SDC Preview

SDC2020, which will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina form March 10 - 13, is the must-attend event for FBOs, tripplanners, fuel-suppliers and anyone else involved in the scheduling and dispatching of business aircraft. Nick Klenske picks out some of the highlights to expect from the show

ELEVATE YOUR CAREER

VENUE 2020 edition of the event takes place in Charlotte.

Route and documentation planning, access to airspace and airports, managing risks in disruptive weather situations – all critical to a smooth and safe flight and all tasks falling onto the desk of the scheduler and dispatcher. As the role and responsibilities of the aircraft scheduler and dispatcher continues to grow, so too has the NBAA’s annual Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference.

As the premier professional development event for anyone with a foot in the world of scheduling and/or dispatching business aircraft, this year’s event will take place March 10 - 13 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

With the aim of bringing attendees up-to-date on the latest information critical to the scheduling and dispatching job function, this year’s conference agenda was developed to help attendees take their careers to new heights. “If you’re interested in elevating your career to the next level, look no further than the 2020 NBAA Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference,” says the NBAA. “Whether this is your first time joining us or you’re a seasoned SDC attendee, you’ll want to connect with this vibrant industry at SDC2020.”

SDC2020 promises to be full of opportunities to learn best practices and trends from both industry experts and fellow attendees. Organizers specifically developed this year’s conference agenda with the aim of encouraging attendees to build their resilience in the face of new challenges. “Not only will you hear from industry experts about the critical information you need to do your job well, you’ll also learn from an inspiring keynote speaker about the key to staying resilient both professionally and personally,” says the NBAA.

That keynote speaker is Warren MacDonald, whose life’s boundaries were redefined in 1997 when a freak rock fall left him stranded for two days only to undergo the amputation of both legs at mid-thigh. Yet just 10 months later, Warren climbed Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain using a modified wheelchair and the seat of his pants. “This keynote presentation focuses on what we can do to prepare for our challenges in advance and how we can fortify ourselves against the curve balls and roadblocks before they happen by practicing resilience,” says the NBAA.

Other highlights from the agenda include sessions on the ABCs of active flight following, how to fill the tank without breaking the bank, security in the 21 st

century, and team building for aviation professionals.

“SDC2020 is all about ensuring you learn current best practices and trends from industry experts and fellow attendees,” adds the NBAA. “Through top-level education sessions and critical peer-to-peer networking, we’ll help you work smarter, not harder, in the year ahead.”

According to the NBAA, SDC2020 will welcome over 2,900 attendees from 47 countries and all 50 states. It will also feature over 500 exhibitors, several of which we highlight here.

Introducing the Green FBO

In November of last year, Jet Aviation opened its new sustainably built FBO and hangar complex at Van Nuys Airport in California. The much anticipated project includes a brandnew 10,000 sq. ft. FBO terminal, a 43,000 sq. ft. hangar with 8,000 sq. ft. of office space and long, unobstructed ramp space. The hangar has a 30 ft. clearance, which can accommodate such large aircraft as the Gulfstream G700 and the Global 7500.

“As part of one of the country’s busiest general aviation airports, we are proud to offer our customers a comprehensive solution for all of their aircraft service needs, including traditional FBO services like fueling, hangarage, aircraft cleaning, catering, and domestic and international handling, as well as full-service aircraft management, charter, and on-demand maintenance,” says Michael McDaniel, Director and General Manager of the Van Nuys FBO.

“Most excitingly, we did it using sustainable building practices and with an eye to conservation in the future.” The new Van Nuys facility is just the latest step in the company’s commitment to expanding its US footprint and broadening its global FBO network. “We are committed to delivering industry-leading services where our customers need and want them,” says David Best, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Regional Operations USA. “The enhancements throughout our FBO network are strategically designed to focus on exceeding customer expectations across our full range of Business Aviation services while using cost- and energy-efficient construction practices.”

Construction and renovation are currently under way or pending in the US and Caribbean at six of Jet Aviation’s 13 regional locations, including a new state-of-the-art hangar and renovated FBO in Teterboro, New Jersey that opened in October 2019. Hangar expansions in San Juan, Puerto Rico and West Palm Beach, Florida are ongoing, and significant renovations are underway at the Dallas, Texas FBO. As if all of this wasn’t enough, the company recently acquired a stake in the Scottsdale Jet Center in Arizona, where it plans to build a new FBO.

Expanding the Network Avfuel continues to expand its branded network of FBOs. In December, the company announced the addition of Premier Aviation at Elmira-Corning Regional Airport (KELM). The brand-new FBO offers guest flying to New York state-of-theart facilities, including expansive passenger and pilot areas, a quiet room, meeting space and ample hangar space.

As a full-service FBO, the Premier Aviation team provides fueling services, Avfuel Contract Fuel, AVTRIP rewards, catering, secure parking, a weather/briefing station, crew lounge and snooze room, shower, crew car, snack bar and car rentals – all with exceptional customer service. Customers also benefit from concierge support, maintenance and other specialized aviation services. Premier Aviation is also reopening a highly-specialized aircraft brake and wheel maintenance shop at KELM in January of this year.

“We are proud to align ourselves with Premier Aviation, the new independent FBO at Elmira-Corning Regional Airport,” says Joel Hirst, Avfuel Vice President of Sales. “The Premier Aviation team provides an exceptional service for planes, pilots and passengers, making it an ideal option for flight departments in the Avfuel Network.”

