< Previous18 ICAO JOURNAL – ISSUE 1 2017SAFETYIn 1994, Cranfield University conducted a study, commissioned by the Civil Aviation Authority of the United Kingdom (UK CAA) and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the influence of cabin crew members on passenger evacuations during an emergency situation. Participants were tasked with performing four emergency evacuations in a cabin simulator. Incentive payments were used to motivate the participants and assist in reproducing the urgency which can occur in an emergency situation. A total of 1,307 participants took part in the evacuation tests. The results showed that the performance and number of cabin crew significantly influenced participant behaviour and evacuation rates. Based on the review of accident investigations, research studies and manufacturer recommendations, the ICSG concluded that floor-level exits should be assigned to cabin crew members, so that they are attended in the event of an emergency evacuation. The group noted that the presence of cabin crew members at exits is needed to effectively operate them and provide passenger management during an evacuation. Based on the group’s input, ICAO recommends that one cabin crew member be assigned per floor-level exit, as a means to mitigate the risk associated with unsupervised exits during emergency evacuations. A SAFETY MANAGEMENT APPROACH TO CREW ON BOARDSome operators may seek to modify the approved minimum cabin crew complement for specific reasons (e.g., an all-business class configuration leading to a reduction in the number of passengers carried). Although operators may need flexibility, changes must be implemented safely. Therefore, the operator proposing to modify the minimum number of cabin crew on board should demonstrate to the State that there are no significant safety differences between the current cabin safety procedures and the ones for the crew complement being proposed. The new ICAO manual includes guidance for States to develop a process which should enable them to make an evidence-based decision. Evidence should consist of a safety risk assessment, operator documentation and a practical demonstration of the proposed changes to validate them. This recommended process provides assurance that an acceptable level of safety is maintained as a result of any proposed change to the number of cabin crew carried on board.The ICAO Manual on the Establishment of Minimum Cabin Crew Requirements (Doc 10072) is now available to States in English on the ICAO-NET at http://portal.icao.int/ Copies of the accident reports and other documentation can be obtained from the ICAO Cabin Safety Library, at: www.icao.int/cabinsafety ICAO LAUNCHES UAS TOOLKITICAO took a further step to help minimize the risks of flying unmanned aircraft systems, aka “drones,” launching a new UAS Toolkit in December. Developed through ICAO’s UAS Advisory Group and in cooperation with industry and international expert partners, the toolkit can be accessed at icao.int/rpas.Given that UAS can be mistakenly and often illegally operated around airports and other areas of controlled or sensitive airspace by less-informed pilots, the toolkit is aimed at assisting consumers and remote pilots – regardless of their skills and experience – and is much more than a starting point for learning the basics of their safe operation.“The resources this new toolkit makes available are designed to help UAS operators of all ages operate their aircraft safely and responsibly,” commented ICAO Council President Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu. “The importance of recognizing that these devices are aircraft, and of integrating their use safely with existing manned operations, should not be underestimated.”UAS today can be flown in a variety of configurations, outfitted with a wide range of payloads and sensors to support their increasing roles in humanitarian, emergency operations, infrastructure and crop monitoring, and for wide-ranging geological, geographical and climate-related research and development.“Given the immense economic and social potential of UAS technology, and the variety of factors at play, regulations for these systems and their use must be carefully considered,” said ICAO Secretary General Dr. Fang Liu. “Our new toolkit offers not only helpful information and resources, but can also serve as a platform for the exchange of global best practices, lessons learned, and effective governance approaches.”The ICAO UAS Toolkit was developed through ICAO's Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Advisory Group in cooperation with industry and international expert partners.SPECIAL SECTION:BUSINESS AVIATION ICAO JOURNAL – ISSUE 1 2017 19Business aviation’s participation in the global air transportation system plays a variety of roles to the benefit of localities, regions, and States around the world. Business aviation is a diverse community of operators, contributing to global economic activity. Worldwide, there are more than 35,200 turbine aircraft used in business aviation operations. They range in size from small single-engine to large air transport aircraft. Operationally, these aircraft fly point-to-point on the most direct, fuel-efficient routes. The key models are corporate-operated, on-demand charters, owner-operated, and fractional owner-operated. The business aviation sector overlaps both commercial and non-commercial sides of air transport (Annex 6 Parts I and II, respectively, of the Chicago Convention).Business aviation provides connectivity between financial and government capitals, as well