Business aviation leaders and decision-makers will gather in person in Geneva this May to experience new and future-forward aviation technologies, from high-tech small aircraft to ultra-modern intercontinental jets, state-of-the-art avionics and more.

The 2022 European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE2022) will assemble the latest aircraft and aviation equipment manufacturers and suppliers, industry leaders, emerging technologies and more in one venue.

Hosted by the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) and the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), the event takes place in Geneva, Switzerland, from May 23 to 25.

The EBACE2022 outdoor aircraft display at Geneva International Airport, adjacent to EBACE host facility Palexpo, will feature the latest offerings from renowned European manufacturers such as Airbus, Dassault Falcon and Pilatus, as well as global aircraft OEMs including Embraer, Gulfstream, Honda Aircraft Company and Textron Aviation.

“We are very excited to offer a must-see variety of business aircraft, of all sizes and for all missions, on display as attendees return to Geneva and to EBACE,” said Joe Hart, NBAA Director for Aircraft Displays. “No other venue in Europe provides this kind of opportunity for business aviation professionals and end-users to see and compare so many aircraft types and models, side-by-side.”

Co-hosted by the European Business Aviation Association and the National Business Aviation Association, EBACE2022 will be the premier meeting place for the European business aviation community and an important event for business aviation operators around the globe.

This year’s outdoor aircraft display is expected to also feature the EBACE debuts of two upcoming large-cabin intercontinental business jets.

Located on the exhibit floor, the EBACE2022 Innovation Pavilion will highlight the industry’s ongoing investment and development in bringing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) and advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft to market, featuring nearly a dozen models from companies including Aeromobil, Lilium and Pipistrel.

“There’s a lot of excitement surrounding AAM and we’re pleased to showcase these pioneering technologies at EBACE,” said Rachel Clementi, Senior Conference and Innovation Lead Manager with EBAA.

Additionally, a number of compelling AAM-focused sessions will take place throughout EBACE on the adjacent Innovation Zone stage, featuring a wealth of information about the development of AAM, and the integration of these vehicles as a part of tomorrow’s aviation system. For example, a session titled “Safety in AAM” will examine the promise of the new technology.

Also, a “Newsmakers Lunch”, focusing on eVTOL and its future in business aviation, will take place on the Tuesday of the show.

While AAM holds tremendous potential to revolutionise transportation around the globe, Clementi noted its particular importance to the European community. “Relative travel distances across Europe make AAM a particularly attractive option, not only for intra-city transportation, but also as a quiet, efficient and environmentally-conscious alternative to international flying,” she said.

Athlete, advocate and aviator Martina Navratilova will be a keynote speaker on the opening day of EBACE2022, sharing her perspectives on the ways that her passions – tennis and flying – have instilled key leadership skills applicable across many disciplines. Winner of an unprecedented 59 Grand Slam titles, Navratilova is an outspoken advocate of aggressive goal-setting. Navratilova secured her private pilot’s licence in the US in 1999.

STARS PROGRAMME

An ambitious programme called STARS – Standards & Training for Aviation Responsibility and Sustainability – will be launched at EBACE2022.

STARS has been initiated by young business aviation professionals from half a dozen companies in Europe who want to take a holistic approach to sustainability, going beyond emissions reductions and extending the concept to such “social” concerns as workplace diversity and inclusion, said Róman Kok, EBAA Communications Manager.

“It’s very ambitious what these young people have done,” Kok said, noting that sustainability is the biggest challenge facing business aviation today.

The pilot STARS programme in Europe is now underway, and early participants have devised a three-tier programme of goal-setting, progress monitoring and full implementation. They are working toward development and introduction of industry-wide sustainability standards “and an accompanying label,” according to EBAA.

Kok notes that key to the programme’s success will be the integration of the STARS label into existing requirements for IS-BAO, and IS-BAH, two sets of best practices produced by the International Business Aviation Council.

A focus on the future will be a key aspect of the show, including a day dedicated to the innovations for attracting and retaining the future professionals who will shape and guide business aviation in the years to come.

European high school, technical school and university students interested in learning more about business aviation and the possibilities the industry holds are invited to EBACE Careers in Business Aviation Day, taking place May 25, the show’s final day.

“Business aviation comprises a large number of small and midsize companies that allow young professionals to become leaders in the organisation and the broader industry,” said Clementi. “This dedicated career day will highlight the wide range of career opportunities available for professional leadership, including aerospace, technology, engineering, customer service, entrepreneurship and more.”