From Waste to Fuel

After highlighting its pioneering carbon offset program for Business Aviation at SDC2019, AirBP arrived at NBAA-BACE showcasing how solid waste from homes and businesses can be converted into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Derived from non-palm renewable and sustainable raw materials, the fuel is made by leading fuels producer Neste and supplied by Air BP. It can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% over its life-cycle compared to conventional jet fuel.

“At Air BP, we believe it is important to keep working with multiple suppliers, customers and partners to support the commercialization of SAF, which is something we will continue to focus on,” says Irene Lores, Air BP Global Sales and Marketing Director, General Aviation. Universal Adds Turkey Per usual, Universal Weather & Aviation will have a large presence on the exhibition floor, showcasing their expansive suite of products and services. In January, the company announced the continued expansion of its global network with the opening of Universal Aviation Turkey. Based in Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, the new location provides supervisory ground support for business aircraft at all airports across the country.

The decision to expand into Turkey was based on increasing customer demand for operations into the country and better service levels on the ground. “Turkey, and Istanbul in particular, is a rapidly growing Business Aviation market with good infrastructure and potential for growth, but it also continues to be a challenging destination for our customers due to service levels, parking availability and operating restrictions,” says Universal Chairman Greg Evans.

The addition of Universal Aviation Turkey extends the company’s network to 18 locations in the EMEA region. The company also has 17 locations in the Asia-Pacific region and 19 in Latin America, for over 50 locations across more than 25 countries.

“Looking ahead, 2020 is going to be an exciting year of growth for Universal and our Universal Aviation network as we continue to expand to high-risk, high-stress locations,” adds Evans. GATHERING The show will welcome over 2,900 attendees and 500 exhibitors.

AIM The conference agenda was developed to help attendees take their careers to new heights.

New Digs in the UK

After exiting Cambridge Airport, last fall ExecuJet, part of the Luxavaiton Group, announced its intention to launch an enlarged UK FBO at a new location. “After nearly eight successful years of operations in Cambridge, the time is right to seek a new facility with extended capabilities,” says ExecuJet Europe Vice President Niclas von Planta. “With the considerable growth ExecuJet has been experiencing in Europe, we decided to seek new premises that will better serve our client base.”

Luxaviation, in collaboration with the Paragon Aviation Group, has a network of 56 FBOs around the world. “This move marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter of expansion for us,” adds von Planta. “ExecuJet has long been known for leading the industry in FBO safety and service, and the establishment of a new facility in the UK will give us the opportunity to uphold those standards on a larger scale.”

New Investors at Farnborough

Speaking of the UK, in October, Farnborough Airport announced that Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA), via Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 6 (MEIF6), acquired the airport from a consortium of private investors.

“The significant investment that has occurred at Farnborough Airport over the past two decades has been transformative,” says Brandon O’Reilly, CEO of Farnborough Airport. “With a number of development projects already underway, we are excited to partner with Macquarie to further develop our offering to the Business Aviation market.”

The airport recently won the IEMA Sustainability Impact Award for Energy and Carbon Transition. The award, organized by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment, recognizes people and businesses that are transforming the world towards sustainability. “This award represents another important milestone in our ongoing energy efficiency and carbon reduction efforts,” says Farnborough Airport Environmental Manager Miles Thomas.

A Banner Year

2019 was a banner year for Euro Jet. Not only did the company provide handling support to more than 10,000 flights - surpassing all previous records – it also provided thousands of permits, fuel uplifts, flight plans, hotel rooms, transportation and catering. Furthermore, the company expanded its operations center with more staff and renovated its Bucharest lounge. The team was also busy working summits and major events in Prague, Budapest, Bratislava, Kosice, Belgrade, Sochi, Istanbul, Vladivostok, Warsaw, Bucharest, Sibiu, Baku, Dubrovnik, Karlovy, Vary, St. Petersburg and Minsk. Better Weather Prediction In October, Honeywell announced its most advanced addition to the IntuVue family: the IntuVue RDR7000 Weather Radar. Weather-related delays and cancellations cost the aviation industry billions of dollars every year, while turbulence-related incidents impact passenger comfort and safety. The RDR-7000 Weather Radar can accurately predict the presence of lightning or hail, so pilots can avoid hazardous weather. Beyond weather conditions, the radar can also detect turbulence up to 60 nautical miles ahead, enabling the crew to avoid the turbulence or alert the passengers sooner.

“Weather is difficult to predict, and pilots continually run the risk of encountering unexpected weather like hail or thunderstorms, which can impact the safety and comfort of all onboard,” says Stevan Slijepcevic, President, Honeywell Aerospace Electronic Solutions. “The RDR-7000 reduces this risk by more than 50% using the new and improved automated mode, which helps pilots focus on upcoming weather hazards and reroute decisions instead of operating the radar.”

Streamlining Operations Collins Aerospace will likely be highlighting its ARINCDirect Flight Operations System (FOS). According to the company, the FOS streamlines operations to bring unparalleled speed, functionality and ease of use. It gathers all the required information in one place, with a rich array of features and no redundant data entry.

“ARINCDirect FOS becomes the hub of your operations with the integration of our flight planning, data link and international trip support tools,” says the company. “It saves you time and effort while reducing costs and helps you serve your customers more effectively.”

See You in Charlotte!

With schedulers and dispatchers continuing to assume more and more responsibility within corporate flight departments, shows like NBAA’s SDC will only continue to grow in importance. Don’t believe us? Come see for yourself at SDC2020. See you in Charlotte!

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