Page 50 - World Airnews Magazine March 2020 Edition

NEWS MILITARY

ground when most planes were only using for air travel. perspective,” Andrews said. ISLAMIC STATE IS NOT DEAD

nosewheels - the craft remained in produc- The private jet market will be hit the “However, it’s an important issue that

tion until earlier in 2019. hardest if those extra numbers can’t be deserves discussion. The Pilatus PC-12 is

The firm’s latest release, the PC-24, is also found. Pilots for commercial airlines can incredibly fuel-efficient, so at least we’re

doing things differently. Described by Pila- enjoy higher salaries – a symptom of the ahead of the curve on that front. Electric - IT HAS MOVED TO AFRICA

tus as the world’s first “super-versatile jet”, fact they are ferrying a far higher number aircraft will also be an important piece

the PC-24 has a maximum cruising speed of customers around – and more stable of this equation in the coming five to 10

of 815km/h, a range of 3,845km and can working hours. Conversely, private pilots years.” By Al Venter
carry 11 passengers. What really makes the are subject to the whims of the jet owner There is contrasting information regard-

PC-24 stand out, though, is the number of and can unexpectedly find themselves ing the environmental impact of private

landing options available to its passengers. unemployed should the jet be sold. air travel. Plus, individuals who fly private

There are approximately 10,650 airports “The business aviation sector is strug- often deliver huge economic benefits to the

available to aircraft that require runways gling to compete with airlines in recruiting places they visit.

of at least 3,130ft for take-off and landing. pilots,” Colibri Managing Director Oliver Forbes contributor Doug Gollan suggests

When a runway of just 2,930ft is needed, Stone told The Independent. “This means that each private jet arrival injects over
an additional 880 airports come into play. commercial airlines are not only recruiting $85,000 (€76,730) into the local economy.

However, the PC-24 is also designed to existing business-aviation pilots, but they Similarly, many philanthropists offer their

land on unpaved airstrips, which, accord- are also getting the pick of newly qualified private planes at times of crisis; on average,

ing to Pilatus, doubles its landing options pilots.” Private carriers may need to work business aircraft make 15,000 flights each

worldwide. more closely with commercial airlines year for humanitarian reasons.
“We are very pleased with how the to ensure that enough talent is nurtured Undoubtedly, though, the current image
PC-24 is performing for our customers, and encouraged to take on private jobs. of flying is more negative than positive.

and demand remains very high,” Thomas Aircraft manufacturers also have a role to What’s more, when travel takes place in the

Bosshard, CEO of Pilatus Business Aircraft, play; constructing planes that are easier to luxurious surrounds of a private aircraft, it

said in a press release. “The super-versatile operate will ensure a lower workload and is a lot easier to point the finger of blame.

jet was designed to provide tremendous may prove more attractive when recruiting If the anti-flying movement intensifies, it’s

flexibility, a quality which delivers added new members of staff. likely there will be a knock-on effect on the

value to the light and midsize jet market. At Pilatus, for example, all aircraft are private market. Falling demand could result

The feedback from our customers confirms single-pilot models. Although many can in more intense competition between

that the PC-24 hits a sweet spot of capabili- be flown by two pilots, the cockpit of each industry players and, ultimately, consolida-

ty that no other business jet can match.” plane is designed to be single-pilot-cer- tion, with larger operators buying out their

The flexibility offered by the PC-24 con- tified. The PC-24 comes with so many smaller rivals.

tinues when customers explore the craft’s support features that the craft is accessible While the private aviation industry faces

cargo options. The plane comes with a to non-professional, qualified pilots. much change, there are still reasons to be

1.3m by 1.25m cargo door and an electri- Of course, creating planes that require optimistic. The two main market segments

cal lift system to accommodate even the smaller crews is one way of addressing pilot - the US and Europe - remain strong, and
most sizeable luggage requirements. It is shortages, but it will not be enough on its emerging economies in Asia and South
this attention to detail and ability to offer own. Initiatives to train and recruit more America represent attractive prospects.

passengers a level of service rarely seen pilots – including attempts to attract more In addition, a 2018 report published by

in other aircraft that has made Pilatus a female pilots – are underway, but they PrivateFly and WINGX Advance found that

favourite with many companies, including should have been enacted long ago. Be- the average age of business aircraft users