as remote or underserved regions. Business aircraft allow businesses to thrive in small towns and medium-size cities and contribute to the employment of local residents, while remaining connected to commercial centers.Business aviation activity complements the airlines. Most corporations are important clients of the airlines. Those that use business aircraft do so in a tailored manner to get to remote locations more quickly or to cover more destinations in a shorter time period. Business aircraft operators are ideally suited to respond during natural disasters and other humanitarian crises. They can mobilize on short notice, provide aircraft types suited for specific missions, and operate into airports that are inaccessible to larger aircraft. And, most importantly, they are willing to step up. Connectivity is a critical benefit of business aviation and is facilitated to the degree that business aircraft have access to airports. For the most part, business aircraft use small and regional airports to get where they need to go, but, in many instances, the only access point to some large cities around the world is a large, capacity-constrained airport. In some cases, small, regional airports that could alleviate capacity issues at larger airports suffer from infrastructure shortfalls, such as a lack of satellite-based navigation capabilities. The business aviation community is committed to working with ICAO and States to find access solutions that are reasonable and respectful of the needs and concerns of all air transport stakeholders.The business aviation community is committed to continuous improvement in safety. The corporate operator community has a safety record that compares well with that of the airlines. The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) – www.ibac.org – and the industry support the use of ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) to guide safety improvement in the sector, incorporating applicable SARPs and the safety management system (SMS) concept in voluntary codes of best practice tailored to the business aviation community: the International Standards for Business Aircraft Operators and Business Aircraft Handlers (IS-BAO and IS-BAH, respectively). Launched in 2002, IS-BAO has almost 800 registered operators in 35 States around the world. Launched in 2014, IS-BAH is the first industry standard to bring SMS to ground handling and has more than 60 registered facilities around the world with many more to come this year. The business aviation community has supported work at ICAO for more than 35 years through IBAC, an official observer organization. IBAC and its member associations around the world provide expertise on all aspects of business aircraft operations and are resources for policy-makers, regulators, air navigation service providers, and airport authorities, participating in an integral manner in ICAO’s work to develop civil aviation in a safe and orderly manner. KURT EDWARDS Is Director General of the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC)20 ICAO JOURNAL – ISSUE 1 2017BUSINESS AVIATION: INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ENABLERThe benefits of business aviation are most acutely felt locally, where the impacts on job creation, economic opportunities and access can literally determine where someone chooses to start a business or build a home. Business aviation is recognized around the world as a tool that promotes economic growth and international trade, providing significant and immediate economic and social benefits. Globally, there is a broad agreement on what characterizes business aviation. Distinct from scheduled commercial air carriage, business aviation operates as an on-demand, private service whose operations, hours and destinations are based on the direct needs of its owners and clients. Specifically, business aviation fulfils the mission-critical needs of corporations and entrepreneurs who rely on their aircraft to maintain a competitive edge and to deliver people, goods and services around the globe, including to small or remote communities. This contributes to a “virtuous cycle,” creating economic opportunities that would not exist without the access uniquely provided by business aviation.More specifically, business aviation plays an integral role to facilitate transportation of service technicians, specialist employees, sales teams and executives to further their business initiatives and operations globally. It helps to improve productivity, customer service and retention, and enhances supply chain performance in all geographies. Business aviation provides benefits to a nation’s economy by enabling productivity improvements, efficiency gains and business development. Business aviation:■■may be the only effective transportation option available for technicians and other professionals to reach remote or distant customer locations on a time-critical basis. Some of these may only be reachable by float plane or helicopter.■■enables employees to reach multiple destinations in a single day and return home. This increases productivity by saving time and money, and improves employee quality of life. Corporate travellers are able to set their own schedule of meetings that are best for furthering business objectives. ■■saves lives, providing medical and evacuation services, delivering emergency relief, food and medicine. For example, in the U.S., business aviation flew more than 15,000 flights in a recent year to support missions of humanitarian purposes, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). Business aviation also provides support during other crises such as fire and flood to assist with the transport of supplies.■■enhances productivity by allowing employees to work together in safe, secure, private spaces. Business aviation enables transactions to occur with greater speed, offering the flexibility for parties to meet, discuss and close deals. ■■uses networks of both large and small airports (including non-scheduled), ensuring that many locations that cannot support scheduled air service have access to a functioning airport and are connected to the air transportation network – a key factor in quality of life.■■helps companies outperform those that do not use business aviation, based on a variety of metrics, including shareholder value and innovation. In an address to the 2016 Asian Business Aviation Conference, ICAO Secretary General Dr. Fang Liu said she regards business aviation as an important contributor to the positive impacts that air transport makes to the socio-economic impact of States and regions. “In less developed and rural regions, including landlocked and small-island States, where a lack of stable demand, infrastructure constraints, and other challenges can often impede the viability of commercial operations, business aviation helps to establish vital links enabling improved connectivity,” she remarked. “And in a similar vein, the ability of business aircraft to make use of shorter runways contributes substantially when emergency and humanitarian efforts are required.”“I would also highlight the 22 billion dollars and 164,000 jobs your sector contributes to the EU, as well as the 200 billion dollars and 1.1 million jobs it generates in the United States. These are very significant soci-economic contributions, and it would be encouraging to see similar levels of business aviation economic influence becoming more globally widespread.” Following are examples of the economic impact of business aviation in jurisdictions around the globe.“ Business aviation is an integral member of the civil aviation community.”– Dr. Fang Liu, Secretary General, ICAOBUSINESS AVIATION ICAO JOURNAL – ISSUE 1 2017 21BUSINESS AVIATIONCASE STUDY: CANADAAn example of how business aviation benefits small businesses and communities is a second-generation, family-owned manufacturing company in the town of Bradford, Ontario, north of Toronto. The business competes with firms from Asia, Europe, and the U.S. to sell its packaging materials. The company has about 75 employees (many of whom have been with the company more than 15 years) and its own research & development lab. It produces its packaging product in Ontario at a time when the province’s manufacturing sector is shrinking. The company deploys its aircraft from Lake Simcoe airport, which has no scheduled service but is home to a number of business aviation and charter-related services.Canada is a heavy user of business aviation. In 2015, an estimated 1,900 business aviation aircraft were in operation in the country, operating nearly 425 million aircraft movements. A study examined the economic impact of both operations and manufacturing – aerospace (and business aircraft in particular) is a strategic sector for Canada, ranking in the top three for international sales. Business aircraft operations and business aircraft manufacturing both provide high-paying, sustainable jobs and high economic output per worker. Aircraft operations generated an estimated 11,500 direct person years of employment across the nation in 2015, earning over $800 million in wages annually. The industry also generates $1.3 billion in GDP and $3.2 billion in economic output. Manufacturing activities contributed a further 10,800 person-years of employment paying $1 billion in wages and generating $1.6 billion in GDP and $3.6 in economic output. The combined economic impact of business aviation operations and business aircraft manufacturing in Canada are 22,300 person-years of employment paying $1.8 billion in wages, direct GDP at nearly $3 billion and direct economic output at nearly $7 billion.CASE STUDY: EUROPEGiven the growth of passenger demand and capacity constraints at a number of airports in Europe, regional airports or business aviation-specific airports are often used for business aviation flights. One example of the importance of an airport’s location is London City airport. According to the report, “The Economic Impact of Business Aviation in Europe,” airport representatives claim that London City is part of the reason behind the success of the Canary Wharf district. Although people do not come to London solely because of business aviation, it does make doing business there easier.The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) 2014 study estimated that business aviation operations in Europe generated more than 47,000 direct jobs, with employees earning €3 billion in direct wages, €3.2 billion in GDP and nearly €13 billion in economic output. The business aircraft manufacturing sector contributed a further 40,600 direct jobs, earning €2.2 billion in wages. In total, the direct employment base associated with business aviation operations and business aircraft manufacturing was nearly 88,000 jobs in Europe and €5.4 billion in wages. 