Asian SkyCast

Asian Sky Group's Jeffrey Lowe Moderates a Virtual Discussion on Aircraft Charter in the Asia-Pacific Region.

PANELISTS:

Ian Moore, Chief Commercial Officer of VistaJet,

Keith Tsang, VP Sales, Asia Pacific of OJets,

Minnie Kan, Head of Business Development of Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre.

In the second part of this discussion, the panelists discuss illegal aircraft charter and the future of the charter market:

- Is COVID-19 providing an opportunity for illegal charter;

- Decreased number of owner aircraft available for charter;

- The inadequacy of the charter fleet in Asia;

- Solutions to illegal charter;

- Future outlook for aircraft charter in Asia.

For more details on Virtual Charter Week, click here.

Asian Sky Group's Jeffrey Lowe Moderates a Virtual Discussion on Aircraft Charter in the Asia-Pacific Region.

PANELISTS:

Ian Moore, Chief Commercial Officer of VistaJet,

Keith Tsang, VP Sales, Asia Pacific of OJets,

Minnie Kan, Head of Business Development of Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre.

The panelists begin the first part of this conversation on the topic of COVID-19:

- When it started for each of them and its immediate impact in Asia;

- Coping with uncertainty now;

- Implementing changes and whether those are here to stay (i.e., post-COVID);

- The future of charter demand;

- Changing passenger requirements now and in the future;

- Health & safety measures;

- The demands on FBOs.

For more details on Virtual Charter Week, click here.

Paul Kirby, the current Chairman of the International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA), speaks with ASG’s Jeffrey Lowe on IADA and its value to the business aviation community. They start off with the history of IADA – evolving from NARA and how IADA has subsequently elevated itself and the commitment of its members. They then talk on accreditation and certification, membership types and the Code of Ethics. Paul then speaks on the Aircraft Exchange marketplace, Covid-19 and the future plans of IADA.

Listen in as they discuss:

Paul’s ‘day job’ at QS Partners and his experience as an aircraft/broker dealer for the past 20+ years (01:05)

The background of IADA: a worldwide cooperative network of dealers, brokers, major OEMs, and service providers in the industry who’ve been together for 30 years (01:55)

Evolving from a networking opportunity with NARA, when personal relationships were key (02:41)

Looking back at the “Wild West” and anything goes (03:29)

The goals of IADA: showcasing the scope & international commitment of the organization and elevating the profession through competency, values and ethical standards (04:36)

Accreditation and Certification (06:07)

Deciding to do better for clients and the market (06:30)

7% representing over 40% (07:04)

Attracting new members through accreditation & certification (07:24)

Standardization: shorter & simpler agreements as time kills deals (09:34)

Goal of standardized Purchase & Listing Agreements (10:45)

IADA membership 3 types, representing the relevant players in the industry (12:12)

Upper Limits (12:37)

Spreading internationally & overseas (13:16)

Product & Services members (13:58)

The structure of IADA, which includes (15:54)

Responding to the criticism that IADA is just the big guys trying to squeeze out the little guys: it’s all about commitment (17:12)

Policing the Code of Ethics – Up’d our game as its the core of IADA (19:03)

Aircraft Exchange: an exclusive marketplace for IADA members US$5.4B in sales 1st year (21:22)

The benefits of IADA: a competitive advantage & represents your commitment to the industry (23:22)

The other side of IADA: IADA Foundation – offering annual scholarships, participating in philanthropy, and events (25:09)

Covid-19’s impact on IADA (26:30)

IADA ’s webinars and keeping members and clients informed (27:32)

What’s in store: online education tools; making Aircraft Exchange the premier online marketplace; membership growth & expanding international (29:26)

To find out more about IADA please click here.

ASG’s Charter Services Manager, Daniel Tsang, Answers Questions on the Asia-Pacific Business Jet Charter Market. In this podcast Q&A moderated by CEO, Jeffrey Lowe, you’ll hear answers to some of the hottest topics about charter

Tune in to hear:

How easy is it to access China from long haul destinations such as Europe and US? (04:30)

What type of clients are utilizing charter: corporate or private? What is the trend 6 to 12 months from now? (07:25)

Are there any Asian bodies lobbying for special treatment of private aviation and charter in the region? (08:45)

What has AsBAA done, particularly for the charter side of business aviation? (10:05)

In the market, it is currently dominated by long-range and large cabin aircraft. Is there any opportunity for midsize and light jets? (11:10)

China needs to do more to open up its market to charter. Why is it taking so long for them to do so? (15:40)

Looking at the charter market, is there any particular aircraft type missing in our region and why? (16:15)

The charter market may recover long before the commercial airline business. Will there be an impetus for commercial aviation to look at infrastructure costs? (18:18)

What do you think about the corporate airliner market like the BBJ and ACJ? (19:42)

What’s the impression and future prospect of the Malaysian & Thai markets? (20:55)

Can a company survive on charter services alone? Why not? (22:35)

If I am a first-time user looking to charter an aircraft in APAC, what should I consider? what are the dos and don’ts? what is your advice? (26:03)

Many charter and brokerage companies manage the whole experience for the clients - hotel, car, etc? Is this the new trend of the industry? (28:57)

What do brokers do to protect themselves? Are brokers just connecting themselves between the operators and the charter clients? (30:55)

How does Asian Sky Group’s charter services operate differently? (33:05)

What is going to happen post-COVID-19? (35:27)

For Q&A Session Video please click here.

For more events in Charter Week please click here.

CEO, Jeffrey Lowe, shares data and insight on the APAC charter market.

Tune in to hear:

The latest data on the Asia Pacific Business Jet Charter Fleet as of June 2020:

A breakdown by OEM, operator, country, and size category;

Changes to the charter fleet;

Charter operator overview;

2019 Charter flight activity.

And, find out how COVID-19 has impacted the regional charter market in 2020:

APAC flight activity;

Popular flight routes;

Charter users behavior;

Aircraft cargo charter.

For Charter Report Presentation please click here.

For more events in Charter Week please click here.

Tony Shen, President of US-based Wayman Aviation Academy, speaks with ASG’s Jeffrey Lowe on the flight training market during Covid-19. They start off with the Peruvian roots of Wayman Aviation and its beginnings as a maintenance shop, then introduce the Wayman of today, and how the academy has been impacted by Covid-19 and subsequently shifted its model to adapt to those challenges. Tony then speaks on his optimism for the airline industry, pilot job prospects in the coming years and finally discusses why Wayman and Florida are the ideal places for flight training.

Listen in as they discuss:

The origins of Wayman Aviation: it’s founder Mr. Wayman – an immigrant from Peru, settling in Florida & the school’s beginnings as a maintenance shop (01:05)

2017 acquisition by Shanghai Chiway Education Group & Tony joins the Academy as President (02:45)

The past 3 years – fleet, facilities, 145, SMS and CAAC certification (03:10)

Course & Program offerings: flight & maintenance training, Professional Pilot Degree, FAA & EASA programs (03:39)

Two bases: Opa Locka Airport and North Perry Airport in Florida (05:10)

The pros and cons of running a flight school in Miami: a global flight training hub (05:45)

Cost, quality & completion: Come to Florida (07:08)

Tony’s personal background – 1997 in Florida for Ab Initio training to become a China Eastern Airline Cadet - and how he got into the training business (07:48)

12,000 hrs, long haul flights & Duke University (09:10)

American Airlines & Dallas (09:59)

Back to Shanghai and health care (10:30)

Flight training as an entry into the GA market in China & buy American (11:29)

Year end 2019: 42 airplanes, four simulators, new management / operation system, Boeing-appointed contractor (12:52)

Juneyao & MIAT partnerships (14:28)

300 students enrolled in 2019 – half US and half international; 10 - 12 months for ‘Zero to Hero’ training (private all the way to commercial multi-engine) (14:50)

International services: Everything including local transportation (15:45)

COVID-19 hits Wayman mid-March and immediately impacts international student enrolment (16:40)

Pivot: Wayman shifts its focus to offer online courses, while local enrolment surprisingly grows (18:05)

The current airline environment, job prospects and Tony’s optimism for the market and pilots - the airline pilot shortage isn’t going anyway (19:10)

The ‘silver linings’ of the pandemic for Wayman: innovation & making the school stronger & more competitive (22:06)

Why Florida & Wayman: Cost, Quality, Completion – Top Tier (25:33)

English tutoring 101 (26:30)

M I A M I … there are worse places (27:15)

The future of Wayman: becoming an educational institution in 2021 – state licensing in process – and entry into the APAC GA market, particularly China (27:48)

Charter & drones (29:32)

To find out more about Wayman Aviation Academy please click here.

For more information about Tony Shen please click here.

ASG’s Jeffrey Lowe joins three other aviation industry experts, and host David Barrett from AON for a discussion during the AON Global Aviation Virtual Series “Coming Through the Clouds”.

2020 will certainly be remembered as an ‘annus horribilis’ for the aviation industry. However, the future is full of opportunities - both known and unknown. Together, they project what the future aviation landscape might look like considering consolidation, hardware, airports, consumer preferences, demographics, technology, the environment and other factors that will impact the future of the industry.

Panel Participants:

Simon Witts, Founder and CEO – Aviation 360

Jeffrey C Lowe, Managing Director - Asian Sky Group & Asian Sky Media

Petter Hörnfeldt, Founder - Mentour 360 SC

Lambros Lambrou, Chief Executive Officer, Commercial Risk Solutions at Aon

For more information about AON, please click here.

James Royds-Jones, Private Jets Director, APAC, speaks with ASG’s Jeffrey Lowe on the private jet charter market in APAC. He starts off with the background of Air Charter Service – just a basement start-up in the house of Founder Chris Leach and discusses the company’s worldwide reach with over 30 offices and a diversified business scope – cargo, passenger, and group. James gives his views on the charter market during COVID-19, how there are no easy charters in Asia – even before COVID, speaks on the sales approach to new customers and touches on illegal charter.

Listen in as they discuss:

James’ personal background and experience (0:40)

Air Charter Service Founder, Chris Leach: starting in the basement of his house to today 30 offices worldwide (2:16)

A family business approach to customer service (2:54)

ACS’ geographic distribution: starting in London and moving across the world (4:35)

All facets of the charter business: cargo, private jets, and commercial (5:36)

Diversification & geographic scope aids in the current environment (7:30)

How was 2019?; How is business ‘normally’?; Working Hard (8:33)

ABACE 2019 was an indicator: quieter than normal, operators going out of business & reducing fleet sizes, tough years (9:29)

Preferences in Asia: Bigger is better, shiny & new, short hops, Bombardier & Gulfstream (10:35)

COVID-19 comes around and hits the radar around Chinese New Year (13:05)

Moving into February, clients then looked to leave the region to the US & Europe (14:35)

Coping with COVID-19: The phones start ringing & the ACS team camps out under their desks to provide support and that ‘can-do’ attitude (15:24)

The different phases of private, commercial, and cargo during COVID-19. Private jets first. (17:50)

Commercial group flights: Repatriation flights, followed by a lull, some new group activity now (19:46)

Cargo experienced a prolonged, big spike from March to July (20:43)

An inflow of PPE, followed by an outflow of PPE (21:27)

Commercial airliners moving into the cargo business (22:04)

Diversification, resources and size allows ACS to weather the storm (22:43)

The status of private jet charter market today – less than ideal. Record inquiries are up, but making those flights happen is difficult, with a very low conversion rate (25:03)

There are no easy charters in Asia, hence the need for brokers (26:20)

Extra measures during COVID-19 and responding to individual preferences from each passenger (27:16)

The health & safety measures are here to stay, and private flying is even more appealing (29:42)

