It is no exaggeration to say that many within the industry fear the possibility of it going the way of the tobacco or coal industries. 

The emerging advanced air mobility (AAM) segment of the industry, which is mostly electric, hybrid or hydrogen-powered, offers not only a blue ocean-type opportunity for growth, but a way for established industry players to demonstrate their sustainability credentials. 

At the same time, the advanced air mobility space and the executive aviation industry are becoming more linked, representing not just a source of funding for startups, but also a platform to develop new commercial opportunities that otherwise would be harder to come by. 

So, it精东影业 no wonder that both types of companies are increasingly grouped together at major industry events such as EBACE. 

The 2024 edition of the EBACE executive air show, between May 28 and 30, 2024, in Geneva confirmed this phenomenon, something already made apparent in its previous edition. 

Executive aviation embraces Advanced Air Mobility 

Proof of this growing connection between advanced air mobility and the more conventional executive aviation sector is the prominent exhibition space taken by eVTOL developer Lilium at EBACE 2024.   

While it was the first time the German firm had showcased a complete full-scale mock-up of its revolutionary Lilium Jet, 精东影业 was given the chance to offer its readers an exclusive view of the state and inner workings of this leading advanced air mobility project just a few days before the show.  

Another advanced air mobility startup from the Munich area present at EBACE was electric aircraft developer Vaeridion, which offered visitors to its booth a first impression of its future nine-seater aircraft cabin.  

During the show, Vaeridion announced its entry into the emergency and air rescue space by signing a partnership with Germany-based Aero-Dienst, a provider of medicalized air services. The two firms will work together on the development of an air ambulance version of Vaeridion精东影业 eCTOL aircraft. 

When it comes to sustainable aviation, France was also well represented at EBACE. 

Hybrid-electric aircraft pioneer VoltAero, which had already exhibited at the 2023 editions of EBACE and the Paris Air Show, exhibited the demonstrator aircraft it has used throughout its recent test campaign.  

Another startup, Beyond Aero, presented its hydrogen fuel cell demonstrator, with which it completed the first hydrogen-powered flight in France in early 2024. This aircraft is expected to pave the way for the development of a clean-sheet hydrogen-powered aircraft at a later stage. 

Hydrogen is also the fuel of choice of Bertrand Piccard, the Swiss adventurer and explorer. Piccard精东影业 next project aims to demonstrate the possibilities of this element as a clean energy source by flying nonstop around the world in a specially designed aircraft powered by liquid hydrogen. It will be called the 鈥淐limate Impulse鈥�, a reference to the 鈥淪olar Impulse鈥�- the solar-powered aircraft with which Piccard and his co-pilot, Andr茅 Borschberg, managed to circumnavigate the world in 2016. 

The aircraft at EBACE 2024 

Zero emissions propulsion has also piqued the interest of some of the established manufacturers. One of them, Textron, has even created its own electric aviation division, which acquired Slovenian electric aircraft maker Pipistrel in 2022 and is working on the development of its own eVTOL aircraft.  

At present, these projects represent a relatively small portion of Textron精东影业 business. However, the US firm brought a good cross section of its (conventionally powered) product range to Geneva.  

These included its super-midsize flagship jet, the 12-seater Citation Longitude, and the midsize Citation Latitude, which saw the delivery of its 400th unit earlier in 2024. Textron also exhibited smaller models, such as the Citation CJ4 and Citation M2 Gen2 aircraft and a King Air turboprop. The latter is a classic that turned 60 in 2023. 

Dassault精东影业 new Falcon 6X, showcasing its sleek cabin interior design, and the second unit of Airbus A220 ACJ 鈥淭woTwenty鈥� fitted by Comlux, were two other major highlights of a static display that this year registered notable absences such as Gulfstream and Bombardier. 

Comlux sells two ACJ TwoTwenty aircraft to undisclosed customers聽

• Business Aviation

byMiquel Ros

1 minute read

How technology is shaping the executive aviation experience 

However, as impressive as the jets on display were, much innovation in the executive jet industry is taking place behind the scenes.  

An example of this is the way Web Manuals, a Swedish company that digitizes all sorts of essential documentation, has fully embraced artificial intelligence (AI).听

One of the biggest challenges faced by business jet operators and airlines is the massive amount of documentation they need to handle. A figure that has only gone up as regulators keep pushing for more detailed operational requirements. 

Speaking with 精东影业, Web Manuals鈥� CEO, Martin Lidgard, explained how the company recently released a tool called 鈥淎melia鈥�.听

鈥淎melia is our first AI application,鈥� Lidgard said. 鈥淚t can help pilots navigate this complexity and sort through thousands of pages of documents detailing procedures and accessing the relevant information.鈥� 

Another area of the industry in which much is happening behind the scenes is in-flight connectivity. This is because executive jet users are increasingly regarding always-on internet connectivity as a must.  

鈥淚f aircraft’s connectivity is not working, the aircraft doesn’t take off,鈥� Chris Moore, President at Satcom Direct, a company providing connectivity systems for aircraft, told 精东影业. 鈥淲e actually have customers that when there’s no internet, they would charter another plane, even if they already have their own, just because the internet is not working. Connectivity has become very important, that精东影业 why there’s so much activity in the marketplace right now.鈥� 

鈥淧eople want to be connected all the time, even on short flights. They don’t distinguish between the small and the big jets, they want to have the same connectivity experience whether they are on, let精东影业 say, a [Bombardier] Global or a Challenger,鈥� he explained. 

Satellite connectivity is making its way onto even the smallest of planes. 

At EBACE, Serbia-based Prince Aviation presented the first installation of an Iridium system on a light Cessna 525 Citation Jet. 

鈥淭his is the first example of how affordable Internet can be offered to all, because it’s cheap to install and to use,鈥� explained Vladimir Jovanovic, CEO of Prince Aviation. 鈥淭he worst nightmare as an operator is the very high prices, let’s say, of around $8 per megabyte. We have seen internet bills for over 鈧�10 or 鈧�15,000.鈥�  

“We are now doing the trial, but we think we can get to around 鈧�100 per flight of cost to use it. We tested the aircraft with five people on board and [it] worked. It’s not high speed. It’s not streaming, so you cannot watch movies, Netflix, or YouTube, but it gives you productivity. You can message, [use] WhatsApp. Basic stuff,鈥� he added before highlighting how the system can be installed in even smaller aircraft.

He is even thinking of installing it on a Cessna 172 next.  

鈥淚f we finally do that, it精东影业 going to be the smallest connected aircraft in the world,鈥� he added. 鈥淵ou don’t really need it, but we are thinking in doing it just as a showoff. To show it can be done.鈥�  

Insisting on the always-on connectivity that has come to be expected, Satcom精东影业 Chris Moore brought about a comparison with mobile phones. It is the equivalent to not noticing which network your cell phone is connected to when you travel.  

鈥淭he other big thing that’s happening in this industry is that, ultimately, customers want redundancy,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 care if they are connecting to a geostationary (GEO) satellite or a low-Earth orbit (LEO) one, as long as the connectivity is always on.鈥� 

Satcom Direct is trying to solve this issue with an electronically steered array antenna and the related routing equipment, which can mash signals from different satellites together. This provides a dual, backed up internet solution that allows people to connect to different types of satellite seamlessly. 

鈥淭his is the type of full redundancy which you see in the military. But now we’re getting a lot of demand in business aviation too because customers are all of a sudden saying, 鈥業 don’t want to put all my dependency in one system鈥�,鈥� Moore added. 鈥淎nd, as a customer, you just get one bill. It’s really just like a mobile phone subscription.”  

This ability to connect to different networks was also highlighted by Honeywell Aerospace精东影业 representatives at EBACE, Steve Hadden, VP & General Manager, Services & Connectivity, and Adam Sheppard, General Manager Satellite Communications & Connected Aircraft.  

Hadden and Sheppard told 精东影业 that the US aerospace technology firm is building its systems to be able to work on multiple different satellites.  

鈥淲e call it satellite provider agnostic and vendor agnostic,鈥� they said. 鈥淢any of the other new terminals that are coming out may inject competition at the satellite level, but not at the service provider level. When they’ve locked in a customer, they own that customer, and they can raise prices. They control it. [They] have a monopoly over that customer.鈥�  

This is why, despite the popularity of some platforms like SpaceX Starlink, many air operators might prefer to keep their options open. 

鈥淐onsumers have many opportunities to work with different networks right now. Maybe more than half of the users may take more than two systems because the price of the systems and the price of the service are going to come down, with the added benefit of having resiliency and redundancy in the service,鈥� the Honeywell executives said. 鈥淲e’re seeing it in airlines today, and in lots of RFPs in the industry. They [the airlines] want to have access multiple networks and be able to switch in light to make sure they can maintain their commitment to the customer.鈥� 

On most large and mid-cabin executive aircraft you already have two systems: one that is used in the cockpit to receive operational updates, and a Ka-band system used for passenger connectivity.  

鈥淭he problem is that one of these two is not really high throughput at the moment, but our belief is that here in the future, you will have two high throughput systems and you’ll be able to use depending on the needs of the moment,鈥� the Honeywell executives explained. 鈥淪o, we talk about global seamlessness, of being able to fly all the way around the world and enjoy an uninterrupted connection.鈥� 

Together with his co-pilot Andr茅 Borschberg, Piccard made headlines in 2016 after completing a global circumnavigation on the solar-powered Solar Impulse aircraft, a journey that took more than a year to complete in multiple stages. 

