreement of aviation carbon emissions through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Connie Hedegaard, TIACA’s Industry Affairs Committee wrote to the EU Climate Action Commissioner to criticise four key points arising from the upcoming legislation, due to be enforced from January 1, 2012. Any airline landing or taking off inside the EU to take part in the regional bloc’s emissions trading scheme.
This has gone down a storm with the rest of the world – NOT. Any carriers flying to Europe will be have to buy permits to allow them to emit additional tons of carbon dioxide above a predetermined cap. Worst case scenario if they don’t comply could mean they would be fined or even have to suspend operations into the EU.
Hedegaard says, “By directly regulating conduct outside of EU airspace, the EU ETS encroaches upon the sovereign authority of each State over its own airspace. The Chicago Convention also prohibits any levies on international flights except on a cost basis ‘related to the provision of facilities and services for civil aviation’.”
IATA reckons that the cost to airlines of purchasing the necessary carbon allowances will rise from USD1.3bn in 2012 to USD3.5bn in 2020. Additionally, EU member states do not have to use the taxes levied to reduce carbon emissions.
She points out that this will hamper the aviation industry’s “ability to continue investing on its own in greener technologies.
There could be other knock on effects, such as carriers choosing to fly less direct routes, that would actually increase carbon emissions. She cites the case of a direct flight from Hong Kong to Amsterdam, which has 5% lower emissions than the same flight with a stopover in Moscow. A stopover would sharply reduce the airline’s emissions charges.
Lomas writes that at an aviation seminar held on August 1, the Vice President of Environmental Affairs at the Air Transport Association of America, Nancy Young, noted that the scheme is ludicrous as analysis has showed that on a flight, for example, from San Francisco to London only 9% of emissions are emitted in EU airspace; the majority instead is emitted in US and Canadian airspace, but would face the same amount of taxation as an internal EU flight.
Japan, Australia and New Zealand have all announced they are considering their own cap-and-trade emissions schemes, and China said in July that it planned to commence regional pilot schemes, with the aim of establishing a national cap-and-trade regime by 2015. This would lead to double taxation for carriers.
Unsurprisingly from the country that loves to litigate, United States airlines have already begun legal proceedings, arguing that the system violates the Chicago Convention, which grants individual countries the right to complete and exclusive sovereignty on taxation issues within their territory.
Hefty airline taxation is already impacting the British tourism and airport industry directly with the rise of departure tax from the UK. I recently spoke with Azran Osman-Rani, CEO of Air Asia X, who told me that Asian passengers are frequently now opting to fly into the UK, and take the train to Paris and stay there for a few days, which costs roughly the same amount as UK departure tax on premium seat.
Most people would agree green is good. It’s time for the Brussels Eurocrats to take a proper look at the impact of ETS and carve out a more effective way of cleaning up an industry that is already working hard to clean up its act.
The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) is promoting the European Commission’s new draft of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Monitoring and Reporting regulation, which raises the threshold for small emitters from 10,000 tonnes of CO2/year to 25,000 tonnes of CO2/year.
This means that many more Business Aviation commercial and non-commercial operators will be able to report their emissions through the simplified procedure or use Eurocontrol’s ETS Support Facility, as EBAA has strongly been calling for and making the case for the last 3 years.EBAA cautions, “Please note that this does not raise the threshold at which operators have to comply with ETS. This remains at 10,000 tonnes for commercial operators and 1 tonne for non-commercial, although we shall continue to lobby for the non-commercial threshold to be brought in line with the commercial threshold. However, because this will require a change in the underlying directive, such a change cannot practically be implemented before 2014 or even 2020.”
It is important to note that contrary to what has been reported in the press, this regulation has not yet been adopted and the new threshold is not yet in application. EBAA spoke to the Commission this week and the EC estimated that the new 25,000 tonnes of CO2/year should be adopted without problems at the next committee as most member states also support the new higher threshold.
The EC also told the EBAA that it had not gone to a higher threshold since there is already a 25,000 tonnes of CO2 per year threshold for fixed installations and it wishes to remain consistent. It is expected that the committee woud adopt this proposal in late September/early October.
