overhaul of 14 CFR Part 23, where the agency set aside the prescrip- tive framework and moved toward performance-based standards. PRIVATE AIRCRAFT SERVICES AND THE SHRINKING AIRLINE FOOTPRINT Dennis Fox, Senior Vice President Flight Operations/ Director of Training Executive Jet Management, Inc. Donald Haloburdo, Vice President/ General Manager JAFS Jet Aviation Holdings USA, Inc. Per Marthinsson, Co-Founder & US Managing Director Avinode Alex Wilcox, CEO Jetsuite Moderator: Andy Priester, NATA Board Chairman Priester Aviation, President and CEO In the first Roundtable session, representatives from the private aircraft services industry shared their perspectives on the evolv- ing air charter business, how their companies look at technology from Aviation Business Journal | 4th an internal efficiency standpoint, how private aircraft custom- ers use technology to connect and book charters, and what aircraft specifications custom- ers look for in a private aircraft. The use of technology has played a profound role in shaping the private aircraft charter in- dustry into what it is today. From an internal efficiency standpoint, technology assists in providing consistent information, streamlin- ing and improving communica- tions. When asked what are the top three client requests when booking a flight, all four panelists stated that Wi-Fi is absolutely essen- tial, followed by seating capacity, aircraft age and refurbish date and photos of the aircraft. The ses- sion concluded with a discussion on how the charter and airline industries are becoming more and more similar through private air- craft service companies mimicking the per-seat model and technol- ogy, such as apps, now allowing customers to receive instantaneous pricing for private charter flights. WHAT’S NEXT IN AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURE? Steve Cass, Vice President, Technical Marketing and Communications Gulfstream Aerospace Ernest (Ernie) Edwards, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Aerion Corporation Quarter 2016 Scott Kalister, Senior Vice President, Customer Support and Services Embraer Executive Jets John Rosanvallon, President and CEO Dassault Falcon Jet Corporation Moderator: Gary Dempsey, NATA Board Member Jet Aviation Holdings USA, Inc., Senior Vice President – Global Customer Care Four representatives from the aircraft manufacturing industry addressed issues impacting their businesses, including forecasting aircraft sales, workforce demand, meeting aircraft owner expecta- tions and demands, and airport infrastructure impacts. Several panelists commented on how traditional methods of forecasting aircraft sales, such as the market index, GDP, profits, wealth cre- ation and user plane availability, have failed to accurately forecast sales. Ernie Edwards noted that the OEM industry has been sur- prised by the “phenomenal wealth generation” and the fact that “OEMs are puzzled why more peo- ple are not purchasing aircraft.” The panelists stressed that new Continued on page 40 39 2016 NATA AVIATION BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE
