EBACE CONVENTION NEWS
BIZAV HITS RESET BUTTON IN EUROPE
By Charles Alcock
The unfolding crisis for Europe’s stagnating economies present an opportunity for business aviation to recast itself as part of the solution rather than part of perceived problems. EBAA takes some encouragement from politicians who now appear more focused on how they can reverse the continent’s decline in the face of hostility from the new U.S. administration and political fragmentation among its member states. However, EBAA officials see European Union (EU) leaders somewhat paralyzed by political polarization and failing to take strategic decisions at a time when they are urgently needed. This in turn blocks paths to progress on issues critical to business aviation, such impractical restrictions on tankering fuel and reversing onerous taxes such as those recently imposed on charter flight passengers in France.
“We have European Commissioners focusing on the question of what needs to be done to bring Europe back on track and competitive, but too many people in the administration are stuck in the old times and so the commission is only making baby steps with the changes,” EBAA secretary general Holger Krahmer told AIN at EBACE 2025.
For EBAA, the key to unlock progress is increasingly based on a more ground-up approach to lobbying. It is urging its member companies to engage more directly with national governments over issues that directly impact them.
“Our members face a lot of very specific challenges because there are still a lot of irrational decisions being taken,” Krahmer explained. “Our message is not just to complain. We need to organize ourselves and apply more resources at a national and international level. We have to do more than some other continues on page 22
SUSTAINABILITY
Climbing Fast goes global
IBAC, BBGA join business aviation advocacy and sustainability initiative started by NBAA | 10
TECHNOLOGY
AI promises higher efficiency for bizav
Artificial intelligence can ease and improve tasks, while still keeping humans in the loop | 18
AIRPORTS
Hangar occupancy up at Geneva Airpark
Geneva Airport’s hangarkeeper housed 11% more business aircraft in 2024 | 12
REGULATIONS
India bizav leaders seek relief
Industry’s growth in Asian country is hampered by regulations and taxes | 6
Leonardo, Sloane mark 30-year partnership
By Kerry Lynch
Leonardo marked the opening of EBACE 2025 with an order for three more AW109 Trekkers from its long-time distributor for the UK and Ireland, Sloane Helicopters, as the Northampton-based company eyes potentially reaching its 109th sale this week of the light-twin helicopter. At the same time, Sloane and Leonardo celebrated the 30-year milestone of their partnership.
Slated for delivery in 2027, the booking for three VIP-configured helicopters comes in addition to the five AW109 GrandNews that Sloane ordered during the recent Verticon in March in Dallas. Under the Sloane partnership, more than 100 Leonardo commercial helicopters have been delivered to operators in the UK and Ireland.
George George, managing director of Sloane, said his firm has already sold 108 AW109s and anticipates reaching 109 by the end of the week.
Where should EBACE 2026 be held?
As of midday yesterday, Barcelona was in the lead in AIN’s informal poll about where respondents would like EBACE 2026 to be held. EBAA plans to announce the venue for next year’s show on June 30.
Sloane also sells the AW169 light intermediate twin helicopter and has become a distributor for the AW09 light single, with nine of those on order as the aircraft awaits EASA certification and subsequently UK CAA validation.
In addition, Sloane is an authorized service center for AW109 GrandNew and AW169 helicopters and serves as a type-rating center.
While the AW109 has been its dominant seller, George said he’s seen interest increasing with the AW169, particularly with the number of power performance upgrades that have reached maturity. “The AW169 is carving out a niche for VIP customers, and we’ve got a couple of people, one who bought 12 years ago, [reporting] 96% availability for VIP,” he said.
George was encouraged by the strong interest in the VIP market, but also sells to the EMS sector. Leonardo added that the partnership was particularly reinforced since the relaunch of the Agusta VIP brand in late 2021.
“It was May 1995 when this incredible journey started,” said Jacopo Borghi, v-p of sales in Europe for Leonardo Helicopters, of the partnership with Sloane. “That benchmark of a partnership is quite unique in the industry.”
He added that its inroads in the UK and Ireland market are “not just about helicopters. It’s about building a relationship with the customer, the proximity, and the support, and the skills that the fantastic Sloane team has been able to deliver to the market.”
Leonardo and Sloane are further discussing the next extension of the partnership. z
Bravo for Signature
Signature Aviation has expanded its Bravo discount program for small/midsize operators across its entire global network. Launched last year in the FBO chain’s U.S. locations, the free membership program now includes benefits such as discounted handling services at non-U.S. locations, Signature Gold Status, a best-price commitment on jet-A at U.S. locations, discounts on maintenance services with TechnicAir MRO in the U.S. and UK, and Tailwins points. C.E.
Executives from Leonardo and Sloane Helicopters toast a three-aircraft order here at EBACE 2025.
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E-aircraft upstarts bid to expand the horizon
By Charles Alcock
While none of the major business jet manufacturers are at EBACE 2025, some of the start-ups looking to replace them showed up. Sessions on the event’s Innovation & Sustainability stage yesterday heard from companies developing electric aircraft they say will not only reduce the industry’s environmental footprint, but also prepare the way for more inclusive air transport business models bringing affordable and flexible flight options to smaller communities.
In Toulouse, Beyond Aero is developing a six- to eight-passenger business jet that will use gaseous hydrogen to produce electrical power via fuel cells for flights of up to 800 nm. The start-up, which has attracted experienced engineers from aerospace giants Airbus and Embraer, believes it can certify the BYA-1 model under EASA’s CS23 rules by 2030. Yannick Schwarzenbart, to company’s head of program industrialization, said the performance it delivers will meet around 80% of
current use cases for an aircraft of that size.
Germany’s Vaeridion is betting on step changes in battery technology as it works on a nine-passenger electric aircraft that initially will operate on routes of up to 400 kilometers (217 nm). According to executive advisor Thorsten Luft, the Microliner model will compete with any current mode of ground transportation trips of up to four hours, offering 40-minute flights at a price point equivalent to first-class train tickets.
Luft said aircraft like these can open up the sort of access currently only available at much higher costs for business aviation travellers using around 1,500 underserved small airports across Europe. Vaeridion is also targeting service entry in 2030 and expects to be flying a full-scale prototype by 2029.
In the U.S., Electra Aero has similar ambitions as a disruptor with its hybrid-electric EL9 nine-seater and has started Series C fundraising efforts. The company’s “secret sauce”
Panelists at the “Navigating the Future” panel yesterday morning at EBACE 2025 explored the opportunities and challenges facing the air mobility market.
is its blown-lift wing that—according to Marc Ausman, v-p for sales and support—allows the aircraft to operate from strips of just 150 feet. That would open up commercial flight models that are not confined by access to airports.