EBAA will continue to publicise new developments.
For more information contact
Pedro VICENTE AZUA
EBAA chief operating officer
Phone: +32 2 766 0070
pedrovazua@ebaa.org
MT, LC the manufacturer of the SJ30 light jet, has announced it will operate as SyberJet Aircraft. Earlier this year, SyberJet purchased the assets of Emivest Aerospace out of bankruptcy. Since the acquisition, SyberJet has moved the Martinsburg, West Virginia assembly line to its facilities in Cedar City, Utah and is continuing its operations in San Antonio, Texas.
The SJ30 is the first light jet that can fly non-stop from New York to Los Angeles and non- stop across the Atlantic, giving unparalleled flexibility and convenience for owners. The SJ30’s ability to fly faster (Mach 0.83), farther (2,500 nm), and at higher altitudes up to 49,000 ft gives the freedom to fly above the weather, avoid traffic congestion, and fly more direct routes. The SJ30 is the only jet that maintains a sea level cabin to 41,000 ft.
Mark Fairchild, SyberJet’s San Antonio General Manager, adds “I am excited to be part of the future success of SyberJet. As a pilot, the SJ30 is an exhilarating jet to fly. SyberJet has a solid operating plan to deliver new SJ30s to the world marketplace. I look forward to providing more people the unique opportunity to experience the high performance capability that SJ30 affords its owners and operators.”
The company says additional details will be released as they become available.
Places Britain at forefront of £60bn global market
West Wales Airport welcomes the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) announcement today that it has sanctioned an Airspace Change Proposal (ACP) for new segregated airspace for the sole use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in West Wales. Set to become operational on 28 July 2011, it is the first time an area in the UK has been designated for this purpose. Centred on the airport, which is located at Aberporth, the airspace extends inland 40nm miles to the east and covers an area of 499 square miles.
The new airspace will only be activated when unmanned flying is scheduled and be subject to stringent safety requirements, regulated by both the CAA and the Military Aviation Authority.
Ray Mann, the airport’s managing director said: “The CAA announcement to allow this specialised airspace is now the strongest recognition that West Wales is the focal point for UAS development in the UK.”
He continued: “The airspace adds significantly to the many specialised assets that already exist at the airport and gives Britain further opportunity to benefit from a market that is forecast to be worth £60 billion annually by 2020.“
The Welsh Government sponsored the proposal for the airspace as part of its ongoing initiative to encourage economic development in what has become a burgeoning aerospace sector. In line with CAA requirements, it conducted a full public consultation in 2009.
Over the past decade Mann’s company has invested nearly £4 million into West Wales Airport. Mann said: “The British aerospace industry, research organisations and academia now have an even greater opportunity to succeed in this sector, so gaining benefit for themselves and the wider economy.”
UAS have both military and civil applications. Mann said: “An unmanned aircraft has many useful applications, for instance it would be perfect in situations such as monitoring and reporting the recent ash clouds.” The new ruling means that West Wales Airport can now supply UAS operators with an extended range of flight options for systems approvals, training, payload integration and demonstration.
While West Wales Airport has a leading position in enabling unmanned flights, as a CAA licensed facility with a 1200 metre runway it will continue actively to encourage general aviation. Air traffic management of the airspace has therefore been developed to ensure flexibility and ease of access, while maintaining the highest degree of flight safety for all users.
My dear friend and aviation journalist par excellence Brendan Gallagher died a week ago today. I wrote a tribute to him in my capacity as editor of Inflight magazine, (a job he held for many years – huge shoes to fill). You can read that here if you wish.
As this is a less formal medium, I’m posting a happy picture of him from a particularly fun trip.
I can hear his voice in my ear now…(I’m on deadline for a job). “Come on Betty, stop fannying around, there’s time enough for this later.”
I’ll crack on then.
Badger – you were one of nature’s true gentlemen, and I was privileged to know you.
Badger tips his cap to the world
Lines from
IF…
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
‘ Or walk with Kings – nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man, my son!
The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) does sterling work for the industry on many fronts, and here’s hoping its latest campaign strikes fear into the heart of shysters who damage the legal market by operating potentially unsafe flights.
President Brian Humphries recently contacted members, urging them to translate EBAA’s safety concerns in 2010 into real action in 2011. He wrote: “Operating without a valid Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) and failing to comply with traffic rights are key concerns for many within the business aviation community. To help eliminate such practices, EBAA has developed a document entitled ‘Is My Flight Legal. Ensure the Safety and Legality of the Business Aircraft you Charter,’ to provide advice and guidance on the subject.”
The document takes the form of an open letter to brokers and customers, asking them to check that their provider is in possession of a valid AOC. Although EBAA doesn’t specify this in its literature, the consequences for customers flying in an illegal flight that suffers an incident could range from huge expense – thanks to lack of insurance – to death. If a service provider is cavalier enough to offer commercial flights without bothering to go through the exacting process of obtaining an AOC, how careful would it be about maintenance, pilot training etc?
It is crucial that business aviation players work together to ensure that flights advertised and arranged are both legally permissible and in compliance with the regulatory safety standards demanded of AOC holders. EBAA’s electronic-only document is addressed to operators and brokers, and it would be more than happy to provide copies to those who wish to use it.
Furthermore, EBAA has created a printed brochure for passengers entitled “Is My Flight Legal. Your Rights as a Business Aircraft Charter Passenger” , which addresses passengers, politicians, authorities and regulators. We urge operators, handlers and brokers to pass these out to clients to ensure they ask the right questions and are aware of the hazards of booking “illegal” flights.
The association asks people wishing to obtain a copy to contact them on info@ebaa.org by 26 January 2011.
EBAA is also asking readers to circulate both brochures (printed and electronic) to their regional and national regulators, authorities and politicians to ensure the widest reach possible for this important information campaign.
If you have any questions or would like to report the promotion or conduct of illegal flights in Europe, I recommend you contact the European Business Aviation Association, which is cooperating with regulators to knock such activity firmly on the head.
http://www.ebaa.org/
Not a business aviation post today, but I was so delighted to see this story, that I wanted to post it. It shows that passengers are now prepared to take a risk to save their lives. Apparently one of the factors that made 9/11 possible was the fact that travellers had become so passive during air travel that the hijackers were able to take over the aircraft without opposition. It seems that people are now more aware – although obviously in this case thankfully there was no real threat. As a regular air traveller I’m pleased to see we are reclaiming the skies.
The story on msn goes that news agencies from Istanbul reported that passengers onboard Turkish Airlines flight 1754 from Oslo thwarted an attempted hijack as a plane was due to land in Istanbul on Wednesday.
According to Anatolia news agency, a Turkish man Cuma Yasar, 40, began shouting threats after donning a ski mask. He demanded that the plane return to Norway. The good news is that two passengers restrained him.
Another news agency – Dogan – reported that Yasar had tried to barge into the cockpit saying: “I have a bomb.” State news agency Anadolu said that he is believed to be mentally ill.
The pilot called emergency services at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport and passengers were quickly deplaned after landing, and Yasar was arrested. No bomb was found. Dogan reported that a passenger was sitting on top of the hijacker when police entered the plane, and Anatolia said that flight attendants had overpowered the suspect.
Norwegian television network TV2 quoted witness Salim Tahar as saying someone in the back of the plane had put on a mask and threatened to blow up the plane in the air. For more see http://on.msnbc.com/hzWWHJ
Must have been a horrible experience to go through for those on board, but hats off to the courageous passengers and crew who refused to go down without a fight.
RIP Gerry Rafferty, who passed away yesterday. One of your most famous songs comes to mind as Taiwan’s government gets into the business jet charter business. Last Saturday Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. (AIDC) flew from Taichung City to the coastal island of Kinmen in an Astra SP aircraft it imported in 2000. The company aims to run both domestic and international charters, flying to Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Macau, Manila Seoul, Singapore and Tokyo.
China is the big prize of course. In November the first privately owned Taiwanese charter company Win Air took delivery of a Gulfstream G550 in service. It too, is hoping the tense relations between the two governments will ease enough to allow private flights between the countries.
India
Meanwhile the burgeoning Indian aviation market upped the ante last week when Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd launched the first seaplane service to the Indian islands of Andaman and Nicobar, using an amphibious Cessna 208B. The company will rely heavily on foreign pilots at start up stage, since, according to US news service Avweb http://www.avweb.com, to date there is only one Indian pilot who has flown the Caravan – and none have flown it on floats. A couple of American pilots will keep it island hopping while the company finds and trains locals to get their feet wet.
In a media event at Mumbai Airport, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said that tourism is growing and the market for seaplane service should grow. He said: “The Centre is permitting 100% foreign direct investment in this sector and service providers like PHHL should float a subsidiary to run a fleet of seaplanes. We want to see PHHL emerge as a 500-aircraft entity.”
As Macaulay hits the news – just found fabulous article by Sean Hardy in the Independent from 1995 about his Christmas with the former child star, involving private jets and Europe’s best hotels.
Excerpt here, then enjoy via the link
My Christmas with Macaulay Culkin
Stretch limos, Lego snow, reindeer on the menu… Sean Hardy looks back at his oddest Christmas – in the bosom of the child star’s family
Teachers find themselves up to some funny business just before Christmas – explaining to your mates the glitter in your hair, lying to small children about Father Christmas. The real meaning of Christmas – by which of course I mean shopping – gets left till after the end of term. Except, that is, for one Christmas when I decided to do some freelance work. It is a truth universally acknowledged that a young movie star in possession of a publicity entourage must be in want of a tutor. It’s an odd job, nearer nannying than classroom teaching, but it has its returns, particularly if the “classroom” is the travelling circus of a European publicity tour – in the run-up to Christmas. ..
PS
I’m Posting every day in 2011!
I’ve decided I want to blog more. Rather than just thinking about doing it, I’m starting right now. I will be posting on this blog once a day for all of 2011.
I know it won’t be easy, but it might be fun, inspiring, awesome and wonderful. Therefore I’m promising to make use of The DailyPost, and the community of other bloggers with similiar goals, to help me along the way, including asking for help when I need it and encouraging others when I can.
If you already read my blog, I hope you’ll encourage me with comments and likes, and good will along the way.
Bestest,
Liz
The new year certainly didn’t get off with a bang for one UK company. I reported in my Avweb column in 2007 that British entrepreneurs Mike Crisp and Tom Hanks (not that Tom Hanks) had launched milehighflights – a service for couples wishing to get amorous at 5,280ft. http://www.avweb.com/news/acrossthepond/194526-1.html
Flights on their Cessna Grand Caravan have departed and returned to Staverton Airport in Gloucestershire for the last two years. They said they had chosen the aircraft, as it is “renowned for its long endurance and stable handling.” However, a note on their website cautioned that if you are over 16 stone or 6ft 4 inches tall please mention this at the time of booking as you may need to “be upgraded to a larger aircraft.”
The charter flights enabled amorous Brits to join the likes of Pamela Anderson, Janet Jackson and even Richard Branson as members of the ’Mile High Club’.
Now health and safety executives at the CAA have refused to renew the company’s licence because of suggestions that in-flight action could be ‘too distracting’ for pilots. The Liverpool Echo reported that Mr Crisp said: “I’m not giving-up on what was a very popular business idea, because someone at the CAA doesn’t like the sound of what goes-on in our plane. ”Joining the Mile High Club is something a lot of British couples dream of and we were providing the chance for people to fulfil that particular fantasy. http://www.clickliverpool.com/clocked/celeb-stories/1211959-uks-only-sleazyjet-service-grounded.html
“In our two years’ trading we had people from all walks of life wanting to join ‘the club’, from 21st birthday flights to 60th birthday ones. We even had one threesome. I am getting emails every week from couples who want to go up in the plane. It’s a shame we’ve had to stop because of some prudish snobbery on the part of the CAA.”
The CAA reportedly responded: “We cast no moral judgments on what people do in their planes, that’s not our business. ”Safety-wise, as long as all angles are covered we have no issue with that company trading. Unfortunately it became apparent that our safety criteria couldn’t be met and the application was not passed.”