Fleet availability in APAC: owner aircraft vs dedicated charter; Aircraft and the pool getting smaller (31:26)

But more demand for private flying, as commercial becomes a less viable option. Perfect storm: less supply / higher need. Oh! And a global recession (33:54)

Asia lacks fractional ownership and membership programs, so charter is the only way to go (35:09)

Proactively keeping customers updated through e-mail and video during COVID-19 (37:00)

Changing approach to customers - hunters vs harvesters and the new types of customers (38:45)

Owner-operators now less likely to charter an illegal flight (41:31)

Do we need to do more and what? (42:10)

There’s no grey charter only illegal charter, role of AsBAA and educating users (43:00)

What needs to change? Price difference between charter in Asia vs. the US and Europe - more infrastructure is needed! (44:33)

Thomas Dunstan, Director General, and Jason Zhang, Operations Manager & Designated Airworthiness Inspector from the Bermuda Aircraft Registry, join ASG’s Jeffrey Lowe to speak about the Bermuda Aircraft Registry and how its handling the COVID-19 pandemic. Thomas starts off with the history of the registry and how it became an Authority, discusses how the registry stays competitive, including a recent fee reduction for private jet owners, and sheds lights on the latest changes the registry has made to adapt under the COVID-19 pandemic. Jason then speaks on the services he offers, based in Shanghai, communicating with clients and offering remote documentation and inspection work. They both reflect on the ‘silver linings’ of this pandemic, express optimism for the Asia market and express the registry’s resiliency and dedication to its clients.

About the Bermuda Aircraft Registry:

The Bermuda Aircraft Registry is owned and managed by the Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA). BCAA is responsible for the regulation and safety oversight of aviation in Bermuda, and all aircraft on the Bermuda Aircraft Registry. With over 850 registered aircraft, the Bermuda Aircraft Registry is the largest offshore Aircraft Registry in the world. BCAA offices and Inspectors are strategically located around the world to offer the highest standards in service and customer support. BCAA maintains a world-class reputation by ensuring their clients are at the centre of everything they do.

Listen in as they discuss:

The history of BCAA, its reiterations and becoming an ‘Authority’ (0:54)

Over 880 aircraft on the registry and 36 full-time staff today (2:45)

Why Bermuda: Aviation growing after World War 1 and Bermuda’s strategic location (2:55)

What exactly does BCAA do and why does it matter? Airport certification, ATC licensing, foreign permits, managing drone operations, and AOC Issuance to name a few (3:50)

The bulk of the business – registry! Oldest, largest offshore registry (5:26)

The set up: In Bermuda, UK, Moscow, and Shanghai, along with designated inspectors spread globally (6:10)

Remaining competitive and staying one step ahead, including a reduction of fees for private aircraft, streamlining the approval process and staying user-friendly (7:24)

Changes to the commercial side, storage registry and parking (8:46)

Implementing changes during COVID-19: reducing fees, introduction of exemptions and deviations; along with desktop audits, virtual inspections and electronic signatures (10:07)

Looking back at 2019, what was normal back then? (11:26)

Turning to the Asia-Pacific region and BCAA’s eventual world domination (12:54)

Bringing Jason Zhang on board in Shanghai and launching a Chinese website catering to this side of the world (13:57)

Jason speaks on the services he provides out of Shanghai, as a Designated Airworthiness Inspector (14:26)

COVID-19 hits China in January and Bermuda in March (16:36)

Impact, obligation, and responsibilities of a registry during a pandemic (17:30)

Settling into the ‘new routine’ of the pandemic and coping better (19:30)

Lower flight hours and advising on maintenance & airworthiness upkeep – case by case (20:33)

Pilot licensing, validation, and keeping them current (21:44)

Working from home: Documentation conducted remotely and communication with clients becomes more important (22:48)

Silver linings: Thomas reflects on the pandemic and realizes the opportunities & advancement, which for BCAA is enhancing its technology capability, and no looking back (24:40)

Resiliency and