During EBACE, we at UAS were determined to unite some of the best thought leaders in our industry to have some meaningful and insightful discussions about the trends that are impacting us all right now. In the first of The Forward Discussion panels, we focused on how technology and its power to transform business aviation by optimizing efficiency and quality and bringing greater efficiency with less manpower. We would explore if the pandemic hastened aviation’s reliance on technology and whether technology is developing fast enough to support the industry’s needs, and we also explored the most exciting advancements in aviation technology.
Some of the industry’s best technological innovators and thought leaders joined me to share their insight and expertise as panelists. They were Fred Powell, VP of Product at Portside, a company that produces software and integrated technology platforms for business and government aviation; Andrew Douglas, Director of Make Tech Fly, a company that creates technology to fill gaps in the market and to improve outdated systems to improve workflow and increase efficiency so that clients can see greater returns from the time they spend at work, Catherine Buchanan, Director of Business Development of Stack.aero, company that created a software solution tailor-made for business aviation charter salespeople and brokers and manages the complexities of the ‘trip request lifecycle’; and Diego Vegrini, Founder and CEO of Aviowiki, a company that provides the best data on airports and aviation data in an enhanced format, allowing for complete automation.
The panel began by discussing the vital role technology is playing in providing a highly personalized service (in an already highly personalized industry) and how it enables a better level of service. Every operator has different styles, business models, aircraft, etc. so new IT systems are enabling immediate access to client information, specifications, preferences, etc. Having central data that is accessible and immediate brings transparency and assurance that everything is accurate, as well as eliminating pain points by opening channels of communication. Ultimately, the duty of care is to passengers – and this type of service can only lead to a massively enhanced customer experience that is more professional and personal.
The pandemic also taught us that real-time data is what operators need— the days of retrieving information or looking for information simply aren’t realistic anymore. It hastened the need for technological transformation as so many unprecedented operational restrictions presented themselves.
The panel pondered whether the industry is culturally ready for such a technological overhaul; perhaps it isn’t a lack of technology slowing progress but a lack of understanding by people working in the industry. Regarding NextGen, it was emphasized that the mission is to first digitize the industry as automation cannot occur before full digitization has taken place.
Integrating technologies has a cost, however, the benefits outweigh the investment. Technology enables operators to ultimately maximize profitability, it makes it possible to do more with less, and it helps passengers to have better travel experiences. Now it’s possible to build tech solutions quickly on top of the infrastructure that’s already there, and this is what’s currently taking place. We are standing on the shoulders of giants.
Listen to the entire discussion by visiting UAS’ YouTube channel or clicking here.
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UAS Operations | - 09/10/2020
Mitch Launius
Instructor Pilot for 30 West IP
Mitch is the CEO of 30 West IP where he is also an instructor providing pilot training on international procedures. With an illustrious career of over 34 years in the cockpit, Mitch has acquired over 13,000 hours of flight time flying worldwide, with over 9,000 hours of this in Challenger and Gulfstream aircraft. He is an experienced safety officer and was also an IS-BAO project manager for a fortune 500 flight department. He has presented on Safety and Operations topics at the NBAA International Operators Conference and the Canadian Business Aviation Association Convention and is currently on the NBAA International Operators Committee and serves as the North Atlantic Regional Lead. Mitch is also a member of an FAA working group on General Aviation International Authorizations and Tabletop Exercises (GIATE). He was recently selected to represent IBAC as a member of the ICAO Personal Training and Licensing Panel (PTLP) and was also recently named as a 2020 recipient of the NBAA Tony Kern Professionalism in Aviation Award for his contribution to the business aviation community.
Henry ‘Duke’ LeDuc
Director Of Operations, Americas, UAS International Trip Support
Duke has been a dearly respected member of UAS Americas team and the UAS global family for more than five years. A safety-oriented, FAA-licensed aircraft dispatcher, he oversees all of the operations of the elite UAS Operations Team. With twenty-five years of experience in aviation overall with more than fifteen years of experience in international flight planning and VVIP trip coordination, he is responsible for the development of the dispatch training program and involved in the strategic development of UAS Americas. With a myriad of rich aviation experience behind him, he has extensive experience in worldwide operations with both corporate and charter environments, including seven years as Operations/Dispatch Manager in an industry-leading, Fortune 500, IS-BAO Stage III Certified corporate flight department. Duke is frequently asked shares his knowledge at major industry events and is currently serving on the NBAA’s International Operators Conference (IOC) Planning Committee.
Dudley King
President and Founder, FlightBridge
Dudley is the Founder and President of FlightBridge, which he established in 2011 and has been focused on technology solutions for the private aviation industry since 2006. Since he graduated from Dartmouth in 1988, he has worked with an array of companies listed anywhere from VentureWire to the Fortune 100. A rare blend of executive, entrepreneur, and consultant, Dudley’s executive roles have included acting CIO positions for several companies and tech advisory services to CEOs trying to rebuild their technology organizations or looking for an external, professional point of view. Highly skilled at deeply understanding his customer’s business challenges and drawing from a long and varied experience in information technology services, Dudley excels at designing technology solutions to solve their problems.
Dr. Paulo Alves
Global Medical Director, Aviation Health, Medaire
Paulo has extensive experience in medical advisory in the aviation industry. As a cardiologist, he provides technical guidance and analysis for MedAire’s MedLink medical advisory service and is MedAire’s liaison with civil aviation regulators and industry associations. Paulo worked with Varig Brazilian Airlines for 23 years, 10 of which were spent as General Medical Manager. A member of the MedAire Medical Advisory Board, Paulo is also President of the Ibero-American Aerospace Medical Association, a member of the International Academy of Aerospace Medicine, a member of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Safety Committee, a Fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA), and a Fellow of the Civil Aviation Medical Association. Throughout his illustrious career, Paulo has held industry leadership roles including Chairperson of the AsMA’s Air Transport Medicine Committee, President of the Airlines Medical Directors Association, President of the Brazilian Society of Aerospace Medicine and was a member of the IATA Medical Advisory Group from 2002 to 2006.
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