The website is still up http://www.milehighflights.co.uk/index.htm, Judge its appeal for yourselves…
Avweb reports that China’s Avicopter and Russian Helicopters Holding are in discussions to build a 30 to 35 ton Mi-26-type helicopter. The partners aim to make a final decision by autumn according to The Voice of Russia. Some say that the Mi-26 is the heaviest and most powerful helicopter in the world. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 120,000 pounds and can carry up to 150 passengers. Equipped with a 105 feet eight-blade rotor powered by two turboshaft engines, it can fly at speeds of up to 180 mph. The Chinese government were impressed by the Mi-26 thanks to its role in relief efforts after a large earthquake in China in 2008.
Whether the helicopter will be military or commercial is still undecided. However, both partners are carving out their part in its development and production. Russia’s Helicopters Holding, is among the leading producers of heavy helicopters in the world.
Inaugural show draws strong support as Asian market demand grows
I was fortunate enough to arrange the speaker programme for the first Asian Business Aviation show, which happened in Macau on Thursday 10 June. Named “Business Aircraft in Asia – a Buyer’s Guide” the conference at The Venetian on Macau’s Cotai Strip. The conference was aimed at end users, particularly from China, with topics including aircraft selection criteria, choosing a management company, the cost of chartering and flying in the region.
“Private aircraft charter enquiries have doubled since October 2009, providing a good indication of recovery in the Asian market,” said Macau based Chuck Woods, Chairman of AsBAA and President of Macau based JetAsia. He cited recent action by the Chinese authorities to dramatically reduce the time it takes to arrange overfly permits from six days to three hours and the progressive relaxation of other regulations.
International industry leaders including AsiaJet, Bombardier, Cessna, Dassault, Embraer, Gulfstream and Hawker exhibited a total of twelve aircraft, with the aim of attracting more business from high growth markets across Asia. Aircraft on static display at Macau International Airport include the Bombardier Global XRS, Cessna Citation XLS+, Dassault Falcon 2000 / 7X , Embraer Lineage 1000, Gulfstream G150 / G200 / G 400 / G550 and Hawker 700XP / 900XP / 4000.
AsBAA chairman Chuck Woods moderated a pithy meeting, which covered issues ranging from what kind of aircraft to choose, to how to finance the purchase.
David Velupillai, product marketing director, executive & private aviation for Airbus outlined the different options for purchase. His own products the ACJ and Airbus A318 Elite and Prestige families are more useful for larger groups or people going on longer missions. Shorter range would be better served by looking at smaller aircraft. He said: “If you charter aircraft, the magic number where you should consider buying your own jet seems to be around 350 h per year.”
Robert B. Hollander, Citation Sales Director, Asia/Pacific described the reason for the urgent need to develop the sector in Asia as other businesses flourish. He said: “You can follow your own schedule and go to many more destinations direct – small airports or airports are infrequently served by airlines.” He urged participants to ‘buy what makes sense’ ie what is useful for most missions or your family/business needs. He summed it up with the phrase: “BUSINESS JETS ARE CARS, AIRLINES ARE BUSES”
Other OEM speakers included Gulfstream’s VP of marketing Bill Shira, Hawker Beechcraft’s Matthew Liu, regional sales director, North Asia, Lee Li, VP of Sales for Embraer China, and Dassault Falcon Jet Corp’s VP – Latin America and AsiaHawker Jean-Michel Jacob.
Jolie Howard, business development director for TAG Asia outlined the reasons why companies should use a management company, including compliance, maintenance and hiring staff. Mike Walsh, CEO of AsiaJet and Justin Liu of China’s GlobalJet Concept echoed her words and highlighted some of the extra challenges that could arise from using inexperienced staff.
Chuck Woods asked about the high prices of service fees and Joe Wilson MD of the ASA Group HK explained that multiple permits across Asia account for a large slice of these. He also said that the sector in Asia was :”An immature / inexperienced business aviation market.” He pointed to the short notice flight changes and extreme weather that can scupper the best laid plans. All the speakers pointed out that you cannot simply ‘get up and go’ in Asia.