22 ICAO JOURNAL – ISSUE 1 2017XXXXX22 ICAO JOURNAL – ISSUE 1 2017BUSINESS AVIATIONFrance, Germany and the UK are the EU countries most impacted by the business aviation industry. Total impact of business aviation in these three countries is €12.6 billion, which represents 64 per cent of the total industry in Europe. These three countries combine extensive business aviation aircraft assembly and component manufacturing operations with high numbers of business aviation aircraft movements and registered fleets.CASE STUDY: UNITED STATESIn the U.S, business aviation’s role as a critical business tool is evident at a family-owned metals recycling company employing 60 people in Lancaster, New York. For several decades since the company was founded in 1916, the owners were able to collect all the metals they needed to stay in business from within 40 miles of their recycling plant. However, by 1970, the 20 local manufacturers that had provided scrap had been reduced to one. Faced with having to shut down or relocate out of the local community, the company turned to a small turboprop aircraft to find scrap metal providers outside its existing business base. They now rely on their aircraft to generate the metals needed to stay in business and keep contributing to the town’s economy with jobs and investments. The business aircraft operations of this and other Lancaster businesses also help provide jobs to airport workers, pilots, mechanics, ramp workers and others at the local small GA airport.A 2013 study by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) of the economic impact of general aviation in the U.S. reported that business aviation typically accounts for up to 80 per cent of general aviation’s economic impact. The economic impact of GA in the U.S. is substantial, contributing 255,000 jobs, paying nearly $23 billion in wages, generating nearly $30 billion in GDP and $75 billion in economic output. In 2013, there were over 200,000 general aviation aircraft in operation in the U.S., flying nearly 23 million flight hours. Business aviation in the United States is viewed as a national asset, with 17,000 registered business aircraft. – Authors: Doris Mak, Vice-President, InterVISTAS Consulting and Debra Ward, Public Affairs, Canadian Business Aviation Association. Mike Tretheway, Chief Economist & Chief Strategy Officer, and Celina Estrella, Senior Consultant, InterVISTAS Consulting, also contributed to this article.FOR FURTHER READING:Canada: www.cbaa-acaa.ca/CBAADocs/EI%20-%20P2%20Update%20-%20FINAL%20REPORT%20(8Sep2016).pdfEurope: www.ebaa.org/documents/document/20130124163641-20081120-ebaa-finalreport.pdfU.S.: www.nbaa.org/business-aviation/2015-general-aviation-contribution-to-US-economy.pdfVAN NUYSA CASE STUDY ON BUSINESS AVIATION’S ECONOMIC IMPACTA recently completed study by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. quantifies the economic benefits that one major business aviation gateway had on its local area. California’s Van Nuys Airport (VNY), a 730-acre airport, has more than 100 businesses on-site. These enterprises help support a based fleet of 580 aircraft and the 217,000 annual takeoffs and landings which took place at the airport in 2015.The study concluded that VNY’s total regional economic impact in 2015 was $2.0 billion in business revenues and $295 million in local and federal taxes. Taxes were generated in several ways, including via fuel sales, which totaled more than 21 million gallons in 2015. Fuel taxes are one of the primary ways that business aviation contributes to U.S. aviation infrastructure funding.The airport’s activity supports nearly 10,500 jobs and $675 million in labor income. Half of those jobs are at businesses located on the airport, ranging from fixed-base operators that support business aircraft operations to hotels and retail stores.“VNY plays a critical role in Southern California by providing good-paying jobs and generating business revenues that benefit our neighboring communities,” said Los Angeles World Airports Commissioner Jeffery J. Daar. “As Los Angeles’ No. 1 business airport and a world-class general aviation facility, we are proud of VNY’s significant positive contributions to our region.”XXXXX ICAO JOURNAL – ISSUE 1 2017 23 BUSINESS AVIATIONThe business aviation airfield at Raigarh (left) has contributed to exponential growth in the region nearby (right).RAIGARHA CASE STUDY ON HOW BUSINESS AVIATION PROMOTED GROWTH IN INDIAHistorically, natural factors such as a source of clean water and mineral resources were the major influencers in growth of a town. Among the man-made factors, industry is the biggest factor that promotes growth of an economy, bringing with it related benefits such as electricity, better schools, and improved amenities. Industrial development in India was triggered when the British set up the railway system. The impact of connectivity was multi-fold, and the railways and roadways are considered to be the biggest infrastructure industries of India. Government policies have been designed to support these sectors. However, the aviation industry also deserves “infrastructure status.”The connectivity provided by business aviation, as with the railways during the industrial age, can indirectly boost the economy and growth of regions. Raigarh is one of the oldest and important towns of Chattisgarh state. It is situated on the HowrahMumbai main line of the South-East Railways with access to the mineral-rich Chhota Nagupr region. On this line is situated another district equally rich in minerals and having adequate water. The primary factor that distinguishes one from another is the availability of a 6,500-foot airfield in Raigarh. Though the airfield belongs to a private company, the Raigarh population at large uses it. Many other industrialists have chosen to start their business and open factories within the Raigarh district due to the accessibility that the airport provides. The private company