Global Aviation Round-Up from Aircraft Value Intelligence (AVN)
Editor’s Note: This week, John Persinos interviewed Ed Bolen, president and CEO of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).
NBAA is widely regarded as the leading voice for business aviation in the United States. Founded in 1947 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., NBAA represents thousands of companies, aircraft operators, manufacturers, service providers, airports, universities, and government organizations that rely on business aviation. John’s questions are in bold.
Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft are moving from prototype to certification and early deployment. What do you see as the biggest hurdles to integrating eVTOL operations into the existing business aviation ecosystem over the next five years?
As eVTOL, advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) move from certification into commercial deployment, I believe the biggest challenge over the next five years will be maintaining America’s leading position as the global leader in aerospace through safe and timely integration, both on the ground and in the air.
On the ground, we need to continue developing the infrastructure to support AAM and eVTOLs. That includes developing vertiports, charging capabilities, maintenance facilities and the operational systems necessary to support this new category of aircraft.
In the air, the focus must remain on safely integrating new aircraft types, as well as beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) autonomous operations, into an already busy national airspace system (NAS).
Fortunately, the U.S. historically leads the world in the evolution of new aviation technologies, as well as in demonstrating how our increasingly diverse NAS can safely and effectively accommodate new aircraft types while preserving access to all stakeholders.
We’re also seeing encouraging investments from states, local communities and industry partners, including fixed-base operators (FBOs), to make that happen. That includes the FAA’s eVTOL Integration and Innovation Program (eIPP), bringing together regulators, manufacturers, operators and local communities to evaluate how these aircraft can operate safely in real-world environments.
The question isn’t whether these aircraft can be safely integrated into the aviation ecosystem, but whether the FAA has the resources to ensure the timely certification milestones necessary for integration. That is imperative to UAS and eVTOL aircraft becoming transformative technology for America’s businesses and communities and maintaining America’s leadership on a global stage.
As AAM gains momentum, how can business aviation operators leverage eVTOL technology to create new mission profiles, such as airport transfers, regional connectivity, or corporate mobility networks?
One of the most promising opportunities for AAM is its ability to complement and enhance existing business aviation operations, offering an important extension to existing transportation networks that can improve efficiency and expand mobility options.
A great example is the first- and last-mile challenge to business travel. One of the biggest obstacles to efficient transportation today is congestion on the ground, and eVTOLs hold the potential to connect travelers directly from offices, business centers or suburban locations to airports, where they can then use a more conventional business aircraft for longer distances.
AAM also offers significant potential for regional connectivity, as many of these aircraft feature target ranges of up to several hundred miles. That redefines where people live and work, because it creates opportunities to connect smaller communities and business centers, particularly those with limited or no scheduled airline service.
In many cases, these aircraft could provide an efficient transportation option for trips that are too long to drive but may not justify larger aircraft operations.
Beyond passenger transportation, eVTOLs may create entirely new mission profiles for operators. The ability to move critical equipment, parts or supplies quickly between locations could provide substantial value across industries.
Whether supporting energy infrastructure, construction projects, manufacturing operations or other time-sensitive business activities, these aircraft could help organizations respond more quickly while improving operational efficiency.
There is also tremendous potential for humanitarian and public-service AAM missions, particularly in areas with limited transportation infrastructure or in regions affected by natural disasters. Their ability to operate closer to where people and resources are needed could make a critical difference in emergency response, medical support and disaster relief.
Business aviation has always embraced innovation that enhances connectivity, productivity and safety, and AAM represents another step in that evolution.
In-flight connectivity (IFC) has evolved from a passenger convenience to a mission-critical business tool. How are advances in satellite communications changing expectations among aircraft owners, operators, and charter customers?
Business aviation enables people to make the most effective use of their time, and advances in satellite communications are taking that capability to an entirely new level. Increasingly, passengers want to participate in video conferences, collaborate on documents in real time, access cloud-based applications and communicate continuously with colleagues and customers around the world.
Even within the last five years, the quality, reliability and speed of such systems have improved dramatically. Capabilities that were once limited, or perhaps inconsistent, have become widely available across a broad range of aircraft types. As next-generation satellite constellations continue to come online, we’re seeing connectivity that increasingly mirrors the terrestrial broadband experience many users have come to expect.
I also think it’s noteworthy that this expectation is no longer limited to large-cabin business jets, as we see advanced connectivity solutions installed across a wide spectrum of aircraft, including light jets, turboprops and even owner-flown piston aircraft. Customers increasingly view IFC as an essential component of the travel experience rather than an optional amenity.
With the emergence of low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite constellations, what impact do you expect next-generation IFC to have on aircraft valuation, retrofit decisions, and competitive differentiation among operators?
