EBACE 2008 Photo Gallery By Russ Niles
There were plenty of jets to see at the European Business Aviation Conference and Expo (EBACE), but not enough time to tour them all. We saw as much as we could, but we also snapped plenty of photographs, working off the theory that we could look at a few airplanes in more detail on our flight home. With the show behind us, here are some of our favorite images from the expo.
EBACE 2008 Shatters Records By Russ Niles
The European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) recorded 21.5 percent more visitors and 35 percent more exhibitors at this year's show in Geneva. Officials say 13,762 people went through the doors of the PalExpo Convention Center at Geneva International Airport. For first-time exhibitors like Cirrus Design it's a permanent mark on the already-busy show calendar. "You just have to be here," said Cirrus spokeswoman Kate Dougherty. Cirrus rented prime exhibit space in prestigious Halle 7, which included booths from virtually all major business jet manufacturers. Many companies significantly upgraded their booths this year as they welcomed some of the richest and most powerful business people, political leaders and royalty from all over the world. Outside, the cheek-by-jowl static display is a harbinger of challenges to come.
Click through for a guided tour of the Gulfstream G650
So, how big should a business jet be? As big as it can get, apparently. Airbus announced an order for six as yet not prototyped A350 extra-wide-body aircraft to MAZ Aviation, which represents clients in the Middle East. The deal is worth $1.5 billion. As little as six months ago, Boeing and Airbus were heavily promoting the smallest aircraft in their airliner lineups as super-sized business aircraft. At EBACE 2008, both companies unveiled product strategies, manufacturing slot arrangements and spiffy cutaway models for private configurations of their full product lines, including 747-8 and A380 aircraft.
Cirrus CEO Alan Klapmeier says the company will give "the jet" a real name before it hits the market and the moniker was simply an in-house convenience that stuck when the company went public. But Klapmeier also took pains to assure a news conference at EBACE 2008 that the jet itself is "real" and he's anxious for the prototype to fly. "Obviously I want it to fly as soon as possible but that has to be left up to the test pilots," he said. So, while he's said before that he'd like to fly the aircraft to EAA AirVenture at the end of July, he told the EBACE press conference that he's not predicting a date because he doesn't want to pressure the test pilots. "They'll decide when it's ready," he said. Klapmeier showed photos of the prototype now under construction in Duluth and they indicate an aircraft that may be ready to fly sooner rather than later.
Redone Regional Jets Offer New Jet Alternative By Russ Niles One of the most mundane forms of air transportation is finding new life at the top of the food chain. Project Phoenix is converting Bombardier CRJ 200 regional jets to ultra-luxurious business jets in the same league as the Bombardier Global Express at less than half the price. But while the $18.5 million price tag is attractive, it's the availability that's caused business to boom for Phoenix. "We aim to deliver five in this coming year," European sales agent Hugh Wilson told AVweb in a podcast interview.
BBJs As A Humanitarian Tool By Russ Niles
Boeing makes no bones about the luxury and style it offers on its large business jets but thanks to an innovative project developed in Sweden, they can be converted to lifesaving workhorses in a matter of hours. The company has certified a modular system of stretchers and self-contained intensive-care beds that can be used in the mass evacuation of casualties from disasters. "We can convert a standard airliner or business aircraft in less than six hours," said SAS Technical Services engineer Sven Reiner. A 737-800 can carry six of the intensive-care beds and the staff needed to monitor them, along with up to two dozen less seriously injured individuals.
At EBACE, Everyone Can Fly a 787 (Well, Sort Of) By Russ Niles
One of the most popular booths at EBACE 2008 has nothing directly to do with business aviation, but it's attracting crowds of people. Boeing has put up an elaborate flight simulator with controls approximating a Boeing Business Jet and a wide-screen depiction of the ILS to Nice, France. Most people who try it, like this fellow, do a pretty credible job of planting the virtual 787 on the centerline.
Eclipse European Certification Question By Russ Niles A major European aviation publication is speculating that Eclipse Aviation might have to build a separate line of its E500 very light jet to satisfy concerns of the European Aviation Safety Agency. Flight Global reported Wednesday in its EBACE publication that EASA has significant concerns. As AVwebBiz reported Wednesday, CEO Vern Raburn is saying he won't predict when the aircraft will be able to fly in most of Europe. "We are optimistic that we'll get European Aviation Safety Agency certification," he said. "I'm just not prepared to say when."
Safety Issues Loom For BizAv By Russ Niles Business aviation is by far the safest segment of general aviation but that doesn't mean it can't be better. And there's also a shift in personnel and operations on the horizon that might challenge that claim, though not necessarily. At a seminar at EBACE 2008 in Geneva on Wednesday, Don Spruston, Director General of the International Business Aviation Council, told delegates that gross navigation errors, particularly over the ocean, and runway incursions continue to be major issues for business aviation. "More than 50 percent of business aviation accidents are runway accidents," Spruston told a rather small crowd at the safety forum. He also said in a podcast interview that the industry is grappling with a pilot shortage that might have safety implications.
HondaJet Launches In Europe By Russ Niles One of the biggest stars on the Formula 1 racing circuit drives a Honda, and he'll soon be flying one. Jenson Button was introduced at EBACE 2008 as the first European customer for the HondaJet. A large crowd formed at the Honda booth at the PalExpo convention center in Geneva to catch a glimpse of the popular F-1 driver, who bought two aircraft and is planning to build a new charter service. Honda also used the occasion to announce the establishment of three HondaJet sales and service centers, which, as their U.S. counterparts do, bear a strong resemblance to car dealerships. The service centers will be in Farnborough (a partnership with TAG), Frankfurt (Rheinland Air Service) and Madrid (Aviastec).
The European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) recorded 21.5 percent more visitors and 35 percent more exhibitors at this year's show in Geneva. 
Boeing makes no bones about the luxury and style it offers on its large business jets but thanks to an innovative project developed in Sweden, they can be converted to lifesaving workhorses in a matter of hours. The company has certified a modular system of stretchers and self-contained intensive-care beds that can be used in the mass evacuation of casualties from disasters. "We can convert a standard airliner or business aircraft in less than six hours," said SAS Technical Services engineer Sven Reiner. A 737-800 can carry six of the intensive-care beds and the staff needed to monitor them, along with up to two dozen less seriously injured individuals.
One of the most popular booths at EBACE 2008 has nothing directly to do with business aviation, but it's attracting crowds of people. Boeing has put up an elaborate flight simulator with controls approximating a Boeing Business Jet and a wide-screen depiction of the ILS to Nice, France. Most people who try it, like this fellow, do a pretty credible job of planting the virtual 787 on the centerline.
