EBACE2022 Career Day: Opportunities Abound in Business Aviation

25 May, 2022

For young people interested in an exciting, challenging and versatile career, business aviation has a lot to offer, according to panelists at the 2022 European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE2022) Careers in Business Aviation Day.

The event, taking place the last day of the show, gave students the opportunity to learn from industry professionals; meet in small groups for advice on CV writing, interviewing and networking and tour the show floor – meeting directly with companies and recruiters, and getting an up-close look at Europe’s largest business aircraft display.

Panelists shared their stories of breaking into the industry.

Callum Cooper said his father gave him a flying lesson for his 21st birthday. He caught the aviation bug, subsequently guessed the email of the right executive at UK bespoke charter broker Hunt & Palmer and has worked there ever since.

Sus Dierckx, of Belgium’s Flying Group, said he studied law with an emphasis on aviation finance law, and like Cooper started guessing emails, eventually landing a job selling lift on a company fleet of approximately 45 jets. He’s present at the aircraft for about half of the flights he books, he said.

Pauline Aguettant addressed the EBACE2022 session by video from Malaysia, where she’s an intern with Airbus Helicopters. “You need to have a real passion in aviation,” she said. “I am ready to dedicate my life to it.” She previously interned at the Malta Business Aviation Association.

Following a stint in aircraft maintenance, Lisa Marie Erb now works for the German Business Aviation Association, and for GBAA affiliate Private Wings, which offers leasing and management services out of Berlin.

“You don’t need to have a nine-to-five job in business aviation,” Erb said, acknowledging the hours are likely to be longer. “Every day is different for me,” and the clientele can be fascinating.

Arthur Thomas of EBAA said that at an early age, “I realized that airplanes were for me.” He attended ENAC (the Ecole Nationale de l’Aviation Civile) in Toulouse, interned at EBAA and was subsequently hired.

“You can get more from you behavior than your background,” he said. Responsibility came quickly at EBAA, and despite working for an organization, I am my own boss. I love it and I love it more every day.”

“For me,” said Dierckx, “It is the most important industry there is. You get the sense you are important. It’s definitely the most interesting industry there is to work in.”