Very Light Jets - Europe 2008

25 September- 26 September 2008- Le Méridien Barcelona, Spain

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

Day 1 – Thursday 25th September 2008
 
Chairman: José Mariano López, Managing Director, Barcelona Aeronautics & Space Association (BAIE)

8:30  Registration & Networking Coffee

9:00  Opening Remarks from the Organisers
Alan Perry, Chairman, MIU Events

Opening Remarks from the Conference Chairman
José Mariano López, Managing Director, Barcelona Aeronautics & Space Association (BAIE) 

SESSION I: DESTINATION EUROPE - THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA FOR BUSINESS AVIATION

9.20  OPENING ADDRESS
How EU policies facilitate the entry of VLJs into business aviation in Europe
- Outline of the overall EU policy regarding business aviation
- Regulation of business aviation and VLJs under the new EASA framework
- Promotion of sustainable development of business aviation in the EU
- Benefits of the Single European Sky and SESAR for business aviation and VLJs
Mikolaj Ratajczyk, Unit F1 "Internal Market, Air Transport Agreements and Multilateral Relations", Directorate-General for Energy and Transport, European Commission

9:40  KEYNOTE ADDRESS
New business aviation challenge in Europe - VLJ integration into Europe's crowded ATM
- Expected traffic levels
- Impact of non-compatible flight performances
- Solutions
Alex Hendriks, Deputy Director ATM Strategies, EUROCONTROL

10:00  The context of VLJ operations and certification in commercial and private operations
- VLJs: a “paradigm-shift” in aviation or in aviation economics?
- Data, analysis and risk assessment in the certification and regulation of VLJ operations
- Who’s piloting them? How are they being flown?  Where are they flying? 
- Are pilot training requirements adequate?
- Should VLJs be required to have additional avionics or other equipment? 
Edward T. Smith, Senior Vice President, International and Environmental Affairs, General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA)

10:20 A forecast for the growth of the market in Europe
- Revised VLJ forecast for 2009 forward
- European Air Taxi marketplace forecast
- Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats to VLJ and air taxi growth across Europe
- Drivers that enable VLJ and air taxi growth to hit the "tipping point"
Joe Leader, President, Air Taxi Association (ATXA)

10:40  Q&A SESSION
An interactive discussion for speakers and delegates

11:00  Networking Coffee Break

11:30  Comparing and choosing an aircraft: The operator's requirements
- VLJ types and characteristics
- VLJ prices and economic evaluation
- Different operators requirements
- What to look for when choosing a VLJ
- What is the right VLJ for Europe today?
Einar Arnarsson, CEO & Director Technical, AccelJet

11:50  Operating VLJs in Europe: What are the main issues for a charter operator?
- Maintenance
- Customer Awareness
- Market place perception
- Pilot experiences
Patrick JG Margetson-Rushmore, Chief Executive, London Executive Aviation (LEA)

12:10  Air Taxi: The new "business class" in aviation - Meeting the needs of a new breed of private aviation user
Conor Neill, CEO, TAXIJET

12:30  Air Taxi models: An economic perspective
- Mobility Matrix
- On-demand and On-call services
- Airtaxi services : complexity and challenge
- Small Airports as a resource
Stefano Sturlese, CEO, Spectrum Aviation Europe

12:50  Q&A SESSION
An interactive discussion for speakers and delegates

13:10  Networking Lunch

14:30  Air Taxi business models: The networked approach
Dr. Matthijs de Haan, Managing Director, ETIRC Aviation

14:50  The use of regional airfields for VLJ operations
- Benefits of regional airports
- Regulatory and infrastructure requirements
- Airfield availability
- Implications of airfield upgrade
Robert Appleton, Business Aviation & Airport Consultant, Europraxis ALG Consulting

15:10  Q&A SESSION
An interactive discussion for speakers and delegates

15:20  Networking Coffee Break

15:50  Flight planning considerations for VLJ operators in Europe
Philip Gordon, Business Aviation Sales - Europe & Middle East, Jeppesen

16:10  Online sales distribution opportunities for air taxi operations
- Which online sales distribution channels are there?
- Who will buy online and will it change over time?
- Challenges with selling flights online
- What is the online outlook for VLJs in the current charter marketplace? Numbers to beat.
Niclas Wennerholm, CEO, Avinode

16:30  Q&A SESSION
An interactive discussion for speakers and delegates

16:50  Panel Discussion

Opportunities, challenges, strengths and weaknesses in the European market

Developing the infrastructure of regional airports: Meeting the demands of operators and passengers

The effect of jet fuel prices on the European VLJ market

Achieving fuel efficiency 

European Business Aviation market scenario and forecast

Jose Ricardo Marques Rego, Market Strategy Manager, Embraer

Steve Jones, Managing Director, Oxford Airport

Michael Lemaire, CEO, Stratos Aircraft

18:00  End of Day 1 – Concluding Remarks from the Chairman

18:30  Networking Drinks Reception

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Day 2 – Friday 26th September 2008

Chairman: Dr. Matthijs de Haan, Managing Director, ETIRC Aviation

8:30  Networking Coffee
 
9:00  Opening Remarks from the Conference Chairman
Dr. Matthijs de Haan, Managing Director, ETIRC Aviation

9:10  OPENING ADDRESS

The development of a competitive setting for the aviation industry in Barcelona and the benefits for the region
José Mariano López, Managing Director, Barcelona Aeronautics & Space Association (BAIE)

SESSION II: FINANCIAL ASPECTS OF OPERATING AND MAINTAINING VLJs
 
9:30  Aircraft delivery models and acceptance practices
William T. Minkoff Jr., President, JetQuik

9:50  Maintenance operating costs: How can an operator eliminate costs and maximise profits?
Christophe Canard, Director of Technical Operations - Eastern Hemisphere, JSSI
 
10:10  Q&A SESSION
An interactive discussion for speakers and delegates

10:30 Networking Coffee Break

11:00 Aircraft reliability monitoring
- Introduction and general principles of an in-service reliability control programme
- How to structure and sustain the programme
- Benefits, growth and reputation
Amrish Pathack, Development Manager, AIS Europe

11:20  Meeting the demand for maintenance centres for VLJs around Europe: The case of a designated service centre for the Eclipse 500
Ricardo Pradella, CEO, Aerjet

11:40  Q&A SESSION
An interactive discussion for speakers and delegates
 

SESSION III: TECHNOLOGY AND SAFETY FOR AN OFFICE IN THE SKY

11:50  Broadband Communication for VLJs
- What makes broadband onboard a VLJ interesting?
- How can the latest technologies ensure attractive, future proof and cost effective solutions to the benefit of passengers and operators?
Peter Frost, Aeronautical Sales Manager, Thrane & Thrane

12:10  GNSS avionics: an added-value for safer VLJ operations in small airports
- Safety of Life applications & Radio Navigation
- GNSS: GPS and EGNOS
- Benefits of EGNOS Based Navigation
- The Catalan airports network
- EGNOS in Regional aviation
- GNSS avionics with GPS and SBAS capabilities
Santiago Soley, Executive Manager, Pildo Labs

12:30  Q&A SESSION
An interactive discussion for speakers and delegates

12:40  End of Conference – Concluding Remarks from the Chairman
 
12:50  Networking Lunch

POST-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP

Friday 26th September 2008

Uncovering Value in the Very Light Jet Marketplace

An examination of best practices leading to success in aviation customer service

In Association with