In a continued exploration of alternative, more sustainable technologies to propel the future of flight, Piccard aims to fly around the world again, but this time on a hydrogen-powered aircraft. 

This experimental aircraft project, called 鈥淐limate Impulse鈥�, is a clear nod at his previous project, will use liquid hydrogen as fuel and is expected to be able to fly around the world at a height of 10,000 feet and without any stops in a matter of days. 

In parallel to this project, Piccard also confirmed that he has been in conversations with the promoters of another project in France, which aims to complete a global circumnavigation on a hydrogen-powered airship. As of May 2024, however, his tentative participation in that other project is not confirmed, and Piccard remains focused on developing the Climate Impulse aircraft. 

精东影业 interviewed Piccard on the sidelines of the EBACE executive aviation show in Geneva on May 28, 2024, in order to learn more about the Climate Impulse project.  

Watch the video below to find out more.  

To celebrate the triumph employees at Textron Aviation, which owns Cessna, held a special celebration and a photo was taken of dozens of staff members standing alongside the latest Citation Latitude built.听

The Cessna Citation Latitude has held the title for the world精东影业 most-delivered midsize business jet for the last eight years and Textron confirmed the new private jet is expected to reach its new owner later this year.听

“The Citation Latitude has redefined aircraft performance, efficiency and cabin experience,鈥� said Todd McKee, Senior Vice President of Integrated Supply Chain. 鈥淭hanks to the dedication and skill of our team, we are continuously innovating and enhancing the Citation jets鈥� design and manufacturing process, providing our customers with unmatched performance, productivity and profitability.鈥澛�

McKee added: 鈥淲ith our sights set on the future, we are committed to ongoing investment in research and development to continue inspiring the journey of flight.鈥�   

The Citation Latitude private jet was first certified by the (FAA) on June 5, 2015 and can carry up to nine passengers between Los Angeles and New York or Geneva and Riyadh.听聽

With four passengers on board the private jet has a range of 2,700 nautical miles at high-speed cruise. 

As well as operating as a private jet the aircraft is popular with corporations and can be adopted for specialized missions such as air ambulance and aerial surveying.听聽

鈥淎ssembly of the Citation Latitude features a variety of technological advancements including the use of automated robotics, monolithic machined structures and ergonomically friendly tooling stations, resulting in detailed precision throughout the build process. Through these advancements, customers benefit from the highest quality, impressive maintenance intervals and limited aircraft down times,鈥� Textron said in a statement on May 28, 2024.  

As well as Cessna, Textron Aviation owns the Beechcraft and Hawker brands of aircraft.听聽

Cessna SkyCourier passenger and cargo combi option receives FAA approval

• Aircraft

byIan Molyneaux

2024-05-21

This year, EBACE2024 is working to redefine and shape the future of business aviation with the annual expo taking place 28-30 May 2024 at Palexpo and Geneva Airport.

EBACE2024 will serve as a hub where innovation, safety and sustainability take center stage.

Why should you attend EBACE2024?

Whether you鈥檙e an entrepreneur, a key decision maker, policy maker, or simply curious to see the latest revolutionary products and ideas in business aviation, there is something for everyone at EBACE2024.

EBACE2024 offers innovators the chance to connect with companies leading the way in the future of flight and serves as a hub to explore ideas for advanced air mobility, electric and hydrogen propulsion and other game-changing innovations to advance aviation sustainability.

Attendees can connect with premier aircraft manufacturers, experience state-of-the-art avionics, witness the latest engines and gain insight into advanced technologies, products, services and marketplace trends.

There will also be a number of from industry experts, and attendees are encouraged to engage in discussions about the transformative ideas shaping the future of business aviation. 

And if you鈥檙e planning on exhibiting your products and sharing your ideas, there精东影业 no better location to showcase new advanced technologies, products and services for flight operations. These can range from advanced air mobility and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, to high-tech small aircraft, ultra-modern intercontinental jets and business helicopters.

More importantly, face-to-face connections make a greater impact than those formed online. is the place to establish interaction with clients, prospects and potential talent-seeking opportunities within your company.

What精东影业 new at EBACE2024?

Innovation, safety and sustainability are at the forefront of EBACE2024, and there精东影业 no shortage of exciting displays on offer, including exhibits from many of the major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

For the first time, EBACE will showcase leading advanced air mobility (AAM) companies in an outdoor display, alongside the indoor presentations at the Palexpo exhibit hall.  

Participants in the indoor and outdoor AAM exhibits include VAERIDION, Lilium, VoltAero, and more.