According to Luft, it may take another decade for mainstream business aviation to match startups’ decarbonizing ambitions. Beyond Aero’s Schwarzenbart told AIN that the major business jet OEMs appear not to have committed to getting beyond fossil fuel propulsion because the investment and effort required would excessively dilute their main revenue streams from existing aircraft sales and product support. That said, Embraer was present in the panel sessions through its Eve Air Mobility offshoot, which is developing a four-passenger eVTOL. It expects to fly a proof-of-concept model later this year and has already signed non-binding letters of intent for around 2,900 eVTOLs with 30 different prospective operators. z
Hybrid SmartFlyer
electrifies EBACE
The only airplane on display at EBACE 2025 is a prototype of SmartFlyer’s SF1 hybrid-electric four-seater. With a large propeller at the top of the tail, drag has been kept off the wing. The Swiss start-up’s founder, Rolf Stuber, is raising funds to advance his plans for a scalable design that could be a green replacement for existing light jets and turboprops.
DAVID M c INTOSH
DAVID M c INTOSH
India bizav leaders seek tax, regs relief
by Neelam Mathews
Increased demand for private aviation in India’s burgeoning economy has made the case for reforming the sector’s regulatory structure even more urgent, according to industry leaders who gathered for the annual conference of the country’s Business Aviation Operators Association (BAOA) in Delhi held in March. Speakers highlighted key challenges including unhelpful tax rules that impede progress, a lack of regulation for new services such as fractional ownership, and inadequate provision for training, pilot recruitment, and maintenance.
Based on its impressive economic growth trajectory, India’s business aviation market should be booming. The International Monetary Fund expects India’s GDP to exceed Japan’s $4.4 trillion by year-end, positioning India to overtake Germany in 2027 and become the world’s third-largest economy.
As of 2024, there were already 13,600 ultrahigh-net-worth individuals in India last year when that total grew by 6%, and with that rate expected to reach 50% growth by 2028. According to the Knight Frank Wealth Report, the number of high-net-worth individuals globally will double from around 850,000 to 1.65 million by 2027.
Many of these individuals would be likely customers for charter flights, for which operators are required to secure a nonscheduled operator’s permit (NSOP). Due mainly to what BAOA officials view as tax anomalies, significant numbers of privately-owned aircraft in India are also registered under NSOPs under names that tend to obscure the ownership trail.
Jindal Steel & Power-owned Flysafe Aviation is part of India’s growing number of business jet operators.
The main factor is that the importation of aircraft for private use is subject to a 28% tax, while those bought for charter service incur a lower rate of 5%. Some of the private aircraft operated under NSOPs are registered as being contracted for “support services” that include supporting trips to meetings or moving executives between factory sites.
Calls For Tax and Regulatory Reform
According to BAOA’s managing director, RK Bali, India needs to rationalize its current tally of 122 NSOP holders, which collectively have a 434-strong fleet including 34 different aircraft types. In his view, fractional ownership would re-energize the country’s business aviation sector by providing customers with more cost-effective investment options and reverse a trend in which airline growth is outstripping that of the business aviation sector.
However, Asanga Chuba Ao, who is joint secretary at the Ministry of Civil Aviation, implied that this transition could take some
time. “It is work in action. Fractional ownership must be customized and aligned to the tax regime of India,” he told AIN, referring to the apparently complex ongoing discussions with the country’s finance ministry.
According to speakers at the Delhi conference, the past five years have seen strong demand for the latest midsize and long-range business jets. Some companies now have large and varied fleets, such as Reliance Industries, which has a net worth of around $200 billion and operates 13 business jets based in Mumbai. The company is planning to add up to eight more aircraft to its fleet that includes an Airbus Corporate Jet, a Boeing Business Jet, a Bombardier Global Express, and several Embraer ERJs, Dassault Falcons, and a Sikorsky helicopter.
Another significant NSOP operator is India Flysafe Aviation, which is owned by Naveen Jindal, a member of the Indian parliament and chairman of Jindal Steel & Power, with a net worth estimated at $7.7 billion. The company’s
fleet includes a Global Express, a Cessna Citation 560XL and Grand Caravan, a Pilatus PC-12 NG, and a Leonardo AW139 helicopter.
Operators Want More Flexibility and Infrastructure
“We recognise the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s obsession with safety, but it is super conservative,” Jindal told AIN. He argued that Indian business aviation needs more flexible access to airports, plus greater leeway over VFR operations in some conditions. He added that there is also insufficient local support capacity for tasks such as engine overhaul and aircraft painting.
Several delegates at the BAOA conference said that lack of dedicated business aviation terminals and ramp space has continued to inhibit the sector’s growth. However, a new FBO at Cochin International Airport in Kerala state now claims to be the fourth largest facility in India behind the established operations in Delhi, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad. Some companies also resent what they
view as unfairly protectionist restrictions on market access. They maintain it is restricting choice for private aviation consumers.
“Foreign operators in India face restrictions as they are not allowed to conduct cabotage operations, which means they cannot pick up and drop off passengers within India on the same flight,” said Caroline Cresp, managing director of Dubai-based charter operator LunaJets. “This rule ensures domestic air travel remains the domain of Indian operators.”
However, Arun Kashyap, director with Indian operator Fly Sirius, said the policy to limit market access rights to foreign companies is good for the domestic industry. The company, which is partnered with Airavat Aviation to operate a preowned Hawker 4000 jet, has plans to add up to another 20 aircraft to its fleet by 2028. “The investment is low, the potential is high as people have money and value time,” he commented.
Aircraft purchases in India are largely funded by private banks, but the country is
now getting more attention from international asset-based finance providers. Some buyers are finding ways to circumvent high import levies by opting for lease terms available through the government-backed Gujarat International Finance Tec-City zone, which offers 10-year breaks on taxes.
Despite the addition of more than 50 helicopters over the past three years, India’s 200-strong rotorcraft fleet remains small in relative terms compared with much smaller neighboring countries. DGCA joint director general Manish Kumar told the BAOA conference that the agency is focused on improving operational safety and vertiport procedures to support the anticipated arrival of another 500 aircraft over the next 20 years.
According to Sudhir Agarwal, president and CEO of Jubilant Enpro, which operates several Bell helicopters, there is scope for rotorcraft to be operated on a fractional ownership basis. In his view, end users, including healthcare organizations, energy and tourist ventures, will not want to own the aircraft directly. z
AIRCRAFT LIGHTING INT’L
EXTERIOR LED LIGHTING
Deliveries up, backlogs flat, optimism down
By Kerry Lynch
With OEM backlogs stabilized at $53 billion at the end of the first quarter, business jet deliveries are expected to reach 820 in 2025, marking an 8% year-over-year (YOY) improvement, according to Rolland Vincent, president of Rolland Vincent Associates and creator/ director of JetNet iQ. At the same time, however, a JetNet iQ survey in the second quarter revealed growing pessimism among operators, as well as an uptick in the potential for order cancellations or deferrals.
OEM order backlogs at the end of the first quarter were collectively down 1% from the end of 2024, but still almost 60% above the $33.3 billion pre-pandemic combined backlog at the end of 2019. The current tally is also a sharp rebound from the $27.3 billion low point at the height of the pandemic i n 2020.
During the climb that began shortly after the 2020 drop, book-to-bills rocketed well above the balanced 1:1 ratio for all the major business jet OEMs, with Embraer well above the 2:1 mark. However, that has now settled back to near 1:1 for most of the OEMs, except Embraer. Gulfstream, which is ramping up on its flagship G700, and Bombardier, which faced uncertainty of tariffs in the second quarter and is increasing its top-ofthe-line Global deliveries, both fell slightly short of 1:1.
The “big winners” of the major manufacturers in backlog, according to Vincent, have been the manufacturers in the light to super-midsize segments—Embraer and Textron Aviation, each of which has seen exponential growth in their backlogs from the 2010s.
As far as delivery estimates, Vincent told AIN that this number has increased a couple of percentage points from early this year as manufacturers have gained more visibility into their production lines. “Those aircraft are sold. They have homes.” However, it may
be a matter of whether the OEMs can get the engines given supply chain constraints. “A lot of them are still saying they’re building gliders. They’re not getting the motors on time, Vincent said.
Also underpinning the strength of the market is strong growth in the preowned sector. While preowned business jet transactions dipped by 4% and inventory was up by 10% YOY in 2024, those numbers appear to have turned in 2025, Vincent said, estimating that transactions were up by 35% or more.
However, the latest JetNet iQ survey also shows a notable turnaround in industry optimism in the second quarter. Industry optimism has historically remained on the positive side and typically in double-digit percentages, according to JetNet iQ’s metrics, but over the last 11 quarters has crept down to closer to the zero demarcation and notably has fallen into the negative in the second quarter.
Vincent surmised that economic uncertainties surrounding tariffs are likely driving that trend, and added that financial leaders recently noted they have seen a pulling back on research and development investment broadly in industry. Further, he said, the iQ survey tracks plans for cancellations and deferments.
While still a very low number, those plans have doubled, something that Vincent said he’s not yet concerned about but is still watching. “An economic recession is what we’re worried about,” he said, and noted that orders for new business aircraft have ebbed in recent months.
But key to Vincent is the global reaction to the U.S. drive and international responses to tariffs. Overall, more than half of the respondents said the uncertainty of tariffs will delay their purchase plans.
In North America, that percentage falls to less than 44%, but is much higher in other parts of the world. In Europe, that number increases to 64.5%. This is notable given that European respondents overall were more optimistic than those in the U.S.
The JetNet iQ survey has been ongoing for 14 years, and Vincent noted responses from some 28,000 people over that time. z
DAVID M c INTOSH
JetNet iQ creator/director Rolland Vincent said the latest iQ survey indicates a more pessimistic view for the business aviation industry, despite a higher forecast for business jet deliveries this year.
Climbing Fast initiative goes international
By Charles Alcock
The Climbing Fast advocacy campaign unveiled in 2023 by U.S.-based NBAA is expanding its reach with the launch this week of an international website that will include content posted by business aviation groups in multiple countries. The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) announced the initiative on the eve of EBACE 2025, and the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) has signed up to host one of the platform’s national “rooms.”
According to IBAC director general Kurt Edwards, Climbing Fast was always intended to be a global initiative. “We’re all facing the same issues and now we’re able to put more of an international window on it to connect with industry and governments worldwide,” he told AIN. “The international page will draw on resources from the national groups, addressing sustainability in economic, societal, and environmental terms.”
BBGA’s “room” on the site will now incorporate its ongoing “Did You Know?” advocacy campaign, which has been highlighting myriad contributions made by business aviation companies, mainly through social media posts. “We have focused a lot on our environmental sustainability and humanitarian roles, and now we have somewhere we can put all these stories in one place and signpost them for both the public, regulators, and the industry itself,” explained Lindsey Oliver, the UK group’s managing director.
So far, the BBGA campaign has been able to highlight examples of UK business aviation humanitarian and disaster relief roles in countries as far afield as Brazil and Chile. It has also highlighted the findings of the report published in January by Oxford Economics, which warned that government restrictions on the industry could cost Europe up to around €120 billion ($134 billion) in foreign direct
BBGA managing director Lindsey Oliver and IBAC director general Kurt Edwards celebrate the international launch of Climbing Fast.
investment and 104,000 jobs. The research was commissioned by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association and EBAA.
According to IBAC, the international platform will help national associations in the conversations they have with policymakers, customers, and even protestors. z
First production Bombardier Global 8000 takes to the skies
Bombardier’s first production Global 8000 made its inaugural flight on Friday from Toronto Pearson International Airport (CYYZ). The ultra-long-range twinjet will soon undergo completions at Bombardier’s Laurent Beaudoin Completion Centre in Montreal in preparation
for service entry in the second half of this year. Bombardier pilot Sandro Novelli was at the Global 8000’s controls along with copilot Charlie Honey and flight engineer Bhargav Bhavsar. “The systems and aircraft performed as expected” during the flight, they said.
With a Mach 0.94 top speed, the Global 8000 will be the fastest business jet in the world.
With a maximum range of 8,000 nm, the Global 8000 is an evolution of the Global 7500. The newest flagship in the Global family has a top speed of Mach 0.94. Power is provided by two 18,920-pound-thrust GE Passport turbofans. M.T.
Air bp tests your SAF knowledge
By Curt Epstein
Air bp, the aviation fueling arm of conglomerate bp, is inviting EBACE showgoers to test their knowledge about sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) this week at its booth, as well as learn about SAF supply and practicalities from its dedicated account team.