John Bradley, Account Manager, Australia & New Zealand for Universal Weather and Aviation said that the high cost of fuel contributed to the costs in the region. He also said: “China has challenging navigation regulations which require specialists available 24/7 to avert delays.”
Legal and financial issues are a vital consideration with such a complex purchase and Paul Ng, global head of Aerospace, Stephenson Harwood Singapore, and Zohar Zik Aerospace department Barlow Lyde & Gilbert spoke to the difficulties of proceeding without proper advice. Paul Ng pointed out that Hong Kong can be a good base for aircraft because of its 0% tax options. Zohar Zik urged attendees to select the proper insurance and Min He, head of aviation, MinSheng Financial Leasing Corporation, China thanked the organisers for inviting Chinese companies and spoke of how vital it is to develop business aviation in China as the country becomes more prosperous.
“Asian economies are once again growing strongly, with China taking a leading role in the global recovery. This is the strategic driving force behind industry leaders being here at Asian Business Aviation today, since they recognise that Asia is where the action is for the long term,“ said Richard Thiele, Head of Global Sales – Aerospace & Aviation, Reed Exhibitions.
ABA ran alongside Reed Exhibitions’ Global Gaming Expo Asia, G2E Asia, the biggest and most influential gaming event in Asia, which attracted 4,500 delegates, including casino owners and many of the region’s high spenders.
My client ASA has been flat out for the last few weeks. They are aviation security experts who have been under huge demand for help.
The ASA Group, an Asian specialist VIP aviation security services provider with a base in Bangkok, reports that its phones are ‘ringing off the hook’ with requests for assistance from travellers and security companies concerned about the situation in Thailand. This week the group has moved people including families and exchange students away from troubled areas. Simon Wagstaff, ASA’s managing director said: “Many people are frightened about what is happening here. The situation is fluid and changes daily. It is important to stress that people want to move as much for convenience as for safety. Their daily lives are affected by the lack of facilities available.” It is difficult to enter and exit the hotspots, where shops are closed and utilities such as running water, electricity and Internet are intermittent if present at all.
Wagstaff adds: “We are warning our clients to stay away from the troubled areas. Some tourists have unwisely been going to the protest sites to gawk and take photographs. That is a bit like those people who get out of the car at a safari park to pet the ‘cuddly’ lions.” ASA is urging visitors to keep a close eye on the news, and make plans for an alternative means of getting out of the country if necessary. They should also ensure that they carry a phone number for a security specialist firm should trouble flare up suddenly.
Wagstaff says: “We are escorting people to and from the airport, since the troubled areas are constantly changing and we know where to avoid. If people are coming I would strongly recommend hiring a security firm that knows what it is doing.”
In recent months ASA has been called on several times to assist VIP passengers to leave the country, and helped corporate aircrews and passengers exit Thailand after demonstrators seized control of Bangkok’s International Suvarnabhumi airport. He added: “If any executive aviation travellers are worried about the situation in Thailand at the moment, they are welcome to call us. We give a daily update to an international security and intelligence newsletter, which is subscribed to by thousands of businesses and individuals worldwide, so we have up to the minute information.”
Ocean Sky’s new chief executive officer Stephen Grimes has barely been in post three months, but has already made his ambitions clear. Part of his game plan is to quadruple the number of fixed-base operations under the OS umbrella over the next year moving from three to 12.
Today it has three jet centres in the United Kingdom: Glasgow Prestwick, Manchester and Luton.
“We are in advanced discussions to open new facilities in France, Spain, Italy and Ireland,” said Grimes. “Our plan is to have a chain of FBOs reaching from Ireland as far as Italy, eventually reaching out to the Middle East.”
Ocean Sky has made it clear in the past that the current downturn presents an excellent opportunity for those with pockets deep enough to spend money. The group recently acquired the German aviation company Triple Alpha.
The company’s portfolio includes charter, management, interiors sales, maintenance and FBO divisions.
It is highly likely that the firm will emerge as one of business aviation’s new superplayers once the financial crisis is over.
