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GAMA Perspectives: Building on achievements of the past 12 months
By GAMA’s 2021 Chair of the Board, Nicolas Chabbert
As we enter the new year, I would like to take this opportunity to review the General Aviation Manufacturers Association’s (GAMA) accomplishments of 2021 and how we have postured our association to tackle the challenges our members and the industry face today…and in the years ahead.
GAMA clearly proved its value by enabling the voice of general aviation and business aviation to be heard “loud and clear” for key topics on both sides of the Atlantic during an unprecedented time of COVID-19 disruptions.
I was particularly proud to have been entrusted with the chairmanship of GAMA’s Board of Directors in 2021, bringing a European and transatlantic perspective at a particularly critical moment for aviation. It has been an honor and a pleasure to work with the heads of the world’s leading manufacturers of general aviation airplanes, rotorcraft, engines, avionics, components, and related services and technologies, as well as companies in the emerging sector of advanced air mobility.
Looking back at the start of last year, the overall mood was rather gloomy – especially as GAMA prepared its State of the Industry press conference in February 2021. I may have surprised many viewers of this annual briefing – held virtually in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic – by talking about the signs of a recovery and urging the supply chain’s readiness to keep pace with an eventual upswing in demand.
The industry results for the first nine months of 2021 confirmed my outlook, with increases in turboprop, business jet and helicopter deliveries compared to 2020. Suppliers that anticipated the market improvement are clearly better positioned today to serve their customers during the production ramp-up that is now a reality.
One of GAMA’s 2021 accomplishments for which I am particularly proud was the organization’s leading role in reviewing and refreshing the industry’s climate goals and progress and in setting the carbon neutrality target by 2050 for our industry sector. Building on the Business Aviation Commitment on Climate Change (BACCC) of 2009, the new pledge to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions brought GAMA together with the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) and the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) in continuing to strengthen our environmental commitments.
Reaching this agreement not only involved an engagement across the spectrum of OEMs to develop realistic solutions that balance economic growth, progress and technology; it also required some persuasion with climate skeptics in certain influential circles.
Another success for GAMA in 2021 was strengthening EASA’s recognition of the association’s international presence as a global organization. My focus included bringing a truly transatlantic perspective – as well as utilizing established relationships in both Europe and the U.S. – to facilitate the dialogue between GAMA and other European institutions and stakeholders. This included furthering the engagement between the aircraft certification teams of these airworthiness authorities as well as between the European Commission, EASA and the FAA.
Finally, as troubled times often can lead to additional solidarity between industry players, it was particularly gratifying to see more companies join GAMA’s membership, including such multinational “big names” as European-based Airbus Corporate Jets, Leonardo Helicopters and Safran Helicopter Engines, as well as many other companies that are paving the way for a strong and dynamic general aviation industry in the future.
In closing, I want to thank the GAMA Board of Directors for its support during my chairmanship in 2021. The association – and its chairman in 2022, Michael Amalfitano of Embraer Executive Jets – can count on my continued support throughout the coming year.
Nicolas Chabbert
Senior Vice President of Daher’s Aircraft Division, and
CEO of Kodiak Aircraft
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