started its plant in 1991. The airport was commissioned in 2002. The expansion of the runway to its present length was completed in 2009.In 2012, at least five new industries acquired land to establish their factories, giving rise to thousands of jobs. The district administration has also used this airport to their strategic advantage and benefited from the quick connectivity this airport provides.Compared with the neighbouring town, Raigarh has five times as many commercial banks, more than twice as many hospital beds, 50 per cent more colleges, 20 per cent more primary schools, and a technical university. The total number of industrial units, as well as micro and small enterprises, is about eight times as many.The Indian business aviation sector shares many of the same challenges and opportunities with other jurisdictions around the globe. With about 7,200 employed in business aviation operations and directly contributing $325.7 million in GDP, these relatively small numbers represent regional opportunities for catalytic economic growth. Between 1990 and 2015, there has been a consistent trend in acquiring business aircraft in India.According to the report, the “State of Business Aviation in India,” the need for a faster, convenient, flexible and private mode of air transportation led to a spurt in the purchase of business jets by India’s major corporations. Fast business jets play a key role in facilitating business and acquisitions at long distances and around the world. – Col Sanjay Julka (Retired)GROWTH TRAJECTORYBUSINESS AVIATION24 ICAO JOURNAL – ISSUE 1 2017Despite today’s soft market conditions in almost all regions, forecasters agree that the market for business jets will continue to grow. The worldwide business aircraft fleet stands at over 20,000 units. But according to several forecasts, this number is expected to climb. North America, Europe, Latin America and Greater China will be the largest markets for business aircraft over the next 10 years.Jetnet expects that 7,380 new business jets will be produced from 2016 to 2025. Canadian OEM Bombardier Aerospace expects about 8,300 deliveries in the same timeframe. Honeywell Aerospace forecasts up to 8,600 new business jet deliveries with an estimated 65 per cent of the projected demand from North American operators. The U.S. and Canada are predominantly markets for light and medium jets; about 80 per cent of deliveries will fall in these aircraft categories.Europe is the second-largest market for business aircraft. It is expected to receive between 1,530 and 2,580 new business jets within the next decade, so Europe’s current fleet of about 1,500 bizjets will nearly double. Light and medium jets account for 60 per cent of deliveries.Latin America is the third largest market for business aircraft. As the retirement rate is higher than other regions world, the fleet is expected to increase only from 2,015 in 2015 to 2,500 units by 2025. Middle East operators prefer large cabins and long range, 95 per cent of all business aircraft deliveries to this region, according to Bombardier.“Despite ongoing regional tensions and government austerity initiatives, operator enthusiasm seems to be improving” in the Asia Pacific region, reports Honeywell. The region is expected to continue its nearly double-digit fleet growth from the past five years. FLEET GLOBALIZATIONIn the last quarter-century, business aviation has seen tremendous growth. The worldwide fleet of business jets grew from 7,300 in 1991 to more than 20,000 in 2016. The number of operators climbed from 4,500 to almost 13,000. North America is the largest market for business aircraft, but the international fleet share grew from 28 per cent in 1991 to 35 per cent in 2016. More than 160 countries have business jets in their registries. Large cabin aircraft will be high in demand – Honeywell estimates about 85 per cent of the total valuation and 57 per cent of the units in the 2016-25 timeframe. Midsize jets will account for 21 per cent of the delivered fleet but only 10 per cent of value. Business aircraft sales and deliveries are driven by economic drivers like national and global GDP growth, as well as the globalization of trade. New aircraft types are spurring demand: more modern aircraft with better performance, lower fuel consumption and a more comfortable and productive cabin. Greater range is a major factor for many operators to switch to a newer model. Replacement of older business aircraft is becoming a more pressing issue. Some of the older models, for example, cannot be modified economically to the requirements for the Future Air Navigation Systems (FANS) or other new regulations. Rising maintenance costs as well as spare parts availability are concerning existing operators of older aircraft also. – By Volker K. Thomalla, CEO, German Business Aviation Association (GBAA) The static display at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) annual convention. “ More than 160 countries have business jets in their registries.”BUSINESS AVIATION HUMANITARIANSBusiness aviation, widely recognized as a driver of global commerce, plays a less-publicized but vital role in humanitarian support and relief efforts around the world. Business aircraft operators are ideally suited to respond during natural disasters and other humanitarian crises. They can mobilize on short notice, provide aircraft types suited for specific missions, and operate into airports that are inaccessible to larger aircraft. Most importantly, operators are willing to step up. “I find that pilots – especially business aviation pilots – are the first to sign up whenever help is needed,” said Rudy Toering, President and CEO of the Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA). In spring 2016, the city of Fort McMurray, Alberta saw firsthand the value that business aviation can bring in an emergency. Located in the heart of Canada’s oil sector, the area was devastated by a raging wildfire nicknamed “The Beast” by firefighters. ICAO JOURNAL – ISSUE 1 2017 25 BUSINESS AVIATION“ Pilots … are the first to sign up whenever help is needed.”