The Group Stage of the highly anticipated UEFA Euro Cup 2016 occurs at ten French venues from June 10 to July 10. It is the 15th edition of the UEFA European Championship, a quadrennial international football championship. The Championship, founded in 1960, was the brainchild of former UEFA President Henri Delaunay.

Football enthusiasts from Europe and around the world will share in the revelry and excitement of the 2016 edition this summer. For the period leading up to and including the 31-day event, Jetex will provide ground support and trip planning services to hundreds of clients that want to attend this major competition. Jetex is well prepared for more private jet traffic than usual. We expect more than 100 flights/day at Paris Le Bourget, and we are ready!

UEFA Euro Cup 2016 Background Information

The UEFA awarded France the honor of hosting Euro 2016 on May 28, 2010 after competing against Italy and Turkey for the honor. France previously hosted the event in 1960 and 1984.

The championship now features 24 teams at the Group Stage. France, as the host nation, automatically gets a berth. Fifty-three teams competed for the other 23 spots. To accommodate 24 teams, the competition will feature 51 games played over 31 days, rather than the 31 games required during the previous 16-team championships.

The 24 qualifiers are, in alphabetical order, Albania, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Northern Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and Wales.

Spain is the defending champion. Germany qualified for the 12th straight time, and England became only the sixth team in history to record a perfect record during qualifying when it won all 10 of its matches.

Euro Cup 2016 Spurs Stadium Development

France’s national stadium in Saint-Denis, the Stade de France, is one of the ten venues. The stadium in Saint-Denis sports the greatest UEFA Euro 2016 capacity: 81,338. France will square off against Romania in the inaugural match here on June 10th. Competition gets underway in earnest on June 11.

Once UEFA officials named France as the host of the 2016 event, a number of pending French stadium projects were given a boost. Recently constructed stadiums in Bordeaux, Nice, Lyon and Lille will host matches.

Lyon replaced its former stadium, the Stade de Gerland, with the Grand Stade OL in January 2016. The 56,186-seat stadium cost €415 million. Lyon’s spectacular new venue will host six games during UEFA Euro 2016, including Belgium v. Italy on June 13, Northern Ireland v. Ukraine on June 16, Romania v. Albania on June 19, and Hungary v. Portugal on June 22. It will also host a Round of 16 match on June 26 and a semi-final contest on July 6.

The Stade Matmut Atlantique was completed in April 2015, and it opened May 18, 2015. The 42,115-seat facility cost an estimated €168 million. The elegant architecture results in a light and open feeling, enhanced by the dozens of slender columns that support the stands and more. The stadium hosts Wales v. Slovakia on June 11, Austria v. Hungary on June 14, Belgium v. republic of Ireland on June 18 and Croatia v. Spain on June 21. It will also host a Quarter-Final match on July 2.

The Stade Pierre Mauroy, in the Lille suburb of Villeneuve d’Ascoq, opened on August 17, 2012. It is just 6 km southeast of Lille’s city center. The stadium, originally named the Grande Stade Lille Metropole, was renamed on June 21, 2013, to honor the former French Prime Minister and Mayor of Lille. The complex includes a hotel and restaurant, and it cost €324 million to construct. The retractable-roof stadium seats 50,186. The stadium will host Germany v. Ukraine on June 12, Russia v. Slovakia on June 15, Switzerland v. France on June 19 and Italy v. Republic of Ireland on June 22. It will also host a Round of 16 match on June 26, and a Quarter-Final contest on July 1.

Construction of the Alliance Riviera in Nice began in 2011, and the facility opened in September 2013. The €245 million stadium seats 35,624. Authorities originally planned to complete the stadium project in 2007, but it stalled over budgetary concerns. Many credit the UEFA 2016 Championship for helping to revive the project and usher it to completion. It will host Poland v. Northern Ireland on June 12, Spain v. Turkey on June 17 and Sweden v. Belgium on June 22. On June 27, it will host a Round of 16 match.

The Parc des Princes in Paris, the Stadium de Toulouse in Toulouse, the Stade Geoffrey Guichard in Saint-Etienne, the Stade Velodrome in Marseille and the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens Agglo will also host matches.

The final contest to determine the winner of the Henri Delaunay Cup is scheduled for July 10th at the Stade de France. The 2016 champion will compete at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia.

Distance From Le Bourget to 2016 Euro Cup Venues

Distance to all ten sites participating in the 2016 Euro Cup Championship, from closest to furthest:

• Le Bourget to Paris’ Stadt de France ~ 8 km (5 mi)
• Le Bourget to Paris’ Parc des Princes ~ 22 km (13.7 mi)
• Le Bourget to Lens Agglo ~ 185 km (115 mi)
• Le Bourget to Lille ~ 206 km (128 mi)
• Le Bourget to Lyon ~ 505 km (314 mi)
• Le Bourget to Saint-Etienne  ~ 563 km (350 mi)
• Le Bourget to Bordeaux ~ 600 km (373 mi)
• Le Bourget to Toulouse ~ 696 km (432 mi)
• Le Bourget to Marseille ~ 792 km (492 mi)
• Le Bourget to Nice ~ 948 km (589 mi)

Note that the two Paris venues are relatively close to Le Bourget Airport. Jetex can easily arrange for efficient ground transportation to both the Stadt de France and the Parc des Princes. We’ll also assist with flight planning and VIP transportation services if you wish to attend matches at any of the 8 venues outside of Paris.

More About Le Bourget Airport

Le Bourget Airport (ICAO: LFPB, IATA: LBG) is approximately 11 km (6.9 mi) north-northeast of Paris’ city center. It is a general aviation facility with an emphasis on international and domestic business aviation and air shows. The Paris Air Show is the world’s oldest such event. It is staged in odd-numbered years. At the 2015 show, 2,303 exhibitors from 48 countries greeted 150,000 professionals and 200,000 general visitors. The 52nd Paris Air Show is scheduled for June 19-25, 2017.

Le Bourget was the only airport in Paris from 1919 until Orly Airport opened in 1932. International commercial flight operations ceased in 1977, and domestic flights ended in 1980. The aviation museum at Le Bourget is one of the oldest in the world. It features over 150 aircraft along with items dating to the 16th century. The museum occupies 1.6 million sq ft of land and hangers along the southeastern edge of the facility.

FBO Services at Le Bourget

Our Le Bourget FBO offers more than 20,000 square meters of parking space for our private aircraft clientele, along with private car parking for both passengers and crew. Take full advantage of our concierge services so that you see more of the action during your stay, including hotel booking, limousine, helicopter transfers and shopping. We’ll gladly provide you with trip planning services if you plan to attend matches at other venues scattered across the country.

Contact Us Today

Since Jetex’ inception in 2005, global flight support operations have grown to include over 600 employees with the requisite skills needed to meet the diverse needs of our clientele. State-of-the-art systems provide vital information 24/7. The first Jetex FBO opened at Le Bourget in 2009. Click here for a virtual tour of our FBO lounge, reception area and airside facilities at Le Bourget.

Jetex is ready to meet your ground support, fueling/refueling and trip planning requirements during the 2016 Euro Cup competition. Please contact us today for prompt, friendly and professional assistance.

Thousands of customers and business aviation professionals gathered in Geneva, Switzerland for the 2015 European Business Aviation Conference and Expo (EBACE) last week. The event marked the event’s 15th anniversary – and Jetex was there in full-force.

“EBACE remains a forward-looking event, which is why it will always be a can’t-miss show on the industry’s calendar,” says NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen.

This year’s edition drew 500 exhibitors and boasted nearly 60 aircraft on the static display. A highlight of the event was the many aircraft manufacturing companies that debuted new aircraft. For example, the Citation Latitude got to show off to potential customers as it made its first public appearance. The jet is the widest Citation in the Cessna fleet and has a range of 2,850 nm. In addition, the Cessna Citation CJ3+ business jet was on display in Europe for the first time.

HondaJet, which is currently in the middle of a world-tour, made an appearance at EBACE. The light jet, which is manufactured by the Honda Aircraft Company, is set to receive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification in the next few months and a European tour was scheduled to launch post-EBACE.

“We have been extremely pleased with the performance and reliability of the HondaJet during the world tour and are excited to bring the aircraft to Europe,” says Honda Aircraft Company President and CEO Michimasa Fujino.

Other OEMs announced that new aircraft were progressing through the stages of development. Gulfstream, for instance, says the work on next generation of the Gulfstream G500 and G600 are moving forward. Both debuted last year and testing continues on the new advanced aircraft. The G500 should be certified in 2017, with the G600 following in 2019.

French manufacturer Dassault Aviation says it is continuing to test the Falcon 5X and Falcon 8X. Three Falcon 8X have been produced and are being run through a series of flying tests. The 5X should make its maiden voyage this summer and is currently undergoing ground tests. The 8X is expected to receive certification in 2018.

Finally, Formula One Grand Prix great Niki Lauda signed a contract to purchase a Bombardier Global 7000. The jet is under development, and Lauda hopes to take delivery of the new plane in 2018.

“As soon as I saw the Global 7000 I knew I must have one,” said Lauda during a press event.

Regulations Coming to Europe

The other big topic at EBACE was European aviation regulations. There are a lot of new regulations coming down the pipeline in Europe and aviation professionals need to be aware of them.

Rules that require the implementation of ADS-B were delayed in Europe. They now must be implemented by June 8, 2016 for new aircraft and June 7, 2020 for older aircraft. ADS-B, Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast, is a system for air traffic surveillance. With ADS-B, an aircraft broadcasts its GPS position. Information like heading, ground track, ground speed and altitude are also broadcast. Receivers on the ground then receive this information and send it to air traffic control displays. The ADS-B information can be used to augment existing primary and secondary radar or used in lieu of those radar technologies.

As numerous older aircraft still need to install the avionics, the waiting list to do the upgrade is growing. For this reason, Jetex highly recommends that aircraft owners and operators schedule the work sooner rather than later if they plan to operate in European airspace after the regulations are implemented.