Again, aircraft operators and their passengers increasingly expect the same level of connectivity in the air that they experience on the ground. LEO satellite constellations are a significant step forward, delivering faster speeds, lower latency and greater reliability than systems that were cutting edge even a few short years ago.
For operators, the question is no longer simply whether an aircraft has connectivity, but whether it has the level of connectivity necessary to meet evolving customer expectations. Aircraft equipped with the latest systems are better positioned to attract operators and passengers who expect to remain fully engaged while traveling.
This impact also extends beyond the cabin, as connectivity is becoming an increasingly important operational and safety tool on the flight deck.
Modern satellite-enabled systems provide pilots with access to real-time weather information, traffic awareness tools, route optimization capabilities and other data to support better decision-making and enhance situational awareness in real-time.
Connectivity has evolved from a convenience into a core capability. Operators that invest in these technologies will be better positioned to meet customer expectations and improve operational performance.
Artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and increasingly connected aircraft are converging rapidly. Which emerging technology do you believe has the greatest potential to transform business aviation operations in the next decade, and why?
I might challenge that premise, because I don’t believe the most transformative development will be any one technology in isolation. AI, flight deck automation and advanced connectivity all build upon one another, and I think their greatest impact on our industry will come from how they work to create capabilities that would not be possible independently.
AI, for example, has enormous potential to improve decision-making across the aviation ecosystem. AI-enabled tools can help operators optimize routes, improve fuel efficiency, predict maintenance needs, better manage aircraft utilization and identify operational risks before they become problems. That also includes better understanding of human performance factors like fatigue and circadian rhythm impacts on pilots, maintenance technicians and other critical personnel.
Increasingly connected aircraft have become powerful data platforms that can provide real-time information sharing between aircraft and their operators, maintenance teams and flight departments. That drives levels of access to information that were unimaginable just a few years ago, enhancing safety while improving operational efficiency.
We’ve also seen how automation can enhance safety and reduce operational costs. Higher levels of aircraft autonomy increasingly support pilots and flight departments by handling routine tasks, monitoring vital systems and helping crews focus their attention on higher-level decision-making.
These technologies also offers greater access to the skies to more people, as seen in the simplified flight controls of many crewed AAM vehicles. Those systems are making inroads across other aircraft types as well.
I liken this moment to when Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone in 2007. Few could have predicted the vast ecosystem of applications, services and capabilities that would emerge as connectivity, computing power and software innovation evolved together. I doubt even Jobs considered that the actual phone would become the device’s least-used capability.
The next decade will not be defined by AI, automation or connectivity alone, but the convergence of these technologies to make aviation safer, more efficient, more sustainable and more productive than ever before. Such a future is very exciting to contemplate.
The regulatory environment often struggles to keep pace with innovation. What role should organizations like the NBAA play in helping industry stakeholders and regulators balance safety, innovation, and speed to market for emerging technologies?
One of NBAA’s most important responsibilities is to serve as a bridge between industry stakeholders and regulators to help bring all those objectives together. Aviation works best when manufacturers, operators, technology developers, regulators and infrastructure providers are working collaboratively rather than sequentially.
Industry associations can help ensure that emerging technologies are informed by operational realities and that regulatory frameworks are informed by the latest technological developments.
At NBAA, that work is taking place every day through groups such as our Emerging Technologies Committee and AAM Roundtable. These groups bring together experts from across the aviation ecosystem to identify challenges, share best practices and help develop legislative and regulatory pathways for integrating these new technologies.
These collaborative efforts have already helped inform important discussions on numerous issues, including the FAA’s Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) on the safe integration of AAM into the NAS that was unveiled at NBAA’s 2024 Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE.)
Most recently, these perspectives also informed NBAA’s comments on the FAA’s notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to safely normalize BVLOS drone operations, which highlighted the need for electronic conspicuity (EC) for all airspace users. NBAA supports the broad adoption of EC to improve situational awareness and to facilitate the integration of UAS and other emerging technologies into the national airspace.
Other results from such key government/industry partnerships include the FAA eIPP, which currently encompasses eight pilot projects across 26 states, as well as in the work now underway by the DOT and FAA to modernize the nation’s air traffic control system.
As the pace of technological change continues to accelerate, regulatory systems must be informed by ongoing engagement with the people developing and operating these technologies.
Industry associations like NBAA are uniquely positioned to facilitate that dialogue and help create an environment where innovation can thrive, safety remains paramount and regulatory processes provide the certainty necessary for investment and deployment. When those elements come together, the entire aviation ecosystem benefits.
Thanks for your time.
The post Q&A With NBAA Chief Ed Bolen appeared first on Aviation Tech Today.