The company is also highlighting myairops, its customer account management platform, along with a new online self-serve help center, with “expert office hours” yesterday and today to show guests how to use their features.
With a 600-strong global network, air bp offers a commitment to safety and technical excellence, dedicated account managers to help structure customer offers, and specially tailored support for goals to lower carbon emissions. In 2023, it supplied more than 6.6 billion gallons of aviation fuel, powering more than 6,800 flights a day globally.
Meanwhile, the aviation fuel provider recently
Viasat
led a task force to achieve approval from the UK’s Ministry of Defence for the co-processing of SAF with up to 30% renewable hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids feedstock concentration, up from the current limit of 5%, and a move that will help spur increase in SAF production.
Co-processing allows feedstocks such as vegetable oils and waste fats to be processed along with crude oil in existing refineries and enables bp and other fuel producers to accelerate SAF production at higher concentrations via existing infrastructure. The approval is the culmination of a three-year process that included input from OEMs, IATA, other fuel producers, and airlines.
improves satcom
Viasat has enhanced satellite communications coverage for customers flying super-midsize business jets in South America and the Middle East. The optimized service targets aircraft such as Bombardier Challenger 3500s, Embraer Praetors, and Gulfstream G280s equipped with Viasat’s compact GAT 5510 Global Aero Terminal.
“We needed to make sure that we have this coverage for this category to the Middle East, and for customers based in North America all the way to South America continuously,” said Viasat business area global director Claudio D’Amico. “That’s deployed now with good feed-
coverage in MidEast
back from our operators and our OEM partners.”
Customers can have the service enhancement installed via an over-theair software download and remote configuration. Already available in North and Central America, the Caribbean, North Atlantic tracks, and Europe, the high-speed broadband connectivity provided by Viasat’s geostationary orbit satellite network is transitioning from the Viasat Ka-band product line
“Defence standard approval for co-processing SAF is a significant milestone for the industry, and I’d like to thank our partners for their support and input in achieving this,” said Federica Berra, Air bp’s senior v-p. “Co-processing produces high-quality fuel that meets stringent aviation standards, while helping increase the volume of SAF available to customers.” z
to its JetXP brand, which now has more than 600 customers.
“This started as an enhancement program late last year where we were improving and changing our service o ering to remove speed caps and manage the network to deliver more capacity and more capability to customers,” D’Amico explained. JetXP is the service Viasat distributes through its channel partners Collins Aerospace, Gogo, and Honeywell. “It provides much better network management and network allocation tools,” he said. M.T.
Air bp has received UK Ministry of Defence approval for co-processing of sustainable aviation fuel.
Viasat global director Claudio D’Amico
Geneva Airpark sees hangar occupancy rise
By Curt Epstein
Geneva Airport (LSGG) hangarkeeper Geneva Airpark saw its daily occupancy rise last year by 11 percent, as it welcomed nearly 170 different aircraft in 2024.
As the only private aircraft shelter on the field, the company’s heated, 10,000-sq-m (107,639-sq-ft) hangar can accommodate two Boeing 747s simultaneously. It is home to 22 aircraft, ranging from a Pilatus PC-12 turboprop single to an ultra-long-range Bombardier Global 7500.
Previously, the winter months (November to March) accounted for 75% of the activity at the facility, but that tally lowered to less than 60% in 2024, showing a more even distribution throughout the rest of the year.
The company, which has operated at LSGG since 2009, noted that it housed an average of 13 aircraft per day last year, up slightly from 2023. Hangar floor occupancy rose by 7% as well, filling 80% of the available hangar floor on average.
Sophie Mabire, the facility’s general manager, credited the rise to the introduction of
individually tailored solutions to match the needs of each customer. These include ad hoc hangar requests, stays of just a few hours, or specific daily, weekly, or monthly periods.
“We rely on our highly expert and professional team to manage operations, forecast hangar occupancy, and provide agility,”
Mabire told AIN. “This is a real strength in a business where people are essential and the primary resource used.”
The complex saw 3,500 business aircraft movements last year, an increase of more than 16% year over year, with an equal amount of towing movements for other operational movements such as hangar restacking or maintenance-related movements. It also performed more than 30,000 services in-house, ranging from aircraft cleaning to laundry.
O ffering Part 145 line maintenance, the facility is located next to the airport’s dedicated business aviation Terminal C3. z
Geneva Airpark’s hangars are busy year round, with daily occupancy up 11% in 2024.
Universal completes Portugal integration
Universal Aviation, the ground handling arm of Universal Weather & Aviation, has completed the integration of Portugal-based Safeport’s six ground handling locations into its global network, it said this week at EBACE 2025.
Safeport has facilities at five airports in Portugal—Humberto Delgado (LPPT), Lisbon Cascais-Tejo Regional (LPCS), Francisco Sá Carneiro (LPPR), Beja (LPBJ), and Faro International (LPFR)—and one in Cape Verde at Amílcar Cabral International (GVAC), also known as Sal International Airport.
First announced in October at NBAA-BACE,
the deal saw the rebranding of all of these locations as Universal Aviation facilities, extending the brand along the Atlantic corridor and better positioning it to support operators during the upcoming Mediterranean peak season and beyond. It adds additional Universal network capacity for customers operating into and out of Southern Europe or making Atlantic crossings via Cape Verde.
“Our goal has always been to make operating into Portugal and Cape Verde seamless for our clients,” said Universal chairman Greg Evans. “With Safeport now fully integrated, our
customers benefit from consistent standards, deeper local expertise, and direct connectivity into one of Europe’s most important and growing regions.”
Universal has seen strong performance across the EMEA region, with overall tra c growth of more than 12% year over year. “The Safeport partnership is one part of a broader strategy to strengthen our network, in line with where demand is growing,” explained John Hewett, the company’s regional v-p for EMEA. “With summer already ramping up, we’re ready, with expanded infrastructure, trusted partners, and data-driven insights to deliver on every mission.”
C.E.
Skylegs, C Teleport sync crew travel
By Jessica Reed
Aviation software provider Skylegs has teamed with C Teleport to improve crew travel management for business aviation operations. By integrating flight management capabilities with automated aircrew travel services, the new cloud-based solution provides exclusive fare access and real-time flight change capabilities for positioning crewmembers. Industry professionals can evaluate the integrated platform this week at EBACE 2025.
