Ian Sheppard has acted as Editor International Show Editions for AIN since June 2013. Based in the Redhill, England, Ian reports for the various AIN publications as well as providing support to International Editor Charles Alcock in covering international air shows (such as Farnborough, Paris, Singapore and Dubai), and the EBACE and MEBA business aviation events. His central role is to cover Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Prior to becoming more involved with AIN in mid-2011 (initially as deputy international editor), Ian worked for various aviation publications through his company, First Aerospace Media. This included being part of the AIN team covering daily news at international air shows.
Ian has worked for publications such as Flight International (technical reporter, 1997-8) and Aerospace International (editor, 1999-2000). He was publications manager at Airclaims (Ascend) between 2000 and 2004 before forming First Aerospace Media. Since mid-2009 Ian has also been managing editor of Regional International, the journal of the European Regions Airline Association (ERA).
Ian hasis working towards a European commercial pilot licence, having held an FAA private pilot license in 1991, and instructor rating. He also has a degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Bath, England, and a graduate diploma in law from Kingston University, and is a graduate of the legal practice course (College of Law, Guildford).

Editor

Ian Sheppard

Last month’s Airex show in Turkey (September 6 to 9) highlighted the country’s emergence as a hub of aviation growth on Europe’s boundary with the increasingly dynamic markets of Asia and the Middle East. Business aviation was a large facet of the event, which was staged on the general aviation apron of Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport, reflecting growth being engineered by both foreign and local companies.


Ankara-based Emair was celebrating 40 years as Cessna’s main dealer in the country. According to board member Selim Gürsan, the company (founded by his father) has helped Cessna’s Citation series achieve almost one-third of the Turkish market and sold numerous piston singles as trainers.


Emair manages three Citations on behalf of their owners and these aircraft (a CJ3, an XLS+ and a Sovereign) are based at its headquarters at Ankara Esenboga International Airport, where it has an established maintenance, repair and overhaul operation. “Maintenance is doing well; we have 80 to 90 percent of Citation maintenance work and the largest hangar in the bizav market here,” said Gürsan.


Switzerland-based MRO and completions group Amac Aerospace also wants a slice of the growing Turkish market for business aircraft support, and with this in mind opened its new hangar at Atatürk Airport during the Airex show. The company aims to earn European Aviation Safety Agency Part 145 approval by year-end.


The new Istanbul facility will also serve as a platform for its efforts to market the Pilatus PC-12 in the Middle East, with <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ebace-convention-news/2012-05-15/amac-opens-istanbul-facility-prepares-pc-12-sales">Amac having become a regional distributor for the turboprop single in January</a>. Amac COO Atilla Güney told AIN that the company is now evaluating the market to decide the business aircraft series on which it should focus its maintenance efforts.


Embraer has also made some inroads into the Turkish market, having delivered one each of the Phenom 100, Phenom 300 and Legacy 600. Alongside local partner Delta Aerospace, which has been allied with the Brazilian airframer since May this year, it displayed its flagship Lineage 1000 at Airex.


Dassault was present with a Falcon 2000LX and 7X. Gulfstream’s regional vice president for international sales, Trevor Esling, was busy fronting a sales drive for its aircraft, with two G550s heading the Savannah airframer’s presence in the static park.


Bombardier displayed a Global 6000, featuring its new Vision flight deck, as well as a Learjet 60XR and a Challenger 605. “Turkey, as a gateway to both the Middle East and Europe, has the potential to be a breakout market for Bombardier,” said Raphael Haddad, Bombardier’s sales vice president for the Middle East and Africa. According to the Canadian airframer’s most recent market forecast, Turkey and the Middle East are expected to take delivery of 1,185 business jets between 2012 and 2031.


Piper Aircraft board member Enrico Evers told AIN that his company expects certification for the Meridian single turboprop in Russia soon. The U.S. company recently signed Turkey’s Baymap Aviation as its local distributor and its first dealer in the Middle East.


Other local business aviation companies at the Airex show included MNGjet–a spin-off of the MNG cargo airline, which has a large Part 145 maintenance center at Atatürk Airport–and TAV Air. The latter’s general manager, Berrin Yer, told AIN that the group’s TAV Airports subsidiary also offers its own Hawker and Citation Sovereign jets for charter.


Also present was EA Aerospace, the Turkish founding partner of the new Eclipse Aerospace group. Ekim Alptekin, EA shareholder and owner of the Eclipse 500 on display at the show, has started an Istanbul-based air-taxi operation called Seabird Airlines, which operates a pair of DHC-6 Twin Otters.


In the helicopter market, AgustaWestland had a large stand. It announced that Turkish operator Kaan Air has signed a preliminary sales contract for two AW169s and an AW139.


Airex organizers confirmed that the next event in two years time will be rebranded as the Istanbul Airshow 2014.

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

Strong Presence at Istanbul Show Highlights Turkish Bizav Growth

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Curt Epstein

New developments at FBOs including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Complex will cater directly to NetJets and Executive Jet management clients

Signature, NetJets Team On Vegas Private Terminal

Sarah Rose

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Broker says it's a "dynamic year" for business aviation

Boutsen: Preowned Aircraft Availability, Transactions Up

“I couldn’t be prouder," said president David Stanley

Vista America Celebrates Milestone First Year

Charles Alcock

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

News and information about crew, passenger, aircraft and airport security issues.

Charter brokers and aircraft operators assembled in the Czech capital Prague

Fraud and Cybersecurity Top Air Charter Forum Agenda

Jessica Reed

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

The charter broker facilitated the rapid transport of more than 70 electricians to Florida

Chapman Freeborn Aids Hurricane Milton Recovery

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Entry-level pricing now starts at $220,000 for a 1/16 share in the single turboprop

SkyShare Reduces Rates for PC-12 Fractional Owners

Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

More In Charter & Fractional

Signature, NetJets Team On Vegas Private Terminal

Complex will cater directly to NetJets and Executive Jet management clients

Boutsen: Preowned Aircraft Availability, Transactions Up

Broker says it's a "dynamic year" for business aviation

Vista America Celebrates Milestone First Year

“I couldn’t be prouder," said president David Stanley

Fraud and Cybersecurity Top Air Charter Forum Agenda

Charter brokers and aircraft operators assembled in the Czech capital Prague

Chapman Freeborn Aids Hurricane Milton Recovery

The charter broker facilitated the rapid transport of more than 70 electricians to Florida

SkyShare Reduces Rates for PC-12 Fractional Owners

Entry-level pricing now starts at $220,000 for a 1/16 share in the single turboprop

Wheels Up Refreshes Jet Fleet With New Credit Facility

Private flight provider is also installing Gogo's Galileo HDX Wi-Fi service

IADA Looks Ahead at NBAA-BACE and Beyond

"The industry continues to not live up to what I think the people expect"

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN