Ben Jacques joined London Gatwick-based aviation consultancy IBA as commercial manager earlier this year after a decade working for an airline, a ground-handler and a leasing company
How did you get into aviation and which direction did your career go initially?
One of my abiding childhood memories was visiting the flightdeck, with my dad, every time we flew. I wanted to be a pilot from quite an early age and did several work experience placements at Virgin Atlantic and British Airways to cue up a career. But I suffered a serious illness when I was taking my final exams and didn't get anywhere near the grades for which I was predicted. A sensible young person would have resat their exams, but I decided that I would find my way in aviation from the ground up, starting in customer services with BMI at Gatwick.
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© IBAJacques: dispatching proved an ideal entry into aviation |
When you moved to Air Partner, you steadily moved up the ranks. What did you enjoy?
Joining Air Partner was my first true step away from directly working with aircraft, as I had spent the last three years dispatching. It really opened my eyes to a whole new world of non-airline aviation. Working with Mark Gathercole and Matthew Savage, my time at Air Partner was excellent and I am grateful to both of them for what they taught me. It was a steep learning curve, working with airlines to buy and sell their spare capacity, but I wouldn't be here now without the experience I gained.
Describe your role at IBA
IBA offers a really dynamic work environment and they have fortunately excelled during the global recession through being flexible and having a robust range of products. I've come on board to assist product expansion for both new and traditional client groups. IBA's Maintenance Cost Benchmarking Tool is a very exciting project as it brings true cost savings for airlines. Recently, at the ERA general assembly, many airlines were not fully aware of our capabilities. But it was enjoyable to talk to airline friends about IBA's products and see their interest because these products are genuinely working for the industry of tomorrow.
What have been the highlights of your career so far?
It must be a series of firsts: the first time I got on to an aircraft as an employee rather than a passenger, the first time I dispatched an aircraft - a Monarch Airbus A320 - the first jumbo I dispatched, a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-400. Dispatching the England football team was memorable, although I am still disappointed I never got to dispatch the Crystal Palace FC team. It is also, of course, a highlight that I met my wife in dispatch at Gatwick.
Where do you go from here?
Joining IBA is a change of direction for me and feels like the next chapter in my career. It has come at a good time too, as my wife and I had a beautiful son, Matthew, late in 2009, so to work for a firm that values families feels very fortunate. I have a huge amount of respect for people who take their industry skills and set out on their own, creating a successful business, like Laurie Hatcher has here at IBA. But I don't see that for me, which I hope IBA will be pleased to hear.
What advice would you give a young person looking to move into a similar field?
I'd definitely point anyone toward languages. They benefit you greatly, professionally and personally. I would also not hesitate in recommending a season or two dispatching at an airport, particularly before the role disappears forever, as a new clever automated system takes over - which can't be too far away.
Source: Flight International