The technical integration establishes an automated workflow that eliminates traditional manual processes for flight departments. When operators create positioning requirements within the Skylegs platform, the system automatically transmits booking requests to C Teleport, complete with passenger information, scheduling parameters, and destination details.
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The data transfer eliminates duplicate entry requirements because C Teleport receives pre-populated travel specifications directly from the Skylegs system. Following booking confirmation, trip details will be synchronized back to the Skylegs platform and appear in the designated Positionings interface.
Maxim Schelfhout, CEO of Skylegs and an EASA-certified Falcon 2000 captain, highlighted the operational advantages from a practitioner’s perspective: “As a crewmember myself, I find it tedious to communicate those preferences via email or telephone. This solution offers flexibility, the best rates, and top crew satisfaction.”
Development of C Teleport originated from operational challenges faced by its founder. CEO Dmitri Beliakov explained: “I was running a company where changing travel plans was a regular, time-consuming headache. None of the
available solutions provided the flexibility my business needed. Determined to solve this, I built C Teleport—a platform designed to make travel management as easy as clicking a button.”
C Teleport has developed specialized capabilities for aircraft operators across private aviation, cargo, and commercial passenger service sectors, with particular emphasis on streamlining the booking, modification, and cancellation of crew positioning flights.
The Skylegs platform supports 100 operators, serving more than 1,500 crewmembers and managing more than 500 aircraft.
C Teleport’s corporate travel platform offers instant flight change functionality and synchronizes trip details with compatible operational software such as Skylegs. Additional features include flexible flight options, cancellation provisions for most reservations, and integrated accommodation and ground transportation. z
Charter internships build workforce
By Charles Alcock
The Air Charter Association (ACA) has reported an uptick in numbers of young people seeking to pursue careers in business aviation. According to the group, its 2025 internship program received a 250% increase in applications for the 15 available slots.
Held at London Biggin Hill Airport during August, the internship training week is for people aged between 18 and 25. The training covers several aspects of the air charter industry and will be led by ACA chief executive Glenn Hogben and training manager Julie Ellis.
After completing the course, interns will have the opportunity to do some practical work experience with one of the association’s 440 member companies. Its members are now located in 60 countries.
“The Air Charter Association is in an excellent phase of growth at this moment in time, projecting to reach 500 member companies by the end of 2025, expanding the executive
team, strengthening its core initiatives, and driving ever greater value for members,” said ACA chairman Kevin Ducksbury. ACA recently appointed Malin Junkers as its events and training executive.
Since the industry group launched the Air Charter Broker Qualification program in 2021, it has provided training for more than 250 professionals from 30 countries. Its most recent Level 3 training event resulted in the certification of 31 fully qualified air charter brokers.
“Having recently completed the ACA’s
JSSI exec to focus on EMEA, APAC growth
JSSI has elevated Fabrice Roger to executive v-p of business development for Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. Roger joined the U.S.-based maintenance management provider in 2022 following a nearly decade-long stint with aircraft broker Jetcraft, where he managed more than $1 billion in aircraft transactions across Latin America, Europe, and North Africa. Before that, he worked in the finance industry.
In his new role, Roger–who is based in Dubai–will oversee JSSI’s segments outside of the Americas. “I cover Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and APAC, so being in Dubai is very strategic,” Roger told AIN. “The region is booming in terms of business aviation, and it’s very good for me to be in the middle of my three regions.”
In Dubai, the company has an o ce with six sta ers and is due to relocate from Dubai International Airport to Al Maktoum International
Airport in Dubai South, where general aviation is now more centralized in the area.
The company noted that tra c in the region has increased by more than 50% over the past five years. “Plenty of our aircraft now are getting maintained in the Middle East through the di erent MROs,” Roger explained. “The key is that we provide this flexibility of going anywhere the customer thinks is most e cient. Not always having to fly to the U.S., if there is the possibility to do the maintenance locally, sometimes it’s better, especially with the tari s and things that happen.”
The Air Charter Association says growing numbers of young people are interested in pursuing careers in the industry.
Broker Qualification, it was fantastic learning from the senior team’s deep experience as well as seeing how things operate slightly differently in Europe,” said Tommy Nelson, CEO of Texas-based Trilogy Aviation Group. “It gave me a fresh perspective that I’m really excited to bring back to Trilogy. The time and effort put into the training made a real impact, and I’m eager to start integrating what I learned into Trilogy’s growth. I’m ready to enroll my employees for the online ACA course to get them set up for success right away.” z
“I think we are growing faster outside of the U.S. than we do in the U.S.,” he noted. “There are some places where we are less known, and we still meet customers that don’t really know what JSSI does, especially with the line of products that we’ve added. We also have maintenance tracking software, parts, and we now do aircraft financing, so we have a lot of work in educating customers and making them understand there is an alternative to the OEMs.”
EMEA and APAC currently account for approximately 35% of JSSI’s business, and Roger would like to move that needle to 50%.
While some may have expressed disappointment with the smaller size of this year’s EBACE, Roger still feels it is a valid gathering. “We were able to meet with most of our customers, and we had great traction with our event,” he said. “We think Europe is still a market with a lot of potential.” C.E.
JSSI executive v-p Fabrice Roger
DAVID M c INTOSH
Avfuel talks SAF, airports of the future
By Curt Epstein
With its network of nearly 700 FBOs and its role as a top supplier of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to business aviation, Avfuel is lending its expertise this week at EBACE with its leaders participating in two panel discussions: “The Business Aviation Airport of the Future,” and “Talking SAF: Market Access and Acceleration.”
“Business aviation has an incredible opportunity to reimagine the airport experience in ways that are smarter, greener, and more customer centric,” said C.R. Sincock II, the Michigan-based fuel provider’s executive v-p who will be participating in the panel today. “At Avfuel, we’re focused on helping our partners prepare for that future through sustainable solutions and operational excellence.”
The company currently offers consistent supplies of SAF to 57 airports/FBOs globally, in addition to an in-house book-and-claim program to manage SAF purchases anywhere.
With SAF mandates now in effect, Keith Sawyer, its manager of alternative fuels, will discuss on Thursday how the industry can ramp up production and overcome regulatory and logistical hurdles to meet those goals.
Joining Avfuel at its stand on the show floor are eight of its FBO network partners. Among them is Overland Aviation, a service provider at North Dakota’s Williston Basin International Airport, a popular fee-free international tech stop for aircraft entering the U.S. The company just accepted its first delivery of SAF, making it the first Midwest U.S. location in Avfuel’s network to do so.
