Kate Sarsfield/Brussels
The European Business Aircraft Association (EBAA) is pushing for corporate aviation to be included by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)as part of the air transport sector, in an attempt to raise the status of business flying and aid the fight for greater airport access.
The association complains that the definition of corporate aviation under the broad general aviation (GA) umbrella, where it is grouped with leisure flying, "undervalues" its commercial importance.
"It is vital that corporate aviation be linked together in a common definition as part of the air transportation system, instead of part of GA," says the EBAA, which includes private category and air taxi operators within the definition.
The proposed new definition of business aviation reads: "That sector of air transportation which concerns the unscheduled operation of aircraft by companies for the carriage of passengers or goods as an aid to the conduct of business or associated activities and piloted by individuals having at the minimum a valid commercial pilot licence with an instrument rating."
This proposal has been submitted to the International Business Aircraft Council in Montreal, Canada, which, once the document has been approved, will then approach ICAO for acceptance. A decision is not expected until the second half of the year.
The EBAA, which held its fourth annual convention in Brussels, Belgium, on 7-9 April is trying to raise the profile of business aviation in Europe and improve the growing problem of access at some airports. It believes that only by severing its links with GA will business aviation be taken seriously by politicians.
"It is an absolute nonsense to incorporate business aviation with gliders, blimps and hot air balloons. We cannot win our battle for access to airports and airspace as long as we are in the same category as GA," concedes EBAA.
The call to improve the status of corporate aviation was joined by Dassault Aviation. At the EBAA convention the French manufacturer appealed for the sector to unite in its fight to avoid being marginalised in Europe, working together to lobby governments and aviation associations.
"We must have a strong and united voice which will give business aviation the means and determination to get recognised in Europe," says Dassault Falcon Service director general Jean Francois Georges.
He believes that the public perception of business jets as "rich man's toys" could be changed. "We have to educate people and make them understand that business aircraft are a valuable economic asset to companies," he says. "We can no longer suffer in silence."
Source: Flight International
