ON TOUR: Flight Crew Finder at EBACE roundup
When we walked into the first hall at EBACE this year there was a palpable feeling of optimism. There was a buzz of excitement and atmosphere was positive.
In a year where business aviation has not been immune from the economic freefall, the industry has come out fighting. Manufacturers Association (GAMA), said that “EBACE is so much more than products and marketing. It is about education and communicating with politicians.”
While the first 100 years of aviation were all about safety, the next 100 will be about the environment, EBACE delegates heard. Maximising technology, progressing with air traffic management modernisation, the embracing of SESAR (the Single European Sky) and satellite positioning for data links are going to be so important in the future. Other key issues are security, safety and how to successfully achieve carbon neutrality.
The Static Display
Embraer celebrated gaining European approval of its Phenom 300 light jet. Oxford Airport based FlairJet, the first commercial operator of the Phenom 100 in Europe confirmed it will be the first European Phenom 300 operator too, from August.
Drawing considerable interest out on the static was the Airbus ACJ (G-NOAH) which recently entered service with Farnborough, UK-based Acropolis Aviation.
In yet another re-invention of the BAe 146/Avro RJ line BAE Systems Regional Aircraft announced a new Explorer version with Design Q featuring an outside deck linked to a freight door.
Networking
We attended EBACE mainly to develop our network of contacts within the business aviation sector. Like all good job hunters we targeted the companies we needed to improve our relationships with. We had meetings with almost every major employer in attendance and met with some smaller companies who we hope to develop a growing relationship. We distributed some promotional material and gave a demonstration on how quick and easy it is to use www.flightcrewfinder.com to list jobs and find crews. We were received well by everyone we met and we have already seen an increase in the number of employers using the website.
The most notable meetings we had were with a leading VIP cabin crew training organisation who is looking to place cabin crews in the business aircraft worldwide. We had a series of discussions with one of the worlds largest providers of flight crew and we hope they will start to use the site to hunt for suitable crews.
We met with Qatar-based Rizon Jet as they announced an alliance with new UK-based VIP charter company Oryx Jet where the two will work together to attract new FBO/MRO and charter business, respectively, at their new Biggin Hill base. We hope to work with them as they expand their operation in Europe.
You're hired
The best bit of news that came out of EBACE was the news that Eurojet had had staffed one of their positions through Flight Crew Finder. It was a great to see the process working and we will be working on your behalf to make sure there are many many more........