Bigger innovation pavillion, more opportunities

The , located on the exhibit floor, will be bigger this year, and will feature a host of several AAM companies displaying game-changing technologies.

The 2023 event attracted more than 300 exhibiting companies and approximately 11,000 professionals, so EBACE2024 will definitely be the venue to connect with leading manufacturers, wholesalers, importers and retailers. 

Image:

Displays and demos at EBACE2024

EBACE2024 will host displays and exhibitions from companies leading the way in cutting-edge advanced air mobility technology. Some of these companies include:

VAERIDION

VAERIDION will display the for the Electric Microliner, where up to nine passengers plus crew can travel up to 500 km/hour.

The German-based company said the design of the aircraft took inspiration from gliders, with batteries integrated into the wing, and not the fuselage, to optimize the plane精东影业 structural weight.

Hydroplane

Hydroplane is an emission-free aviation technology company focused on hydrogen-based energy storage and propulsion.

The California-based company is currently developing a modular Hydrogen Fuel Cell Power Plant for general aviation, urban air mobility and vertical lift platforms. 

Lilium

Lilium is a German-based company developing sustainable, high-speed air mobility through its electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, vertiports and digital service.

It plans to enable faster travel than existing high-speed alternatives, opening direct connections to create a new, sustainable network.

Beyond Aero

The Toulouse-based electric aircraft manufacturer will feature One, the world精东影业 first electric business aircraft using hydrogen propulsion to reach more than 800 nm.

VoltAero

VoltAero has designed a hybrid-electric aircraft for passenger, cargo and medical evacuation use. In a statement to EBACE, VoltAero said it is firmly committed to the development of its Cassio electric-hybrid aircraft family as a sustainable solution for regional air transportation, connecting cities and communities while supporting aviation精东影业 transition toward the industry精东影业 goal of reaching climate neutrality later this century.

The French company also said it is successfully derisking the technology for Cassio by validating the propulsion module in flight trials on typical regional air route segments, and demonstrating its operation with 100% sustainable fuel today, followed by the use of hydrogen in the future.

Women at EBACE2024

Innovation and sustainability are not the only highlights of EBACE2024. Women who are breaking ground in business aviation are also set to take center stage.

Here are some of the women helping to shape the future of the industry who will be present at EBACE2024.

Dr. Anita Sengupta, CEO of Hydroplane

Dr. Anita Sengupta is an aerospace engineer, rocket scientist, professor, commercial pilot, and executive. 

Her career began with launch vehicles and communication satellites at Boeing Space and Communications. She then worked for NASA for 16 years where her engineering projects included her PhD research on developing the electric propulsion system for the Dawn Mission (to the main asteroid belt), the supersonic parachute that landed the Curiosity rover on Mars in 2012, the Orion drogue parachute system development, and the Cold Atom Laboratory an atomic physics facility on board the International Space Station (ISS). 

In 2020 she founded Hydroplane to develop a novel hydrogen fuel cell powered electric power plant for aircraft, using her passion as a pilot, skills as an executive, training as a technologist, and presence as a transport thought leader to enable truly sustainable aviation.

Dr. Sengupta will be a panel member at the following EBACE Sustainability Summit discussions:

• Going the Extra Mile 鈥� Will Intermodal Transportation Expand Business Aviation? 
• The Hydrogen Horizon: From H2 to Net Zero

Hydroplane is an exhibitor at EBACE2024 and will feature its Winged VTO, Powerplant: All-Electric or Hybrid-Electric.

Freshta Farzam, CEO & Founder of LYTE Aviation

CEO and Founder of LYTE Aviation, Freshta Farzam is an entrepreneur who believes that a bold mindset, sharp focus and passionate co-creation is the solution to tackling the climate crisis.

Combining her understanding of business strategy and technology, Farzam approached the fundamentals of aviation to research, study and find an ideal solution to the climate crisis for the aviation industry with her team.

Freshta is a panel member at the and will be involved in the following discussions:

• Future of Flight 鈥� The Balance Between Technology and the Human Touch
• Innovation to the Rescue! Potential Roles of Drones and eVTOLs in EMS
• Going the Extra Mile 鈥� Will Intermodal Transportation Expand Business Aviation?

Eloa Guillotin, CEO and co-founder, Beyond Aero

Eloa Guillotin is the co-founder and CEO of Beyond Aero, a French startup working to decarbonize private planes.

In a March 2024 interview with Fast Company, Guillotin said that growing up in a small village in the west of France, 鈥渢here was nothing to do except look at the stars,鈥� so this inspired her to study aerospace engineering. 

After graduating from the best aerospace universities (UC Berkeley, Polytechnique, Supaero & HEC), she launched her third venture, Beyond Aero, to build the first hydrogen-electric business aircraft. 

