LATEST ISSUE
Winter 2019
In its ill-fated election campaign, the UK’s Labour Party identified business aviation as a target for attention should it be elected into government. The shadow Secretary for Transport, Andy McDonald promised that labour would ‘consult with industry’ over plans to ban all business jets from UK airports from 2025. At current flying rates, such aircraft were judged to produce yearly carbon emissions equivalent to 450,000 cars on British roads.
The ban was judged not only as a carbon-saving measure, but also a means for encouraging the industry to develop electric aircraft more quickly, the perception being that too little was being done.
Characterising business aircraft as playthings for the wealthy, McDonald tweeted: “The multi-millionaires & billionaires who travel by private jet are doing profound damage to the climate, and it’s the rest of us who’ll suffer the consequences. A phase-out date for the use of fossil fuel private jets is a sensible proposal.”
The Labour Party’s campaigning proved humiliatingly unsuccessful, but its proposals for business aviation ought still to cause the industry to look carefully at itself.
There’s no doubt that carbon emissions ought to be at the top of this introspective list. Efforts to create more efficient engines, powering aerodynamically advanced airframes are laudable, but let’s not fool ourselves that the current low availability of sustainable alternative fuels is sufficient or, indeed, that sustainable fuel is a long-term solution. Let’s also acknowledge the reality of electric propulsion technology.
Labour identified the fact that only 15% of carbon emitted by the aviation industry in the UK might be eliminated by electric propulsion by 2050 at current rates of progress. Given the technological challenge and regulatory hurdles, that seems entirely reasonable. The industry will not replace fossil-fuel propulsion on a decade timescale. Let’s also consider how the electricity powering these new aircraft will be generated.
McDonald’s tweet provides strong evidence that the business aviation industry is failing to communicate its role clearly, if at all. The perception remains that business jets are only for the super-rich, zipping between holiday homes in search of sun or snow. Yes, HNWIs are vital to the industry, but a rare few use their aircraft only for holiday flying. They, in common with the corporate business jet fleet, generally employ their aircraft as business facilitators and that’s a message that just isn’t out there.
Turning to this, your winter edition of EVA, we recognise the great heritage upon which today’s industry is based, with a look at historic Teterboro and its FBOs, and the unique operations of Germany’s FAI. We also meet the pioneers pushing forward with technology that will improve safety and the flying experience, examining the Saab-Vū EFVS and GojiBox, both of them unique boxes of magic in their own high-tech way.
Take A Peek
Featured in this issue
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COVER STORY
30 Years and Still Flying
Written By Paul Eden
In 1987, German entrepreneur Siegfried Axtmann bought a small ambulance helicopter operator – 30 years on, the FAI Aviation Group is a major player in business aviation and air ambulance operations....
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Teterboro New York & New Jersey
Written By Paul Eden
The primary business airport for New York, Teterboro supports four FBO operators – Atlantic Aviation, Jet Aviation, Meridian and Signature Flight Support – and sees a high proportion of large-cabi...
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The Story From the Air
Written By Paul Eden
Goji Geotainment has created a storytelling moving map, a unique proposition that becomes available in 2020 in the GojiBox, a small blue box of magic Peter Nissen, President & Executive Produce...
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The Story From the Chair
Written By Paul Eden
Collins Aerospace is entering a new era of integrated cabin solutions, most recently epitomised by its next-generation Evolution seat and LuxStream connectivity product Collins Aerospace finds itse...
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Visibility Unlimited
Written By Paul Eden
North Carolina’s Vū Systems and Sweden’s Saab are joining forces to bring a revolutionary new Enhanced Flight Vision System to market, for the first time enabling pilots to ‘see’ in zero visi...
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Supporting Excellence
Written By Paul Eden
Dassault has expanded its customer support offering through an expansive MRO acquisition programme, an effort that’s already winning awards A casual conversation, perhaps two years ago, with a sm...
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Driving Perfection
Written By Paul Eden
Airbus Corporate Helicopters and Aston Martin have created the ACH130 Aston Martin Edition, an exceptional seven-seat, single-engined helicopter built with the sportscar-loving owner/pilot in mind ...
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Star Creation
Written By Paul Eden
With only 30 days to refurbish a CJ2 cabin, Frank Ponterio turned to Scott Group Studio for a key design element. Meanwhile, the carpet maker has released its latest collection, Boreas How much to ...
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