“Our goal is to provide world-class services
IADA adds regional director for Europe
The International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA) has appointed Brendan Lodge as regional director for the UK/EU and international markets. The trade group supports the aircraft broker segment. Lodge is IADA’s first Europe-based sta member, signaling its commitment to providing technical expertise in key international regions.
He has more than 25 years of experience in aircraft sales, acquisitions, financing, and valuation appraisal, as well as a background in structured asset financing and private banking. Lodge will work closely with IADA executive director Lou Seno and managing director
Erika Ingle to advance the association’s strategic objectives in the region. His duties will include regional member support, market development, and program implementation.
“The IADA board of directors is thrilled to welcome Brendan to the IADA leadership team,” said Phil Winters, the group’s chairman and v-p of aircraft sales and charter management for Greenwich AeroGroup and Western Aircraft. “His deep regional expertise and long-standing industry relationships will help us deliver even greater value to our UK, EU, and international members as we expand our footprint abroad.” C.E.
C.R. Sincock II, (center) executive v-p of Avfuel will highlight a panel on future airport strategies this week at EBACE.
that support a more sustainable future for aviation. This special fuel load is an important milestone in that commitment,” said Overland founder and president Tanner Overland.
Also in attendance this week at the Avfuel stand is Castle & Cooke Aviation, which has FBO locations in California and Hawaii. At its Los Angeles-area Van Nuys Airport facility, the company offers continuous supplies of 30% SAF blend, which provides a 24% life cycle reduction in carbon emissions.
“SAF is not new to our facility; the difference lies in how seamlessly we can provide it,” said Tony Marlow, the company’s president of aviation operations and business development. “With close proximity to a Neste SAF blending facility and supply terminal, operators seeking high-volume SAF can count on Castle & Cooke VNY and Avfuel for quick, local access.”
With solar energy panels on the roofs of its hangars and an array of electric ground handling equipment, Castle & Cooke VNY is actively working to reduce its own environmental impact. The facility also offers U.S. Customs and Border Protection clearance on-site.
Avfuel also announced several new members of its sales team. Joining its staff as U.S. area managers are Blake Bannon (Mountain region); Collin Cowsert and Chris Hayes (South Central); and Stephen Tong and Levi Weiss (Pacific Northwest). Laura Polin, previously sales director with Fly Louie, will continue to support Part 135 operators now with Avfuel, while Mark Leonard joins the company as commercial sales manager. z
Titan keeps fuel supply flowing for bizav users
By Charles Alcock
Fuel is the lifeblood of business aircraft operations, and the task of ensuring it flows smoothly across a complex global network rests on the shoulders of specialists such as Titan Aviation Fuels. Prolonged supply chain disruption is prompting the North Carolinabased group to redouble its efforts to support operators when and where they need this time-critical resource.
The response to this challenge has been underpinned by Titan’s efforts to firm up its network of carriers, which move fuel from refineries to airports by focusing on strong relationships with vetted service providers. Where there are gaps, the company has made an investment in its own fleet of trucks operating in some parts of the U.S.
According to company president Robbie Stallings, Titan’s independence from the major oil companies and commitment to sustaining the mutually beneficial alliances are critical to ensuring service reliability and continuity.
“Our relationships with multiple suppliers
and our carrier partners allow Titan to be more independent and nimble when there is a supply disruption,” he told AIN. “We work diligently to develop strong relationships with our supply and fuel carrier partners, which ensures we can deliver, even with logistical challenges. We will do whatever is needed to make sure the fuel is delivered reliably to our FBO customers and ultimately to our aircraft operators.”
Titan’s multilingual team sells fuel to more than 6,000 operators with a combined fleet of 20,000-plus aircraft at more than 1,900 airports across 76 countries.
Digital Technology Boosts Transparency
Increasingly, Titan is tapping digital technology to give its clients the improved transparency they now demand, as well as faster response times and real-time data on pricing, deliveries, and invoices. Its proprietary Atlas platform also helps clients streamline ordering and tracking processes and can be integrated with flight operations software.
“But even though the new digital tools are helpful, the personal touch is still very important, and that means backing up our technology
with knowledgeable people who can support customers,” Stallings explained. Titan’s team fields requests for help from FBOs that can find fuel management challenging, especially at a time when some businesses are experiencing a churn of staff with the necessary skills and experience.
To help customers meet regulatory responsibilities for safe handling of fuel and quality control, Titan provides its own personnel to conduct inspections. It holds live seminars and visits FBOs to provide training for clients’ staff in which its specialists share their deepseated industry knowledge.
Titan was founded in 1975 by Stallings’ father, Buddy, and the company is marking its 50th anniversary this year, with the first airport it served still among its customers. Stallings has been in the fuel business for 30 years, while many of his colleagues have been with the company since the start.
“What makes us di ff erent is that we’re obsessed with customer service. Our business philosophy centers around taking care of the customer. It’s more about the customers than it is about us,” he concluded. “We are passionate about business aviation. Titan measures business success not just on the basis of quarter-to-quarter results, but on the longevity and quality of the customer relationships over the long run. Some of the [service] decisions we take might not make sense financially in the short term. What’s more important is that we exemplify to our customers the deep dedication to their business success.”
The focus on customers’ wider needs resulted in Titan starting an aviation insurance brokerage in 2004. Several clients reported difficulties securing reasonably priced insurance with companies that understood their businesses.
Through an alliance with Beacon Aviation Insurance, Titan Aerospace Insurance introduced a workers’ compensation scheme to offer benefits to the owners and employees of approximately 650 Titan-branded FBOs in the U.S., many of which have been facing prohibitively high costs for employment benefits, such as health insurance. The company also arranges hull and liability coverage, hangar and ground risk insurance, and non-owned aircraft coverage. z
Titan provides fuel at over 1,900 airports, serving more than 6,000 aircraft operators.
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AI tools promise efficiency leap for business aviation
By Charles Alcock
Business aviation’s adoption of artificial intelligence is gathering pace, and the technology’s impact is increasingly profound. Several tech innovators in the sector are now rolling out new ways to ease and improve key tasks, with the common thread being to keep the human in the loop and allow them to focus on what humans do best.
On the basis that time is money, MySky’s focus is on reducing the inordinate amount of time it can take charter operators to respond to requests for quotes. For example, Tyrolean Jets & Services is saving up to 15 minutes in preparing flight proposals for prospective clients by using the AI-based MySky Quote platform.