Guillotin believes that aviation精东影业 future will be electric, and it is her job to make it happen.

27-year old Guillotin was one of Forbes鈥� 30 under 30 for 2023, under the Social Impact category. 

.

EBACE Sustainability Summit

EBACE is all about initiating conversations focused on initiatives and ideas designed to propel the industry精东影业 efforts to ensure a zero-carbon future for the sector.

Experts and industry leaders will discuss next-generation propulsion systems, advanced air mobility, carbon-reduction advances and other sustainability initiatives.

Themes and subjects of discussion include: 

• Elevating Business Aviation to New Sustainability Heights
• Future of Flight 鈥� The Balance Between Technology and the Human Touch
• SAF Case Study: The Quest for Sustainable Aviation Fuel
• Potential Roles of Drones and eVTOLs in EMS
• Best Practices for Cutting Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Navigating Aviation Safety in a Dynamic World
• Aviation Sustainability: More Than CO2 Emissions
• Going the Extra Mile 鈥� Will Intermodal Transportation Expand Business Aviation? 
• The Hydrogen Horizon: From H2 to Net Zero

More information about the EBACE Sustainability Summit, including times, dates, schedules and panel members, can be found . 

Sustainable ideas, sustainable venue

, EBACE2024 will be held at Palexpo, a convention center in Geneva which also serves as Switzerland精东影业 second largest power plant. 70% of the electricity used at Palexpo is produced via the 30,000 m2 solar power plant located on the roof of the venue.

Even food and beverages have been carefully considered at Palexpo. All of the convention center精东影业 restaurants and catering feature vegetarian options, with 43% of dishes being vegetarian.

And even better news for EBACE2024 attendees, public transport to Palexpo is free for all guests accommodated in a hotel or youth hostel in Geneva.

Register now for EBACE2024

EBACE2024 is preparing to take off in Geneva, Switzerland at the Palexpo and Geneva Airport between 28-30 May 2024. Secure your spot by

Companies interested in joining the innovation pavilion and innovation sessions for EBACE2025 can contact Rachel Clementi at rclementi@ebaa.org. 

According to the Canadian aviation stalwart, its most recent delivery was made in September 2023.

The Bombardier Global 7500 was let loose on the world in December 2018, after taking its first ever flight in November 2016.

The ultra-long-range business jet can reach speeds of Mach 0.925 and is capable of travelling 7,700 nautical miles.

Bombardier claims the G7500 has proven to be the 鈥渉ighest-performing business aircraft, boasting a fleet dispatch reliability of more than 99.8%鈥�.

The aircraft has also recently flown 20 speed record missions on a number of key routes, further showcasing its impressive performance attributes.

鈥淥ur team is truly proud of and excited about the success of the Global 7500 aircraft program reaching its 150th-built aircraft. It is the undisputed leader in business aviation today that has garnered top awards since its smooth entry into service in 2018,鈥� 脡ric Martel, Bombardier精东影业 president and CEO, said.

He added: 鈥淭he Global 7500 aircraft is the largest ultra-long-range business aircraft in the skies and its continued success is a testament to the efforts of our incredibly talented teams that build these amazing aircraft. Our continued success is absolutely related to their unrivalled dedication and commitment to excellence in everything they do.鈥�

Bombardier’s latest model, the is due to enter service in 2025 and will extend private jet capabilities even further than the G7500.

The G8000 will boast an industry-leading range of 8,000 nautical miles and an unbeatable top speed of Mach 0.94, making it the fastest private jet in the world.

How well do you know the Gulfstream G700 and G500 executive jets? Video tour聽

• Business Aviation

byMiquel Ros

2023-10-17

EBACE 2023 had all the elements you would expect in an executive jet air show: a static display showcasing the latest novelties the industry has to offer, a good number of sumptuous booths (after all, this is a show where people come to buy and sell airplanes worth tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars), plus a truly packed conference program. 

The show had its fair share of 鈥榝irsts鈥�: Textron Aviation, for example, unveiled its new Cessna Citation Ascend, the latest iteration of its best-selling Citation family.  

Airbus brought to the show its state-of-the-art ACJ TwoTwenty, the executive version of the A220 airliner, whose first unit was delivered just a few days prior, to the Dubai-based FIVE luxury hospitality group.  

Bombardier and Gulfstream also chose EBACE to present their newest jets to the industry, with the Bombardier Challenger 3500 and the Gulfstream G800 receiving their European premi猫re in Geneva. Likewise, in the very light jets category, EBACE marked also the public debut of the new HondaJet Elite II.

