Nov. 8, 2016
European Business Aviation Association’s (EBAA) top priority in the coming years will be communicating the economic benefits of business aviation, Juergen Wiese, the recently elected EBAA chairman, said of his goals for his three-year term.
“We have done recent studies on perception and economic impact, and based on those, we will launch a long-term communication initiative,” he said. “We want to make clear to all our stakeholders that business aviation is an important segment of the European transportation system, and business aviation is leading to new opportunities, careers, economic growth and regional development.
“We also need a common communication guide for our national associations, as well as a grassroots effort to ensure a [positive] long-term effect, with educational materials that can be used at schools and in other forums to plant the seeds for the future,” Wiese added.
EBAA’s other primary focus, according to Wiese, is dealing with regulatory issues, including flight time limitations and LPV (localizer performance with vertical guidance) approaches, “which we want to roll out to a greater degree in Europe. In the United States they have thousands [3,722 LPV approach procedures serving 1,812 airports as of mid-September], but in Europe there are just a few hundred. We have the technology in most of our flight decks, and LPV could provide business aviation better and safer access to regional and secondary airports.”
As a non-commercial operator – Wiese has headed BMW’s flight department since 2003) – he is especially concerned about implementation of the European Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) Part-NCC rule, which took effect in August.
“Many operators haven’t yet fully understood that they have to comply with it,” he said. “This needs to be a cooperative effort together with the national aviation authorities and EASA to fight for uniform application of NCC rules throughout Europe.”
Wiese added that an important goal for business aircraft operators in Europe is to gain equal opportunity in terms of access to airspace and airports.
“Regulators need to understand that the ‘one size fits all’ rulemaking is basically over,” he said. “In business aviation we are pretty flexible, and we are well equipped to comply with performance-based regulation. The problem is, while we think we are under one legislation, national authorities still have to apply this.”
Another of Weise’s goals is to increase EBAA membership from the current 560 members by “creating more tangible value for members and the business aviation community.”
He is encouraging EBAA members to engage and even organize regional and local forums and workshops to share their experience on issues, and to proactively provide input and feedback to the association.
“I think it will help us all, not only having the strength through numbers, but also safer business aviation.”
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.