According to MySky co-founder Chris Marich, its software frees up time for operators to focus on their strategy for maximizing revenues and margins, rather than getting bogged down in manually processing quote requests. That matters because operators commonly receive between 250 and 1,000 requests each day, mainly via email, and many of these are highly speculative, with typically no more than 2% resulting in flight bookings.
“MySky Quote has evolved from being a calculator into a revenue management tool, and the first layer of that [task] is predicting what the [operating] cost will be for a flight with an accuracy of more than 97%,” Marich explained to AIN. “Then they can play with the margin.”
MySky is helping Tyrolean Jets speed up flight proposals by using AI tools.
The platform is intended to make it easier for charter operators to build in dynamic pricing that better reflects seasonal fluctuations in supply and demand for what is essentially perishable inventory in the sense that a missed opportunity to operate a revenue flight cannot be recovered.
“It helps operators have a clear vision about the breakeven point for any trip, and they can decide how aggressive they want to be in setting prices,” Marich said. “This isn’t about replacing the human but [rather] empowering the human so they can work on strategy and work with the aircraft owners on how they want to make money.”
In a bid to help operators achieve precision in predicting costs for items like fuel that fluctuates, MySky is now building on its partnership with Essential Jet Solution to introduce guaranteed jet-A prices at 50 locations. “To be able to de-risk [trip pricing], operators have to be able to understand the cost differentials, and that is hard,” said Marich. “In theory, we could cover costs like ground handling, but we’re trying this approach for fuel because it is a big component of the price.”
According to Julia Gstrein, head of charter sales at Tyrolean Jets, MySky Quote has made it much faster for her team to deal with 200 requests each day.
Better Editing of Documents
Web Manuals is now launching a component for its Amelia family of AI-backed document management systems with the launch of Amelia Co-Author. This is an extension of its existing editing tool and is mainly intended to help companies’ subject matter experts who are in charge of writing and compiling regulatory and safety manuals.
“It helps to ensure consistency, and by adding some AI functionality to the existing editing tool, it simplifies the way information is reformatted: for example, changing a list of bullet points into a table. It can also suggest rewrites to simplify the English and can ingest scanned papers,” Web Manuals CEO and co-founder Martin Lidgard explained.
Web Manuals remains alert to the risks of AI malfunctioning in unintended ways. Its technical team has introduced constraints to stop access to unauthorized information or efforts to circumvent the correct process. The use of firewalls stops users from “tricking” the AI tool into allowing access to information that is not acceptable for the purposes of managing company manuals.
The text prepared using Amelia is not immediately released to pilots and other staff There are several internal approval steps, and regulators also review any proposed changes to manuals.
“With the Amelia Reader, we saw that there was a need not only to access content but also to provide guidance in what was most important, and so we have been fine-tuning our AI model in terms of how it classifies content,” Lidgard explained. “Some operators have to deal with over 10,000 pages of manuals, and it’s easy to forget where everything is, especially since there are changes all the time.”
According to Lidgard, part of the motivation for streamlining aviation’s huge document management task is to address the knowledge gap that has widened with the retirement of long-serving industry professionals and their replacement by younger, less experienced colleagues. z
Jet Aviation revamps ex-KLM FBO in Rotterdam
By Curt Epstein
Jet Aviation’s FBO at Rotterdam The Hague Airport (EHRD) is the latest of its locations to undergo a full renovation, the company announced this week at EBACE. The global aviation services provider acquired the former KLM Jet Center facility in 2018, and its redevelopment brings it in line with Jet Aviation’s brand standards. It involved a redesign of all customer and crew areas and addition of environmentally friendly infrastructure enhancements.
On the passenger side, the facility’s two lounges have been modernized and refurnished with new conference facilities, with the larger expanded by 15 sq m (160 sq ft), allowing it to be divided to provide privacy for smaller groups. Other enhancements include a 40-sq-m pilot lounge with a shower room, while the existing kitchen and working areas were relocated and redesigned to facilitate a more streamlined user experience.
To lessen the facility’s carbon footprint, a heat pump was installed to reduce natural gas consumption. Additionally, more efficient climate control systems and dimmable LED lighting were installed.
Earlier this year, Jet Aviation completed the renovation of its Geneva FBO. That followed the refurbishment of its Dusseldorf location and the upgrading of the north landside lounge at its Zurich Airport location at the end of last year.
“We are dedicated to providing an effortless, elevated customer experience across our network,” said Joao Martins, the company’s v-p of European FBO operations. “Building on our recent renovations across our European network, the new-look Rotterdam facility is part of bringing this to life, integrating our design standards and commitments to sustainability to ensure a seamless and elegant journey through the FBO.”
On the aircraft management side, the General Dynamics subsidiary also introduced a fully integrated digital flight operations platform for
its managed EMEA and APAC aircraft fleets. The company expects the new system’s real-time information sharing will increase efficiency.
Powered by the customized Leon Software flight operations management system, which the company implemented into its EMEA and APAC flight operations late last year, any information related to flight planning, aircraft updates and airworthiness, crew availability, training, and more across 15 systems is automatically collated and made available in one centralized operations control center, eliminating manual data entry.
Jet Aviation operates a fleet of 70 aircraft in EMEA, with six added over the past year and another 30 in Asia-Pacific. Its global fleet stands at approximately 300 aircraft.
“Our promise is to make aircraft ownership effortless, and a key part of this is our ongoing
journey toward innovative technology solutions in service of a seamless customer experience,” said Niclas von Planta, the company’s v-p of EMEA flight services. “This new integrated solution streamlines the flight planning process, enabling our teams to access and share data instantly with one another and the customer. z
The renovated passenger lounge at Jet Aviation Rotterdam sports a clean modern look.
MD Onboard introduces airborne video telemedicine
By Curt Epstein
Aeromedical services provider MD Onboard is highlighting its new real-time, two-way video telehealth capabilities this week at EBACE 2025. “At the core of our DNA is health and technology,” said company CEO Grant Jeffery, who formerly served in the same role for more than a decade with Medaire. “Our objective was to look at best practice in healthcare and bring that into aviation.”
MD Onboard’s video solution allows the medical team on the ground to view the condition of patients and consult with them in
MD Onboard is now the 22nd member of the International Business Aviation Council’s Industry partner program. Company CEO Grant Jeffery (l) marked the milestone with IBAC chief Kurt Edwards.
flight, improving the speed and accuracy of diagnosis. “In addition to that, it improves the situational assessments, which means are the crew calm, is the situation risky?” said Jeffery.