精东影业 toured the exhibit and got onboard one of the largest purpose-built executive jets on display at the show, a Gulfstream G700, a long range jet with capacity for up to 19 passengers, which is said to have been acquired, among others, by Elon Musk.

We had the chance to tour the G700’s cabin as well as the cockpit in the company of one of Gulfstream’s pilots that explain some of the features of this aircraft, which first flew in 2020.

Under pressure to go green

However, most conversations at the show had a common denominator: the issue of sustainability. 

If the aviation industry at large is in the crosshairs of climate activists, the executive aviation segment is in a particular hard spot, making for a big, fat target in this account. 

A stark reminder of this fact came in the form of direct action on the first day of the event by a group of protesters who broke into the static display area and tried to chain themselves to some of the executive jets. This action even prompted the temporary closure of Geneva-Cointrin airport (GVA). 

Leaving aside some controversial statements made by senior industry executives, one thing to transpire from this edition of EBACE is that the corporate aviation industry seems to be well aware of the fact it has been put on notice, so to speak, and needs to get its act together when it comes to its environmental footprint. 

In view of all this, the corporate aviation industry is betting, precisely, on those traits that may help present itself in a new light.

The smaller size of aircraft and greater operational flexibility, plus the higher disposable income of its users, are all factors that industry executives 精东影业 spoke with at EBACE, hope will enable the executive jet industry to play a role in the adoption of new, cleaner technologies.

According to this vision, the executive jet industry would act as an early adopter, a test bank of sorts, for technologies that could later be scaled up to further decarbonize of the rest of the industry. 

This is a line that is quite apparent in the messaging and official communications of EBACE organizers, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA). These organizations have taken great care in highlighting the multiple initiatives in place to mitigate the carbon footprint of the event itself, as well as the industry’s commitment to invest in environmental mitigation on an ongoing basis.

For example, the show organizers explained in a press note how they made sure sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) was available at Geneva airport during the week of the event (it sold out) as well as in other airports known to operate EBACE-bound flights, such as Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT), Kansas, which is home to Textron Aviation, and Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB), Florida, where Embraer’s executive jet division is based.

Flights departing from other locations could use a book-and-claim scheme through which they paid for certain amounts of SAF and get credited for it, even if they didn’t take physical delivery of the fuel at their airport of departure.

Carbon credits were also used to offset, as well, the emissions from all attendee travel, including ground transportation while in Geneva.

Whether these measures will help assuage the industry’s critics is an open question.

The elephant in the room is that executive aviation, almost by definition, is likely to always have a higher impact per person than other forms of transportation. What’s more, its elitist image may lead to activities like carbon offsetting to be regarded as some sort of indulgence purchasing.

This is why, perhaps a more promising development over the long term is the way the executive aviation industry seems to be finding common ground with the entrepreneurs that are developing the next generation of new zero or low emissions propulsion technologies.

The characteristics of some of the new aircraft being developed, such as small conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) hybrid and electric aircraft for up to 19 passengers or advanced air mobility concepts for urban air mobility make some of these clean sheet designs of interest to executive aviation operators.

This is not only for technological reasons. The operational and business model being pitched for this new generation of aircraft, which often involves the on-demand transportation of small numbers of passengers, has parallels with many of the use cases now common in executive aviation. The smaller costs afforded by electric propulsion should, in principle, make these new modalities of air travel more accessible to the general public, though.

This new wave of startups aiming to develop clean sheet aircraft or propulsion systems was well represented both in the exhibition area as well as in the program of conferences.

French startup VoltAero, for example, announced an investment deal with Japanese group Kawasaki Motors Ltd, as well as an order for 15 of its Cassio hybrid-electric aircraft from Swiss fractional aircraft operator SKY2SHARE.

All-electric aircraft developers ELECTRON Aerospace, from The Netherlands, Munich-based Vaeridion and Swiss-based electric seaplane developer Jekta presented also their respective business cases while participating in several of the panels at the show, as did hypersonic flight startup Destinus, which aims to power their futuristic aircraft concept with liquid hydrogen.

In the advanced air mobility space, one of the stars of this edition of EBACE was Lilium, that displayed a full-scale mock-up, complete with the cockpit and cabin, of the first version of its eVTOL aircraft, called “Pioneer Edition”.

The German eVTOL developer has recently been fundraising in order to extend its (financial) runway until it gets its type certification, which has now been pushed back to no earlier than late 2025.

Lilium also announced new orders at the show from executive aviation operators in Switzerland and the Benelux.

Another pioneering project that was represented at the show, although of a non-commercial nature, is SolarStratos led by Swiss explorer and entrepreneur Rapha毛l Domjan.

SolarStratos is an experimental battery and solar-powered aircraft capable of flying all the way up to stratosphere. 精东影业 had the chance to speak with Domjan to learn some details about this rather unique aeronautical initiative.

