+ ON THE SOAPBOX: Alison Chambers, Emerald Media

Starting as a trainee intern at the then weekly Flight International (now monthly Flight Global) Alison Chambers became Editor of Commuter World and Founding Editor of C/R News International.  She moved into communications and PR and in 1993 co-found Emerald Media supporting public relations of several regional low cost carrier (LCC) operators and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), before widening out expertise into business aviation in the early 2000s.

Today, Chambers leads a UK team supporting an international client base in a variety of disciplines in alternative fuel, air charter, airline and technology developments.  She is an active Board Member of the British Business & General Aviation Association (BBGA).

www.emeraldmedia.co.uk


Bizjets for business

In summer 1985 Phil Collins performed at the legendary Live Aid concert in two cities on two different continents, in one day. Thanks to Concorde, British Airways and two helicopters whisking him from Wembley to Heathrow, and stateside from New York to Philadelphia, he sang in London, then drummed with Led Zeppelin in Pennsylvania.

Supersonic commercial flight may be on its way back (see A Boom update in this month’s TNU).  The fast-moving business aviation community persists in unveiling technologically advanced, long-range business jets, powered by fuel-efficient engines.

Fast forward to 2024, the world’s highest grossing pop star, Taylor Swift, was able to perform the Tokyo leg of her Eras Tour; jump on her Dassault Falcon 7X and make it to the LV11 Super Bowl in Las Vegas, despite a 16-hour time difference and 5,478-mile journey (from Tokyo Haneda to Los Angeles) to watch her boyfriend, National Football League star Travis Kelce, win the championship for his Kansas City Chiefs team.

You don’t need to know her music, (usually about former romances and life experiences), or anything about US football, but over one weekend her travel plans trended on social media and national news outlets, across the globe. The US Embassy in Japan took to X reassuring Americans she would arrive at the game on time – by flying privately.  Not only is her jet a productivity tool – enabling her to catch up on sleep and relax between gigs – it allows her to travel with her beloved cat in the cabin and brief her team.  Most importantly, there’s no disappointment for fans due to an airline-induced delay. She contributes vast revenues to any city she plays in, indirectly supporting thousands of jobs.

At the recent Corporate Jet Investor (CJI) conference in London Taylor Swift was name checked five times (vs Elon Musk two).  However, Swift and Musk represent just a small fraction of business jet owners and users.  12% of operational business jets serve as air ambulances, providing stretcher (and medical services) far and beyond that offered by airlines.  Corporations and entrepreneurs use them to maximise their time, take in multi cities in a day.  Executive aircraft come in a variety of guises.   The single-engined Pilatus PC-12 can land practically anywhere (and transport an Airbus A320 landing gear for a stricken airline if needed).  King Air turboprops regularly transport human organs from the smallest airfields, bring connectivity to remote regions.

Business aviation has always led on innovation to quote IBAC’s Kurt Edwards.  Winglets, glass cockpits, composites, even the first 100% transatlantic sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) flight was performed by a business jet (Gulfstream G650) – just ahead of Virgin Atlantic’s highly publicised feat.  When 9/11 struck business aviation got people home.  During the pandemic these jets were back and forth transporting PPE, medicines, repatriating people.  Savvy airlines have one in their fleet to move parts and engineers around their route network.  Ryanair has four Learjets dedicated to resolving aircraft on ground (AOG) issues.

In what was hailed a ground-breaking invitation by CJI to its recent annual conference in London eco warriors from the Green Party and Safe Landing (headed by former TUI pilot Todd Smith) participated in a panel.  

Zack Polanski, Deputy Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, urged people to just stop flying on private jets “because the remaining carbon budget needs to go on people’s annual holidays or to visit family in distant countries around the world.”  He also urged a ban on business and first-class travel; all SUVs, cruise ships.  “If you must take an essential flight for good reason, hopefully love or science, do it, but do feel guilty”, said Todd Smith.

CJI’s Alasdair Whyte was exemplary in handling their hostilities.  Shall we just sell all our business jets to the USA then, by far and above the biggest market?  Business aviation accounts for 7% of movements in Europe.  UK just 2% of that.

For the past 20 years I have been covering business aviation, the sector has grown and widened, mainly because of airline consolidation and dropping of routes and the realisation that if you want a time machine there is nothing better than on demand aviation. It also accounts for just 0.04% of aviation’s 2% worldwide carbon emissions, connects 280 airports and 5,024 city pairs, versus 51 airports and 192 city pairs by scheduled airline, according to The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA).

At the BBGA's annual conference earlier this month WINGX’s Richard Koe highlighted just how much business aviation has stepped up as airline schedules eroded since 2019.

When it comes to what the industry now calls a ‘third generation’ of aviation, business aviation will be a bridge for the airlines (United, Delta, Virgin, etc) all committing to electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) transport for premium ‘last mile’ travel.  Likewise, new breed regional airlines like Flyv, investing in electric and hybrid aircraft like Electra and Eviation’s Alice, will embrace the best of business aviation, taking passengers where they truly want to go.  OEMs like Joby and Volocopter are relying on general aviation to help them achieve their certification.  MagniX in the US meanwhile is working closely with NASA and regional airline Air Tindi demonstrating the viability of electric flight right up to 50-seaters using the venerable Dash 7, swapping out two original PT6 engines.  Back to the Future indeed.

We have flown a long way since Bill Lear developed the ground-breaking Learjet 23 in 1963, but business jets still lead when it comes to air transport innovation and forward looking.

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READERS' COMMENT

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Chris Pocock, Uxbridge, UK

An excellent summary and justification for business aviation. Well done Alison!