Surf Air. coming a professional pilot can take years; was falling, suggesting a healthy future for

“Pilatus is an incredible company from the private jet market will be hoping this the industry.

top to bottom,” Andrews said. “First, their delay doesn’t result in planes being stuck In some respects, a pilot shortage is TRAINED BY THE AMERICANS, THE MOZAMBIQUE ARMY HAS PUT UP A POOR SHOW AGAINST THE REBELS

safety rating is outstanding. It’s also a pilot on the runway. a good problem to have; it reflects the

favourite aircraft. The Pilatus works per- fact that demand, whether via private jet Indeed, the guerrilla war in northern under the very noses of the Mozambique

fectly with our core business principles of THE HIGH LIFE or commercial airline, is rising. Electric Mozambique in which the Russian private Army. More to the point, this is the first

fostering a convenient service while cater- Pilot shortages are not the only issue aeroplanes and even autonomous aircraft espite having total air control, military company (PMC) the Wagner Group time in recent years that one of the major

ing to a tightly knit community of frequent threatening the private aviation sphere. In may shake up the market in the coming was tasked with taking the initiative from a powers has been driven out of a Third

flyers. Coupling all of this with the Pilatus’ Europe, the Swedish concept of flygskam, decades, but such developments will not Dmobility on the ground, excellent committed Jihadist force has not gone well. World conflagration by force of arms, even

fuel efficiency makes it an ideal aircraft to or flight shame, is drawing attention to be ready for deployment any time soon. In communications and backed by a range Having entered the conflict at the behest though Russia enjoyed total air supremacy.

carry out the missions we need it for.” the environmental damage caused by the meantime, private jet manufacturers of sophisticated hardware that include of President Putin last October - and enjoy- What did emerge in the few months

The private jet industry has seen signif- air travel. Although much ire has been should strive for higher levels of utility, drones and some of the best squad weap- ing complete dominance in the air with an late last year while the Russian mercenary

icant development over the past five to directed at commercial airlines, users of comfort and service. That way, even as the ons on the planet, a sophisticated Russian array of Hind helicopter gunships as well as force was active in a vast area adjoining

10 years through the introduction of new private planes are often some of the largest market continues to shift, they will be able mercenary force has been driven out of Mi-17 medium twin-turbine transporters - the Tanzanian frontier is that they totally

aircraft and alternative business models. carbon emitters. A report by Honeywell to adapt and meet customers’ demands. Q northern Mozambique after only months there have been numerous actions against underestimated the ability of a ragged

Aside from Pilatus, France’s Dassault Avia- Aerospace found of mixing with a tough Jihadist force that an enemy that is entrenched in the rugged bunch of bush fighters to counter their

tion, Canada’s Bombardier and many oth- that private jets has Somali roots. jungle and mountain-clad terrain fringing every move. The Jihadi force was better

ers are continually updating and improving produce 40 times It goes much further. A confidential re- on southern Tanzania. mobilised and a lot better focused than the

their jets to secure new customers. as much carbon port by a senior United Nations official who That much we know. What we do not opposition. Also, it is clear that their intelli-

YOU’RE GROUNDED dioxide emissions has served in Afghanistan, both Sudans, Ye- is how many guerrilla fighters there are, gence was superior intelligence since every
per person than a
thrust made by the mercenaries and their
men and elsewhere and who has commu-
how they are able to bring their weapons

But while private jets are more sophisti- commercial flight. nicated directly with this writer, suggested - possibly including MANPADs - into the government allies was met with the kind of

cated and feature-rich than ever, they may “It’s hard to tell if that by moving into Northern Mozambique country (obviously through Tanzania) and hard-line bush tactics that cost lives.

soon be confined to the ground. the environmental in force, Islamic State is only a step away how many foreign fighters there are within Additionally, the entire region is largely

According to research by jet resale busi- movement has had from becoming fully active in South Africa, their ranks. Muslim, with the insurgents

ness Colibri Aircraft, the aviation industry a true impact, as air he said “This radical movement already has It is also not clearly understood how this enjoying the support - most

will need to find an additional 98,000 pilots travel continues to a strong presence that includes military low key insurgency managed to escalate of it clandestine - of the

by 2038 to cope with the growing demand grow from a usage training bases.” into a crack and efficient combat force local population. To page 50

World Airnews | March 2020 World Airnews | March 2020
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