Jack Pelton, Cessna CEO (left), and Roger Whyte, senior VP, announced that the Citation Mustang has achieved European Aviation Safety Agency certification, making it the first next-generation, entry-level business jet certified in Europe.
By Bill Stansbeary
The 2007 European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition, held May 22-24 at Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland, has become Europe’s premiere business aviation event. This year, there were more than 11,000 attendees. More than 350 companies exhibited. More than 50 business aircraft were on static display at Geneva International Airport and five aircraft at PALEXPO.
The numbers alone tell only part of the story about the growth of EBACE. The rest is told when attendees recognize the worldwide acceptance of business aviation.
Companies around the world are pursuing the competitive advantage attained using business aircraft.
The European Business Aviation Association and the National Business Aviation Association jointly host EBACE each year. Attendees come from as far away as Africa, Asia, the Middle East and North America.
Dr. Bertrand Piccard delivered the keynote address at the convention’s opening general session. Brian Humphries, EBAA CEO, and Ed Bolen, NBAA president and CEO, moderated a session titled “How Business Aviation Helps Fuel the European Entrepreneurial Spirit.”
For more information, visit [http://ww.ebace.aero].
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- Mark Booth, NetJets Europe chairman and CEO (left), and Jim Schuster, Hawker Beechcraft chairman and CEO, celebrated a contract for 32 Hawker 4000 super-midsize business jets.
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- L to R: Dave Ryan, Bombardier Learjet chief pilot, flight operations, business aircraft; Robert Agostino, director, flight ops; and Rod Lundy, chief pilot, helped fly Bombardier’s full line up of business aircraft to EBACE.
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- George Bye, Aviation Technology Group chairman, points to the advanced avionics in the cockpit mock-up.
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- Claude Chidiac, of Grob Aerospace, relaxes inside the Grob SPn full-size cabin mock-up. Porsche Design Studio created the interior, and Honeywell provided the cabin management and entertainment system.
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- Niall Olver, Grob Aerospace CEO, showed the Grob SPn cockpit and cabin, designed by Porsche Design Studio, and offering the experience of world-class elegance and comfort combined with state-of–the-art Honeywell Primus Apex avionics.
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- Luis Carlos Affonso, Embraer executive vice president of executive jets, unveiled interior enhancements to the Legacy 600, which include a six-foot-high cabin and redesigned seats for sleeping or relaxation.
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- Steven Hill, Boeing Business Jets president, unveiled a scale model of the luxurious and forward-thinking design concept for the 747-8 VIP airplane, which is based on the new, technologically advanced Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental.