“One who gains strength by overcoming obstacles possesses the only strength which can overcome adversity.”
– Humanitarian and Nobel prize winner, Albert Schweitzer
The last 3 years have been anything but easy. The pandemic changed every aspect of people’s lives across the world and we have all had to adapt to a new way of being and new ways of thinking. However, going into 2022, there was relief as the lockdowns and restrictions began to ease, teasing a return to normal on the far horizon.
When we explored this in our March article, we noted that the aviation industry is actively embracing change and looking to improve environmental efficiency by investing in sustainable technologies such as hybrid-electric aircraft, alternative fuels, and more efficient fuselage shapes. These advancements promise to significantly reduce fuel consumption and emissions which will allow the aviation industry to have an effect on global climate change without sacrificing customer comfort or safety.
2022 has seen seismic shifts in geopolitics, the global economy and technical advancements, so it is heartening to see that the aviation industry continues to actively deal with any and all challenges, recognising the need for sustainability and leading to an unmistakable sense of optimism surrounding the industry as we move into 2023.
Here’s a brief rundown of significant moments for Camber Aviation Management and the aviation industry in 2022.
January 2022 saw a strong start for the Bizjet Market as flights reached new records
The number of business jets that flew in 2021 set the single-year record with 3.3 million flights – 7 percent higher than the previous highest point in 2019. All types of private flying, from self-owned, fractional and branded charter saw significant growth – attributed mainly to loosened travel restrictions and greater airport and airline capacity.
Quaynote News Vs Refurbished Jets at 9th Annual Opportunities in Business Jets conference
Our own Thomas Chatfield spoke at the Quaynote conference in Malta where he discussed the wait times and costs faced when buying a private jet and analysed the benefits of purchasing a pre-owned aircraft in the current market, as described here on our site.
April – Covid restrictions began to ease around the world but flying privately remains as popular as ever
In 2020 and 2021, the pandemic sent the numbers of people flying privately skyrocketing, due to seeking safer travel options. However, even though restrictions started to ease in April, the demand for flying privately remained high in comparison with pre-pandemic levels, suggesting that those who had gotten used to the luxury and convenience of flying privately have no intention of returning to traditional commercial flights.
Top 100 women in Aerospace and Aviation
In May, Matt Higa released a list of 100 inspiring women from within the Aerospace and Aviation industries. This list celebrated and recognized women making waves in what is traditionally a male-dominated field. Everything from pilots to engineers to business owners were represented in this inspiring compilation, showcasing just how far women have come in these industries.
Thomas Chatfield appointed Member of the Hague Court of Arbitration for Aviation (Hague CAA)
We were delighted when it was announced that our own CEO, Thomas Chatfield, was appointed a Member of the Technical Standing Committee of The Hague Court of Arbitration for Aviation. The Hague CAA is renowned for bringing together luminaries from many different fields in order to provide a specialist and impartial dispute resolution forum for the global aviation industry. With his expertise, in addition to 35 years of experience in the international aviation industry, Tom is adding an exceptional amount of knowledge to the HCAA and we look forward to hearing about all his successes in 2023.
Camber was proud to support Coen Skrypnek as he put pedal to the mettle in 2022’s Canadian championships
After achieving his best ever World Cup result – 2nd place in the Canadian championships in Calgary in August, plus multiple podium appearances at other and bigger races, Coen had a summer full of action and fun, some incredible takeaways and lessons learnt. Despite obstacles such as crashes and mechanical failures, he was supported by his family and professional sports counselling to regain momentum and go from strength to strength. We wish him all the best for 2023 and look forward to catching up with him on his next big adventure.
Monaco Yacht Show
The Monaco Yacht Show 2022 was a spectacular event, showcasing some amazing concept yachts and groundbreaking innovations that created an atmosphere of excitement and awe throughout the show. This prestigious event has always been a source of inspiration for Camber Aviation, as there are many places of overlap in regards to interior design for yachts and private aircrafts. The 2022 Yacht show was no exception, driving us to continue pioneering new layouts and interiors to ensure our clients have an exceptional passenger experience.
Strive for Perfection: The Official Platinum Jubilee Edition
Camber Aviation was honoured this year to be included in the RREC’s prestigious publication “Strive for Perfection: The Official Platinum Jubilee Edition”, celebrating the 70th anniversary of the queen’s accession to the throne and showcasing the world-renowned Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor car heritage.
Cost of chartering is becoming more expensive
Moving into the end of the year, the demand for private jets remained high yet many people were unhappy with the rising prices. This prompted passengers to look for other charter companies, as costly flights and delays, changes, or cancellations became too much of an inconvenience. On top of this, fewer perks and benefits have become available in chartered flying – driving passenger dissatisfaction even further. It’ll be interesting to see which charter operators are able to overcome these pain points in 2023.
Boeing rolled out their very last 747
December 2022 saw the completion of the very last Boeing 747 to be built, fitted out as a freight aircraft. This grand old lady is, perhaps, the most famous aircraft model – known by enthusiasts, experts and laymen alike for its iconic shape and size. Sooner or later, all aircraft are superseded as innovation drives the industry forward with new technology and features but the 747 remained a constant for over 50 years, carrying freight and commercial passengers (and the lucky few who possessed a customised 747 jet), leaving us to bid a heartfelt goodbye to the Queen of the Skies.
Looking forward…
We have some exciting news and events coming up this next year – Camber Aviation has been shortlisted for the International Yacht and Aviation Awards 2023 – watch this space for further developments!
2023 is set to be a revolutionary year for the aviation industry. With the announcement that a hydrogen-powered flight will launch this year, research into solar-powered passenger aircraft, and Boeing’s first all-electric prototype unveiled, the aviation industry is on the cusp of dramatic change.
We know that not all of these developments may come to fruition, but some may have lasting implications for every one of us. We are proud to be part of an industry that continually looks for ways to improve and move forward in response to a rapidly changing world. Making changes for their own sake does not always produce progress – nor does completely avoiding change for the sake of traditionalism lead anywhere good. Instead, we need to find ways of combining old and new methods into something better suited for our current challenges.
This makes it an exciting moment in time for the aviation sector. Having taken a moment to look back at what has already been achieved this past year, we are eagerly awaiting what lies ahead in 2023!