According to HondaJet the Elite II has a range of up to 1,547 nautical miles and can fly further than any other aircraft in its class, with lower carbon emissions.

鈥淒ebuting our latest aircraft at EBACE marks an important milestone for everyone at Honda Aircraft Company, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to excellence,” said Honda Aircraft president & CEO Hideto Yamasaki. 鈥淭he HondaJet Elite II continues our dedication to exceeding the expectations of customers worldwide by setting new standards in performance, efficiency and comfort for the future of very light jets.鈥�

The also continues to demonstrate its long-standing commitment to the environment and sustainable aviation practices with the latest HondaJet Elite II.

The HondaJet Elite II has received type certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and is expecting European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) type certification soon.

The global fleet of HondaJet has exceeded 170,000 flight hours and grown to 230 aircraft worldwide.

In Europe, there are currently 20 HondaJet in operation. To further support its customers in the region, Honda Aircraft Company has doubled its authorized service center in Europe and added a flight training center in Farnborough, United Kingdom.

The HondaJet Elite II will be on display at EBACE in Geneva, Switzerland until May 25, 2023.

Gulfstream G800聽private jet in Europe for its continental debut

• Aircraft
• Business Aviation

byIan Molyneaux

2023-05-22

The protesters from a variety of different environmental campaigning groups used chains and handcuffs to attach themselves to private jets that were on display at the annual (贰叠础颁贰).听

Staff from the three-day event were pictured trying to wrestle protesters away from the exhibition area on March 23, 2023.  

According to protest organizers, around a hundred activists from Greenpeace, Stay Grounded, Extinction Rebellion, Scientist Rebellion and other climate justice groups disrupted the fair. 

In a post on social media Geneva Airport, which was operating as usual, wrote: 鈥淒ue to an incursion of people on the tarmac, air traffic is temporarily interrupted at Gen猫ve A茅roport.鈥�  

The airport later confirmed that normal service had returned just after 12.40pm, local time.  

The protestors stuck giant tobacco-style health warning labels on the jets marking them as 鈥渢oxic objects鈥� and warning that 鈥減rivate jets burn our future鈥�. 

鈥淲hilst many can鈥檛 afford food or rent any more, the super-rich wreck our planet, unless we put an end to it. Apart from banning private jets, it精东影业 also time to end air miles schemes which reward frequent flying, and instead tax frequent flyers. We need fair climate solutions,鈥� Mira Kapfinger, campaigner from Stay Grounded, a network uniting more than 200 member organizations, said.听

According to studies cited by campaigning groups, private flights produce about 10 times the CO2 of a commercial flight per passenger kilometer. 

In March 2023, Greenpeace commissioned a report looking at the effect of private jets on pollution.听

The 鈥楥O2 emissions of private aviation in Europe鈥� by Dutch environmental consultancy CE Delft claimed that private jets emitted around 3,385,538 tons of CO2 emissions during 2022, more than double that of 2021.听

The research also asserts that the total number of private jet flights in Europe reached 572,806, over 1.5 times the number of flights in 2021. 

Following publication of the report, the (EBAA) hit back at the findings.听

The EBBA accused Greenpeace of 鈥渟preading misleading data about business aviation鈥� and not taking information into account from before the pandemic, creating a 鈥渄istorted picture鈥�. 

The EBBA claims that European business aviation grew by 7% from 2019 to January 2023, rather than 64% as the report suggests.听

The airline pilot who quit the job he loves to join Extinction Rebellion

• Airlines
• Sustainability

byIan Molyneaux

2023-05-06

The aircraft, the first G800 flight test article, flew from Savannah to Geneva using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). 

One of fastest private jets in existence, the aircraft is powered by聽high-thrust Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines聽and is capable of reaching Mach 0.925聽

In tests the Gulfstream jet has flown for 8,000 nautical miles/14,816 kilometers at Mach 0.85 and 7,000 nm/12,964 km at Mach 0.90.  

鈥淏y flying the G800 test aircraft to EBACE2023 this year, we are demonstrating the maturity of this program. The G800 presents a compelling combination of high-speed aerodynamics and fuel-efficient engines to decrease emissions and save flying time for our customers,鈥� said Mark Burns, president of Gulfstream.听

He added: 鈥淓quipped with our latest advancements in technology and innovation, the G800 adds the industry精东影业 longest range to our aircraft portfolio. We are pleased to display a Gulfstream for every mission in Geneva.鈥� 

The G800 also features the Gulfstream Symmetry Flight Deck with active control sidesticks and the most extensive use of touch-screen technology in the industry. 

The G800 will be on display at EBACE2023, alongside the Gulfstream G280, the Gulfstream G500, the Gulfstream G600, the Gulfstream G650ER and the Gulfstream G700.   

