Flying privately in Europe
By Thierry Dubois - June 1, 2008
Thinking about flying privately in Europe? If you’ve been using business jets mostly just in North America, you should anticipate some differences.
Business aviation is simply more complex in Europe for several reasons. One is that the European Union (EU) doesn’t encompass the entire continent, so different rules apply depending on where you are. Therefore, you can expect different authorities to ask for different documents.
Secondly, the EU is still developing in terms of airspace, customs and other factors that affect aviation. “This is because the EASA [European Aviation Safety Agency, the four-year-old, pan-European counterpart of the FAA] is not in full swing yet,” explained Bernd Gans, chairman of the German Business Aviation Association. To make things even more complicated, some countries, such as Switzerland, fall under the EASA’s scope but are not members of the EU.
A common perception is that it costs more with fly in Europe than in the U.S. If it weren’t for the current low value of the dollar compared with most European currencies, the difference, if any, would be slight. However, the total cost of flying in a business jet is calculated differently in Europe than in the U.S. Taxes may either not apply to the same items or may apply in different ways.
Another difference you’ll find in Europe is a less-developed network of business aviation airports equipped with FBOs and handling companies. Also, the facilities and services provided by FBOs may vary from what you’re used to in the U.S. “Your crew might not find a sauna, as in some high-end American FBOs, but passengers will see little of the facility because customer-minded ground staff will have them walking to or from their limos in 30 seconds,” said Eric Dumas, FBO manager at France’s Lyon Bron airport. Near the big capital cities, however, you’ll recognize the names of some FBOs and handling agents that you know from the U.S. And as in America, FBOs or general aviation terminals often are the right point of contact when it comes to arranging connections–airplane to helicopter, for instance.
In terms of sheer numbers, airports in Europe are just as numerous as they are in North America. And they often are closer to city centers, which makes ground connections faster, which may be enough to compensate for the absence of FBOs at some airports. However, European airports are not evenly distributed throughout the continent, with some countries–the UK, Germany and France, for instance–boasting denser networks.
If you fly to major international hubs, operations may be more complex than they are at less popular destinations– just as in North America. However, your crew might find flying in Europe easier, as they usually are allowed to fly at high altitudes until they get very close to your destination. This translates into reduced fuel consumption–hence, longer range and lower costs.
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