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Emissions Trading Looms at EBACE Opening Session
By: Matt Thurber
Caption: Key officials from the European Commission and Eurocontrol joined EBAA chief executive Brian Humphries and NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen on the podium at
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Key officials from the European Commission and Eurocontrol joined EBAA chief executive Brian Humphries and NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen on the podium at this morning’s EBACE opening general session, followed by a ribbon-cutting with EBAA chairman Rodolfo Baviera. Humphries reiterated EBAA’s concerns about how European business aviation will be constrained by new regulatory efforts such as the emissions trading scheme (ETS) and “inappropriate blanket security proposals.” Business aviation access to the region’s airports is also affected by growing low-cost airline traffic that uses airports previously available to only general aviation aircraft. “The situation is as challenging as any we’ve ever seen,” he said. According to NBAA’s Bolen, “We’re very concerned [about ETS]. Business aviation did not receive the fair treatment it deserves.” Under the European ETS, a business aviation flight from Los Angeles to London would have to offset carbon emissions for the entire flight, not just the portion flown in Europe, which, he said, “is difficult for us to understand.” European Commission director of air transport Daniel Calleja said that ETS is coming in 2012. He added, “The Commission is willing to work with you. We need to find a workable system, and we are very keen to find a solution that takes into account the concerns of business aviation.”