Latest In Advanced Air Mobility Showcased At EBACE 2022
Vehicles on display from China, Germany and Netherlands bear witness to humanity’s quest for bird-like mobility—perhaps without too much of the footwork at the other end. They are representatives of a greater global effort; an initiative whose time might have come at last, thanks to recent advances in electric propulsion, aerodynamics, computer technology and materials. Autonomous or self-piloted, they have been the stuff of dreams for over a century. Now, they are here in Geneva, but are they here to last?
There’s a whole lot of post-Covid catching up to do at this year’s EBACE—some of it in the static aircraft park, where the aircraft illustrated here were caught arriving and being marshalled in advance of Monday’s grand opening. The pandemic did not totally arrest business aircraft development and production, so keen-eyed visitors will spot new features and designations on aircraft they thought they knew.
Two significant, large business jets are a focus of interest and speculation in the EBACE static park—one American, one European. Each is progressing towards certification, although both manufacturers are struggling with their schedule.
Even a cursory examination of the static aircraft park will reveal that EBACE is by no means totally devoted to business jets. There are propellers a-plenty, some even driven by piston power, and a sprinkling of rotating wings. While most of those aircraft could appear on the business books, others might additionally see outings for family weekends.
EBACE 2022: Business Aircraft Cabin Interior Design
This gallery shows images of different types of fabrics to upholster your bizjet seats, from material to embossed and patterned leathers, carpets, cushions, mood lighting, and you'll also find firms specializing in cabin management systems including Wi-Fi. Home comforts above the clouds, indeed.
The European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) event was canceled due to the evolving outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, but the restrictions have now eased and the industry is in recovery. Annual events are going ahead and Geneva, Switzerland, is getting ready to welcome everyone back for EBACE 2022. Let's take a look back at Aviation Week Network's coverage of the event since its first year in 2001.
Take a look at these EBACE 2022 scenes proving that the business aviation segment of the market is clearly back in business. You can see how busy the exhibition hall floor is and while there's room for luxury (see the Aston Martin in a cameo role in one image) there was plenty of time and energy devoted to the important topic of sustainability.
While EBACE was unsustainable for the past two years due to the ravages of the Covid-19 pandemic, it returns in 2022 with a strong commitment to sustainability, in the sense of protecting the environment. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a phrase on many a lip this week, as are carbon offsets, aerodynamic developments and electric power versus hydrogen fuel. Not content with those innovations, some exhibitors are constructing their booths out of recyclable materials, or just decorating them with green, potted plants.
Engines can make or break a business aircraft, as Cessna and Dassault discovered a few years ago. The exhibition halls display a range of established, reliable types of turbofan, intermingled with newer types yet to prove themselves in the hard slog of daily use. There is always scope for innovation, hence the appearance of some promising electric powerplants. Whether their likes will dominate the EBACE booths in a decade’s time is a matter for a "happy hour" debate after the show closes.
