EBACE Connect Press Day Highlights Challenges, Progress, Innovation
17 May 2021
The 2021 European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) Connect virtual Press Day provided companies with an opportunity to discuss the challenges of 2020 and the COVID-19 global crisis, share new product developments and announce innovative initiatives.
Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ)
Despite the challenges of 2020, ACJ reported the company had an excellent year, the major highlight being the introduction of the ACJ TwoTwenty, an extra-large cabin business jet with a 5,650 NM range. With orders already in hand, the ACJ TwoTwenty will enter service in the first quarter of 2023.
ACJ reported strong deliveries in 2021 to date, including two aircraft in the ACJ320 family and one ACJ350.
Learn more about Airbus Corporate Jets.
Airbus Corporate Helicopters (ACH)
During the pandemic, passengers recognized the value of, and saw the increasing role of, the helicopter for business use, said Frederic Lemos, head of ACH.
Orders and deliveries dipped in 2020, but the company is optimistic for 2021. As of May 17, ACH has sold seven Aston Martin edition H130s, a market favorite among pilot-owners. The new five-blade model of the eight-passenger H145 was greeted with enthusiasm and the H160, which received type certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in 2020, will enter into service later this year.
Learn more about Airbus Corporate Helicopters.
Aviation Performance Solutions/Upset Training Solutions International (UTSI)
Randall Brooks introduced UTSI’s new low-cost upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT), now available in the Netherlands. The training meets EASA requirements for advanced UPRT and is approved by Aviation Performance Solutions.
The training confronts head-on loss of control in-flight, a leading cause of fatal accidents, with skills transferrable to any fixed-wing aircraft.
Learn more about Aviation Performance Solutions.
Skyconseil
Skyconseil, which specializes in engineering and innovative solutions, shared new features of GUIDOR, a software solution that combines different technologies and data sources to help operators reduce operating costs and CO2 emissions by optimizing fuel usage and flight profiles. According to Skyconseil, proper use of GUIDOR can further the business aviation industry’s goals for sustainability and reduced carbon emissions, even amid increased demand for air transportation.
The company is offering EBACE attendees a free six-month trial of GUIDOR.
Milano Prime and Sirio
Milano Prime, which manages all business and general aviation infrastructure at Milano Linate and Milano Malpensa Airports, and Sirio, an aircraft management and maintenance organization, now part of Directional Aviation Group, discussed the current and future state of business aviation in Italy. The Italian business and general aviation market showed resilience in 2020 despite the pandemic, outperforming the rest of Europe, and upcoming live events will continue to increase traffic in Milano.
Milano Prime will continue to focus on COVID-19 initiatives, including cleaning, social distancing, testing capabilities and third-party audit conformance while also increasing focus on sustainability.
A new hangar, built in partnership with Sirio, is designed to meet top sustainability standards. The new facility will house a Sirio maintenance facility.
Learn more about Milano Prime.
Volocopter
Florian Reuter, CEO of Volocopter, unveiled the Voloconnect, a four-passenger, 60-mile range aircraft with EASA certification expected in 2026 and entry into service that same year. Volocopter is pursuing two paths of design – a self-piloted model and a fully piloted model. Reuter said the final determination will depend on regulatory progress towards self-piloted operations.
The Voloconnect builds on the company’s experience with the Volocity, a two-passenger multi-copter, and the Volodrone, a heavy-lift cargo drone.
The company raised more than $240 million in its latest round of private funding earlier this year.
