Brazil's Flapper lands in Europe
Launched in 2016, Flapper is the first on-demand private aviation company in Latin America. Headquartered in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and with local offices in Latin America, the company commercialized scheduled flights in Brazil on its regional marketplace platform. Flapper reports more than 300,000 users of its mobile app. Flapper is now to expand into Europe under the leadership of senior partner Manoel Assunção, who says the company has already been testing its business model in Europe since January of this year. It has so far commercialized more than 100 charter flights and empty leg deals together with local operators in southern Europe and will initially be operating out of Lisbon, Portugal.
Flapper boasts a proprietary air charter inventory of more than 1,000 general aviation aircraft in Latin America and allows real-time charter quotes and, upon owner's approval, the sale of individual seats. It also commercializes two fixed routes in Brazil, including Pilatus PC-12-based flights between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Its plans for 2022 include local hiring's in Spain, Italy and Switzerland. To boost its European footprint, Flapper will continue registering new business jets and helicopters on its platform, while looking to integrate local flight procurement providers. www.flyflapper.com
MRO Insider, Aviation Heaven merge
MRO Insider this week announced a merger with Aviation Heaven; the company led by Andreas Past in Europe. The two companies have added over 60 FAA authorized providers to date, visible through the app and live map. The map updates provider locations every minute, allowing flight departments to plan where to land if issues should arise. This first round includes 63 service providers outside the US, moving the total number of providers to over 400.
Andreas Past, President of Aviation Heaven, states: “It’s great to see both networks working together on the same goal, providing worldwide coverage for FAA registered jets. We at Aviation Heaven are proud to represent MRO Insider in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Additionally, European, Asian, and African operators can use MRO Insider to find FBOs on their trips to the US.” Service providers are notified through e-mail and push notifications that aircraft operators are searching for maintenance through the platform. The provider responds within the app directly to the operator, including ETA and pricing. Average response times for AOG events have dropped below 8 minutes from when the operators send a request. In January, the company has pushed into the FBO market to include hangar rental, fuel quotes, handling, and ground service equipment to name a few. www.mroinsider.com
Russian parts on foreign aircraft could complicate future international travel
Following the news that Rosaviatsiya, the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency, has issued certificates to five Russian firms to develop parts for foreign aircraft; Harry Boneham, aerospace analyst at GlobalData, an independent data and analytics company, offers his view: “Rosaviatsiya’s certificates could carry consequences for travel between Russia and the West in the medium term.” Foreign aircraft represent a significant proportion of the Russian commercial fixed-wing aircraft fleet - with Airbus and Boeing making up 73.3% in 2021, while the Russian United Aircraft Company accounted for the remaining 26.7%. Boneham adds: “However, Russia has been unable to secure spare parts for these aircraft due to the sanctions. The installation of Russian improvised parts will likely compromise the airworthiness of modified aircraft in the eyes of Western regulators. Furthermore, Western parts manufacturers may take legal action against their Russian counterparts due to copyright infringement, which could delay or deter regulators from certifying Russian-made parts. As a result, Russia’s extensive Western-made fleet is unlikely to be certified in Europe and the US in the medium-term. Even if the war abates and the sanctions are removed, Russians will be kept in a form of de facto isolation due to a lack of certified aircraft.” www.globaldata.com
People: Joan Serra, new manager, regulatory affairs – Europe at GAMA
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) recently has added Joan Serra as regulatory affairs manager – Europe to its staff. Joan Serra is a Regulatory Affairs Manager for GAMA based in the Brussels office. Having joined GAMA in March 2022, he is responsible for coordinating the association’s activities related to regulatory requirements and policies in Europe governing the design, certification, operation, training and maintenance of general aviation aircraft. This primarily involves working with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), to support the development of new and revised regulations. He also provides support and service to GAMA’s members based in Europe or with specific interests in European aviation regulation and policy and international coordination.
Before working for GAMA, Joan spent several years within the airline industry, where he managed regulatory affairs and flight standards. He held several positions at Evelop Airlines, both in Spain and the Dominican Republic, where he most recently served as project lead for the obtainment of an Air Operator Certificate for a Part 121 Caribbean-based carrier. Joan’s professional background also includes a graduate traineeship at the International Cooperation Department of the EASA, and an internship at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal.
Joan holds a MS of Air Transport Management from the French National Civil Aviation School (ENAC), a MSc. of Economic Policy and Public Economy, a Bachelor of Laws, and a Bachelor of Business Administration. He is actively pursuing a Private Pilot’s License (PPL). www.gama.aero
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