ACE 2024: Declining availability of G-reg bizjets drives increased use of helicopters

Lack of available G-registered business jets/turboprops; increased charter of medium-range helicopters (as a result); burdensome and costly regulations and the challenge of attracting new people into aviation, were key takeways from the Air Charter Association’s Charter Challenges Panel during ACE2024 at London Biggin Hill Airport, writes Alison Chambers.

“If you want to charter a G-registered business jet on a Friday afternoon it is near nigh impossible,” exclaimed Hunt & Palmer’s Lisa Thompson, whose charter brokerage has increasingly been booking more helicopters for longer range trips. This in turn has brought more demand for helicopters. “We are getting more and more requests for executive twin helis,” echoed Edward Mayhew at Air Charter Service - but challenges come with an overnight stop, which significantly increases pricing.

Lisa Thompson, Hunt & Palmer; Declan Lebane, Castle Air Helicopters and Edward Mayhew, Air Charter Service.

Our flights are getting longer, said Declan Lehane from helicopter operator Castle Air, acknowledging since the pandemic, we’ve experienced problems with staffing, parts issues. As we fly longer sectors, more planning is required and this gives us crewing issues. And since Covid too, helicopter owners who regularly offer their aircraft up for third party charter, are also flying more themselves.

ACE2024 highlighted the increased use of helicopters in the UK. Capital Air Services now operates three twin-engined new Airbus H145 luxury helicopters, carrying 8 to 9 passengers with a two hour plus range.

The partnership between business jets and helicopters is seemingly growing with several UK operators - Luxaviation, SaxonAir, FlexJet (which recently introduced one of two S76s into service based out of Fairoaks Airport) along with Gama Aviation - all fly rotary and fixed wing aircraft. (Gama’s aircraft are dedicated to special mission, HEMS work.)

We do need more twin helicopters in the UK, delegates heard. “We don’t want to be doing more positioning than flying,” one operator panelist said, describing an example that had several journalists at the front shaking their heads.

Thank you for being so honest, said moderator Air Charter Association President Glen Hogben, turning to another burning issue that is keeping brokers and charter operators awake at night - attracting the next generation of aviation.

Glen Hogben addressing charter challenges at ACE2024.

“Our industry needs to ensure it is an attractive and lucrative career choice for young people, at a time when we face the growing hostility on environmental grounds, ACA Chair Kevin Ducksbury had already highlighted in his show opening remarks. “The environmental challenge especially is making us our work harder,” he said. “Incorrect messaging over luxury travel is overshadowing the good work our industry does.”

Getting people who are motivated, show up on time, are confident in their decisions, and don’t look at the clock, are key qualities in aircraft charter. The UK Government’s suggestion of a four-day week will never, ever work in aviation. “Aviation never sleeps,” highlighted Declan Lehane.

Losing cabin crew to larger airlines

Eastern Airways’ Andy Barlow highlighted losing cabin crew to larger airlines has been a significant problem this year. The need to backfill positions and train new staff has impacted the number of aircraft the airline, whose mainstay work is regional, scheduled services, can offer for charter, he said. Eastern is a regular ‘go to’ for sports charters with right sized aircraft.

New regulatory challenges surrounding ETS, EES and UK border force control processes, especially S-Gar regulation, which since April must be submitted online, with hefty charges for mistakes, are causing delays out of operators’ control. “We have to educate our customers on all of these in a timely fashion,” stressed Andy Barlow.

Showcased at the Luxaviation / Castle Air Aviation Polo Cup last weekend at Hurtmore Park.

The EU UK permit system is far from perfect and inconsistencies still exist between EU countries for UK operators the panel agreed. “We have also lost flights into the UK,” said Matthieu Dardenne from Belgium’s FlyingGroup. Restrictions on routings has also given rise to final legs being flown in helicopters – a comment not lost on media who all ponder which air transport sector will really be first for next generation Urban Air Mobility (eVTOL flying). Lilium, which is marketing itself more as a ‘Regional Mobility Solution’ has regularly stated on demand, business aviation will be first mover, pathfinding for the airlines.

Glen Hogben advised they the Association spoke with the UK Home Office about S-gar and asked how can it speeded up? They replied it needed to happen because 60 per cent of the data they had been receiving was inaccurate. “They are forcing people to get the data right and until it is right they are not interested in discussing making (our lives) easier. They have thrown the ball back into the industry’s court which is causing a lot of challenges,” he said.

Reporting by Alison Chambers, Emerald Media. https://www.emeraldmedia.co.uk

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 19th September 2024 | Issue #764