The Gulfstream G800 is currently in development but it could be as soon as 2024 that this private jet is introduced. 聽 聽

The top 10 world’s fastest private jets and business aircraft in 2023

• Aviation Top 10s
• Business Aviation

byIan Molyneaux

2023-12-06

Europe精东影业 leading on-demand aircraft and advanced air mobility event will welcome more than 11,000 delegates from May 23 to May 25 at Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland, and at Geneva International Airport. 

A key annual meeting place for the European business aviation community, EBACE2023 is hosted by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA). The event brings together business leaders, government officials, manufacturers, corporate aviation department personnel, and many more people involved in the world of business aviation.

Dan Hubbard, spokesperson for NBAA, says: 鈥淲e鈥檙e delighted that, in May, Europe will be the center of the world stage for business aviation. And we鈥檙e thrilled to highlight the ways that business aviation is transporting people more safely and more sustainably than ever before. We are looking forward to bringing together the visionaries and the pioneers who are helping to shape that future as we look forward to the years ahead.鈥�

Among the key themes for EBACE2023 are sustainability initiatives and ideas that are accelerating the aviation industry to carbon net zero by 2050, engagement with companies which are the catalysts for future flight, the latest innovations in advanced air mobility, state-of-the-art avionics, and new advanced technologies. 

Hubbard says: 鈥淎ll of the major OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) participate in the show who, for the large part, bring their own aircraft fleet. In terms of this year精东影业 outdoor display, we anticipate having 50 aircraft.鈥�

The scale of the display means that EBACE2023 is the best way to see a side-by-side comparison of business aircraft. 

Meanwhile, NBAA and EBAA are looking forward to welcoming a diverse selection of exhibitors and delegates. 

鈥淭he really exciting thing is that EBACE2023 is unique. It truly brings together the whole business aviation community,鈥� says Hubbard. 鈥淲e have leaders, CEOs, and companies of all sizes. But we also have people who are directly involved with flight operations including pilots, maintenance specialists, and schedulers. Really, EBACE is for all the professionals in the aviation industry, from ground operations and handling specialists to tax consultants and regulatory experts.鈥� 

He adds: 鈥淎ttendees want the opportunity to talk to their peers, so networking is key.鈥�

A will feature leading figures from the aviation industry and shine a light on the next generation. 鈥淚t精东影业 not just about the people who have already forged successful careers in our industry, it精东影业 those who are on the cusp of it. We need those people in the business.鈥�

Anyone interested in learning more about the business aviation industry and its opportunities can register for the career day, 鈥楤reaking into Business Aviation鈥�. The keynote speaker is Mack Rutherford who, in August 2022, broke the world record to become the youngest person to fly around the world aged just 17. 

鈥淗e will have a story which informs and inspires and will give people an idea of all the opportunities in front of them,鈥� says Hubbard.

Other at EBACE2023 include Toto Wolff, principal and CEO, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, Susie Wolff, managing director at F1 Academy, Marylin Bastin, head of aviation sustainability at EUROCONTROL, Charles Etter from Gulfstream, and Jon Godson, assistant director, sustainability at IATA. 

Meanwhile, a series of invite-only Newsmakers Luncheons will be held during EBACE2023 featuring CEOs and other senior industry figures, including Patrick Ky, executive director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Throughout the show, there will be a focus on , reflecting business aviation精东影业 pioneering work in aviation sustainability. For the second time, a Sustainability Summit is being held which will continue the industry精东影业 efforts to ensure a zero-carbon future for the sector. 鈥淭he industry will come together and move our sustainability agenda forward,鈥� says Hubbard.

New for 2023 is an Innovation Pavilion. 鈥淚t精东影业 very exciting to see a show that continually attracts new exhibitors year after year. It means that even companies who haven鈥檛 been with us before understand the inherent value of the show and want to be a part of it. So, we鈥檙e very much looking forward to having them, having the new pavilion, and giving attendees an opportunity to come into contact with companies, products and services that maybe they haven鈥檛 seen before.鈥�

EBACE2023 will be held in honor of Athar Husain Khan, secretary-general of EBBA, who passed away in March 2023 aged 60. 鈥淭he show will be a moment to pay a worthy tribute to his life and his legacy, not just his contribution to business aviation but to the aviation community in general,鈥� says Hubbard.

Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the NBAA is the leading organization for companies which rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful. The association represents more than 10,000 company and professional members and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community.

The EBAA is the leading association representing business aviation in Europe. Set up in 1977, it advocates for the interests of more than 900 business aviation companies across Europe.

To register to attend EBACE2023, follow this link:  

To find out more about exhibiting at EBACE2023, .听