While telemedicine is becoming common in daily life, the company looks to bring this level of familiarity to aviation. Via the twoway transmissions, the medical team can easily communicate with the patient and flight
Galileo catapults Gogo into global satcom orbit
By Amy Wilder
Gogo is sharpening its international strategy following the integration of Satcom Direct and the rollout of its Gogo Galileo HDX antenna for low-earth-orbit (LEO) connectivity. In an interview with AIN, Gogo CEO Chris Moore emphasized the merger’s significance, the European market’s role, and the company’s aim to provide seamless in-flight connectivity.
The combination of Gogo and Satcom Direct creates a unified provider offering airto-ground, 5G, and low-earth-orbit (LEO) and
geosynchronous (GEO) satellite connectivity. “What Satcom Direct brought to the deal was this global capability with sales and support,” Moore said. “We’ve got 13 offices all around the world, and [can] touch a customer’s aircraft in under 24 hours, anywhere on the planet.”
The company is building out its supplemental type certificates (STCs) for the HDX antenna. Gogo received FAA parts manufacturer approval for the antenna in March, and installations are now proceeding under a growing STC list. The first two approvals came from EASA, underscoring Europe’s importance to Gogo.
crew, as well as send images and instructions on what medicines to use and how to administer them.
MD Online also recently announced a partnership with Crisis24, an AI-powered travel risk and critical event management platform. According to the companies, the agreement will establish a fully integrated medical and security support program for both commercial and business aviation operators. z
“The first one was on a Phenom 300. We also have one on an Airbus,” Moore said. Installations of the HDX antenna are being handled by Gogo’s global network of MRO partners.
More than 40 STCs are planned in 2025 for the HDX system, which supports speeds of up to 60 Mbps. Moore said Gogo has also received PMA approval for its up to 200 Mbps-capable full duplex (FDX) version of the system and expects STCs to follow soon after. He described customer interest as “well into the several hundreds.”
To support its European ambitions, Gogo has established offices in Farnborough, UK, and in Switzerland. Moore emphasized that its LEO satellite partner Eutelsat OneWeb is a European company—backed in part by UK government investment—and noted the importance of data handling within Europe, particularly for government and defense customers. z
EAP reaps benefits of managing supply
By Kerry Lynch
While the industry continues to grapple with supply shortages, hourly maintenance program provider Engine Assurance Program (EAP) has gradually accrued its own inventory and, as a result, is reaping the benefits in the growth of its customer base. This is particularly true in Europe, where engine supply shortages have remained acute, according to EAP managing director Sean Lynch.
“There’s not enough inventory over in Europe to support all the operators,” he noted, “and the operators that have signed up with us know that we maintain our own inventory. We’re not relying on the continuous excuses of the supply chain.”
Bizav hits reset
groups because we’re not seen as a priority and it is easy [for decision makers] to exclude us.”
National Associations Lead Grassroots Campaigns
This grassroots approach has inspired EBAA to add the Association Village as a part of the new format for EBACE. It brings together the growing number of national associations from countries including France, Germany, Austria, Ireland, the Netherlands, Italy, Malta, Spain and the UK. IBAC is also part of this cluster, along with Women in Corporate Aviation and The Air Charter Association.
The group’s chief operating officer, Robert Balthus cited the threat of reduced business aircraft access to Dublin Airport in the wake of a proposed reduction in the maximum number of passengers using the main terminal each year as a prime example of how local lobbying can be the most effective approach.
“This threatened to impact non-scheduled flights, like ours, and so we were to be punished for [restrictions on] a building we’re not even using,” he told AIN. The Irish Business
“We know that specific manufacturers don’t have fuel control units twice a year. We know that they run out of blades twice a year,” he said. “So, we just stock the parts. It’s not cheap, [but] we know we can’t rely on the system. So we made our own system.”
He said the company applies a lot of “common sense” to its approach. It also makes sure it has rental engines ready to go. “I feel like everyone’s falling back on this continuous supply chain excuse, and we’ve been talking about this for four years now. If it hasn’t been fixed yet then, then it’s just a crutch.”
During Covid, the support
managing director Sean Lynch
industry would frequently discover that parts that used to be readily available weren’t. “We just started buying an extra one every time that happened,” Lynch said. EAP also would stock up after they’d learn there would be extended lead times on parts. “Every time they said it was going to be a six-week lead time, we bought another one, and then we had one on the shelf ready to go. When we have it in our inventory, there’s no relying on anyone else to hope that they get it shipped by the end of the day. We get it shipped by the end of the day because we have it.” z
and General Aviation Association successfully led efforts to get the government to rethink its plans, with letters highlighting the economic impact on major events being hosted by Ireland such as the next Ryder Cup golf tournament.
The imperative for EBAA member companies to remain alert to new threats to their operations and business models has become all too clear from the impact of France’s new “solidarity tax” which has increased passenger tariffs by up to 300%. The tax was imposed from March 1 and with very little warning to a charter sector that now views it as an existential threat.
“Even the French companies don’t fully understand how the tax works, and it has nothing to do with [funding] sustainability,” Balthus said. “The way it is being applied means they could come after other operators [from outside France].”
EBAA is now trying to mitigate the disruptive impact of EASA’s new Part IS digital security regulations on business aviation. As is so often the case in Europe, the rules were formulated with large airlines in mind and do not align well with all aspects of nonscheduled operations.
Anti-tankering Policy is
Anti-business Aviation
Fast forward to 2025, and EBAA is fighting another rearguard action to try to amend the
disruption caused by the European Union’s rules intended to block the tankering of fuel for flights in and out of airports in its jurisdiction. EASA and the European Commission only consulted with two industry associations when drafting the rules, completely excluding business aviation.
“It’s completely bonkers, but we’re stuck with the anti-tankering rules for at least another year, and we need to be sure we can get this regulation back to what it was intended for,” Balthus concluded.
The Brussels-based group is telling its members that more resources will be needed for this more complex role, which is reflected in the topics covered by the EBACE show conference program. Part of the financial commitment is covering the ongoing joint case being contested in the European Court of Justice by EBAA and Dassault Aviation to challenge the European Commission’s refusal to include business aviation in the EU Taxonomy policy that is an enabler of investment in environmental sustainability.
The court is still gathering legal arguments with EBAA pressing for a public hearing that Krahmer said could shine a light on what the group views as discrimination. A ruling is expected later this year. z
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