– Rudy Toering, President and CEO, Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA)Doctors Without Borders relies on general aviation aircraft to get its staff and supplies to remote towns.Business aviators supported emergency teams on a variety of missions from early May, when the fire started, through early July, when the fire was declared under control. “Our people’s can-do spirit has never been more evident than when business aviators worked side-by-side with rescue and firefighting teams with a level of commitment and bravery that moved the country … and the entire world,” said Toering. Sometimes business airplanes are used to supplement the capabilities of government agencies. For example, during wildfire season in Montana, general aviation aircraft are contracted by state firefighting agencies and the U.S. Forest Service to help keep fires under control. These airplanes take aerial spotters aloft to direct emergency and fire control services below. EARTHQUAKE FIRST-MOVERSThe earthquake that struck the small island nation of Haiti in January 2010 provided another example of how business aircraft operators can quickly mobilize in times of crisis to help solve transportation challenges facing government agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Nearly 100 business aircraft flew the first mercy flights, providing a key lifeline in the days immediately after a local airport re-opened. In the weeks that followed, business aircraft flew desperately needed food, supplies and medical personnel to the island.As part of the coordination effort, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) developed an online registry for aircraft, other assets and volunteers available to assist in relief efforts. Nearly 400 aircraft, representing the diversity of the general aviation fleet, were included in the registry; the mercy flights were flown by piston singles and twins, turboprops, helicopters and jets. NBAA shared the registry information with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Critical Incident Management Group, the agency that coordinated the American government response to the crisis. The registry also was shared with NGOs coordinating Haiti relief efforts.An all-volunteer group, CARE (Corporate Aviation Responding in Emergencies), leveraged NBAA’s database to coordinate an air bridge to ferry supplies into Haiti. Missions originating from across the U.S. landed first at Fort Lauderdale (Florida) Executive Airport (FXE) for staging and picking up donated supplies. They then continued on to the Dominican Republic, or smaller airfields in Haiti, such as at Cap-Haïtien.26 ICAO JOURNAL – ISSUE 1 2017Business aircraft and helicopters help tame wildfires such as “The Beast” in Fort McMurray (M Rhodes Photography).“Business aviation played a key role in both the immediate response and long-term rebuilding efforts following the earthquake in Haiti,” said Doug Carr, NBAA’s vice president of regulatory and international affairs. “The scenario was a prime example of industry’s ability and willingness to support those in need – something we see from our members every day around the world.” MEDICAL RELIEF EFFORTSOther missions are uniquely tailored to business aviation’s capabilities. Supporting organ transplants for children is one example. Organ replacement is highly specialized, with a limited number of medical facilities staffed with the proper professionals and tools to do the job. The number of facilities capable of handling transplants for children is even fewer. In Germany, for instance, there are just a few hospitals equipped to do the procedures, according to Volker Thomalla, CEO of the German Business Aviation Association (GBAA). Since any organ that becomes available for transplant must be rushed from the donor to the recipient in a short time, business aviation’s flexibility makes it an ideal logistics provider. The complexity of transplanting children’s organs often means that the same surgical team will remove it, travel with it, and implant it in the recipient. Having a multi-seat business aircraft available makes this possible. Networks of business aviators play pivotal roles in medical-treatment transportation around the world. Since 1986, Hope Air has been providing free air transportation for financially burdened Canadians in need of medical treatment outside their communities. It also has a programme that enables operators to match available seats on scheduled business aircraft flights with a child who needs to travel to receive treatment. “Business aviation’s support of Hope Air is one example of its spirit of generosity – always ready to lend a hand and to help the less fortunate,” said CBAA’s Toering. The industry also often steps up to ensure the flight providers can offset some of the costs associated with providing air transportation. CBAA raises $25,000 each year for Hope Air. ICAO JOURNAL – ISSUE 1 2017 27 BUSINESS AVIATIONAs soon as the first local airport was re-opened, nearly 100 business aircraft flew the first mercy flights to Haiti after the 2010 earthquake.Next >