This month, WOI caught up with Swiss Aviation Consulting to discuss the 70-100% industry bounceback, maintenance trends, and perceptions of business aviation.
Who is Swiss Aviation Consulting (SAC)
Swiss Aviation Consulting is a full-service advisory firm for the aviation industry. Our services include aircraft life-cycle management, compliance, and training.
Our two main business units focus on A/C Asset Management and Flight Ops Compliance. Asset Management services include technical aircraft and records reviews, operator audits, lease portfolio management (incl. full transitions and re-delivery management), valuations, and aircraft acquisition and sales. We also have an EASA CAMO approval managing a fleet of aircraft ranging from Gulfstream G200 to Bombardier Global 5000 and ATR72.
Compliance services include; IS-BAO certification, AOC startup, drafting and updating of operating and technical manuals, and operating cost reviews. We also offer tailored services to ensure assets are operated and maintained in accordance with industry standards.
What are some of the trends you have noticed in 2020, as a result of COVID-19?
While the commercial aviation flying activities remain at a very low level for the foreseeable future, business aviation has bounced back a lot quicker and is now globally at 70% of the pre-COVID level and in some regions back to 100%. Lots of airlines just operate a skeleton schedule with very limited frequencies and destinations which leaves opportunities for the business and private aviation operators to fill the gap. Furthermore, social distancing on a commercial flight is impossible with 180 plus passengers in one cabin.
General and Business Aviation offers a safe and hassle-free opportunity to travel from A to B with family and business partners.
How are charter operators benefitting from the current situation?
By helping first-time users to fly with corporate jets. Hopefully, many of these clients will enjoy their experience and remain regular customers. Overall, for the charter operators, it’s a huge opportunity. Ultimately, we all as an industry will benefit from having more clients understanding and using corporate jets.
Where does SAC operate?
We have offices in Zug Switzerland and Kuala Lumpur Malaysia and representatives in the U.A.E., Brazil, USA, and South Africa.
Tell us about your operations in Asia
We have a regional office in Kuala Lumpur currently with three staff members covering operational and technical consulting activities, business development, and sales for the Asian Pacific Region.
What is your business model?
We are privately owned and our group of companies is independent of any financial institution, manufacturer, operator, insurance company, or maintenance provider, assuring our clients the benefit of the truly unbiased, comprehensive, and flexible provision of service.
What’s the current mood of the industry?
It’s a difficult period, one top aviation executive said that the COVID pandemic is September 11, SARS, and the 2009 financial crisis together at once. But every crisis generates some opportunities in this case we mainly see them with Cargo and General/Business aviation operators and related service providers.
Is the perception of business aviation shifting?
We hope it will shift and become more broadly accepted as a valuable business tool like in the United States, that should be the goal for all of us in this industry to make sure we provide added value and make the travel experience smooth as silk for new and existing clients.
What are some maintenance trends?
OEMs seem to heavily invest in their own service centres expanding and adding facilities around the globe. As part of the after-sales service, MRO plays a crucial role in ensuring jets are maintained, upgraded, and refurbished at the highest standards and to the full satisfaction of the clients. With Covid-19 storage and preservation becomes additionally a subject of importance to ensure the aircraft are properly maintained and stored during extended downtimes.
What are 5 hashtags that describe SAC’s brand personality?
#Flexible, #Efficient, #Friendly, #Resourceful and Innovative, #Independent and Unbiased
Interview conducted by Sarah Keates, Founder of WOI with Swiss Aviation Consulting
Simon Diggelmann, VP APAC & Asset Management
Swiss Aviation Consulting
