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

On May 18, Canadian OEM Bombardier held an official opening ceremony for its new London service center at Biggin Hill Airport. The former Rizon hangar and FBO now has Signature as FBO operator while Bombardier is using the huge hangar facility for maintaining its clients’ aircraft.


The opening was carried out by His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, patron of the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA). Also present were Mike Ainsworth, the service facility’s general manager, London Biggin Hill Airport chairman Andrew Walters and Bombardier Business Aircraft v-p and general manager of customer experience, Jean-Christophe Gallagher.


Walters thanked those that had supported the development of the airport including former mayor of London Boris Johnson, new major Sadiq Kahn, the local government in the London Borough of Bromley and the local community. He in particular noted the recent permission for longer operating hours and the new Runway 03 GPS approach (currently in a consultation stage). Such developments have been instrumental in attracting companies such as Bombardier to put their trust in Biggin Hill.


“Biggin Hill is the ideal location for this service center,” said Gallagher, “our ninth in the world.” And it will act as a gateway to the rest of the continent, as well as to the Middle East, Russia, and Africa. “This location also allows us to connect the dots with our other service centers. And the facility is fully operational with tip-to-tail activities.” Bombardier has five service centers in the U.S. (Hartford, Fort Lauderdale, Dallas, Wichita, and Tucson) plus four international ones, including&nbsp;Biggin Hill along with Berlin (LBAS–a joint venture with Lufthansa Technik), Singapore, and Tianjin, China, opened just before ABACE in April as a joint-venture. There are&nbsp;also 50 Bombardier authorized facilities.


“Our strategy for Europe is that Biggin Hill is the base of operations—the main heavy maintenance facility," Gallagher said. "For us it’s about serving customers at line stations, five of which were acquired from Austrian Air Support recently, and to funnel heavy work to Berlin and Biggin Hill. Here we’re certificated for all Bombardier platforms for heavy maintenance, and we’ll take care of transit traffic too. And for us it’s wonderful as we have Signature Flight Support next door.” He concluded, “The key is that London is the business aviation hub of Europe. [And Bombardier] has further announcements of expansion planned.”


Parked out front of the new facility was a Spitfire (Canadian as luck would have it) from the nearby Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar and a Zenith Aviation Learjet 75.

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