Europe has also extended the deadline for cockpit voice recorders and underwater locator beacon installations. By January of 2019, cockpit voice recorders must have a minimum 15-hour recording time for large aircraft (MTOW> 27,000 kg) and two hours for smaller aircraft. By January of 2020, CVRs and FDRs must have underwater location devices that broadcast for at least 90 days.

As part of the overall process of advancing new regulations, the European Aviation Safety Administration (EASA) is poised to extend the scope of its reach and influence on aviation. According to the NBAA, EASA “is taking on a more comprehensive role in overseeing aviation throughout the Europe. The agency has issued numerous documents this year with potential impact on business aviation operations.”

Needless to say, this news had people talking at EBACE. More so, according to the NBAA, research and development, airports, air traffic management, security, among other things are all under consideration for inclusion in an EASA mandate.

Finally, after Dec. 31, 2017, all aircraft radios operating in Europe must be 8.33 kHz-capable. An aircraft may not fly IFR in Class A, B or C airspace unless it’s 8.33-capable. For most business aircraft this is a non-issue, but something to be informed about nonetheless.

Regardless of what kind of aircraft you fly, if you’re operating in Europe change is in the air. To ensure your operations are smooth and hassle free, be sure to contact your local Jetex Flight Planning Professional before you take to the skies.

Often seen as a region where no industrial developments are achieved or are part of national policies; it is interesting to look into the current Aviation Projects under development in Latin America to understand the real picture and the full potential of the Regional Aircraft manufacturers and the new joint ventures which are making evolution of the industry possible.

EMBRAER, betting on regional partners

A clear example of how the industry has evolved is the Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica –known worldwide as EMBRAER. The factory was opened in 1969, and since then, their market share has grown considerably; currently being the third biggest aircraft manufacturer worldwide (only behind Boeing and Airbus). Since 1990, Embraer has consistently been placed among the three biggest exporters from Brazil. Currently working on and developing their newest and most ambitious project yet, they have known how to invest not only in Brazil, but also in the industrial capabilities of other partners in the region.

October in Brazil

Known as the KC-390, the new military tactical airlifter designed and assembled by Embraer is a product which not only attracts the attention of the Latin American Air Forces; but different Governments around the world as well, such is the case of Portugal and Czech Republic.

The importance of the project not only resides in the number of airframes required or the interest generated at an international level, but in the Regional industrial integration EMBRAER is promoting by working together for the development of the airframes with the other partner countries. This has been achieved by allowing them to participate in the manufacturing process of several parts and improving in this way the technical knowledge of the factories involved; increasing the international cooperation and sharing the lessons learned during the process.

UNASUR 1, new airs for FAdeA

A less promoted project currently under development by the Consortium Unasur Aero SA –formed by Argentina, Venezuela and Ecuador- is the new UNASUR 1.

Manufactured by FAdeA, the aircraft can be placed in the same segment as the Alenia Aermacchi SF-260 and the Grob -120TP (currently in service with the Argentina Air Force) and will represent; as the KC-390, the result of a joint development between the several Latin American countries involved. The goal of the program is to successfully design and produce a light military training aircraft which will cover the needs from Argentina (50 aircraft), Venezuela (24) and Ecuador (18) for a basic trainer for their Air Forces, and with several other nations in the region following up the project very close and with high interest.

The new trend and a successful future

This new chapter in the Aircraft Manufacturing Industry in Latin America is showing a clear trend from National factories to team up with their regional counterparts and to enter joint ventures to successfully design, develop and build their products. This approach will not only assure the increasing quality standards required by customer in the region are achieved, but it does represent as well a clear example of how the Latin American Industry is adapting to the new challenges faced at an International level.

Surely enough, this new approach to regional industrial cooperation is representing the new trend to be followed and it will assure with no doubt, a successful future for the current programs under development.

Safety is always a major area of concern for any business aviation operator. An aircraft must be properly maintained in order to guarantee a safe flight for both crew and passengers.

To ensure safety throughout the industry, a variety of government-mandated and public-interest safety regulations and rules have been developed. It’s important that operators be familiar with them.

Safety Management System

A Safety Management System (SMS) is a systematic way of identifying risks and problems for an operator. According to industry professionals, an SMS is a businesslike approach to safety. More specifically, it is a systematic, explicit and comprehensive process for managing safety risks.

As with all management systems, an SMS provides for goal setting, planning and measuring performance. A safety management system should be woven into the fabric of an organization, becoming part of the culture, the way people do their jobs.

The system needs to be simplistic and offer ways to identify safety risks before and during flight, as well as when a plane touches down. It will need to contain checklists and, most likely, a scoring system. There also must be a person who is the complete authority for the flight. Finally, a safety management system establishes a system for regulators and operators to effectively communicate.

Part NCC

Part NCC is the most timely and important regulation for operators in Europe and places an emphasis on safety management systems. The rules apply to all non-commercial operators whose principal place of business is within a European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) state, even if the aircraft is registered outside the area.

The rules go into effect this August.

To comply with the regulation, an operator must have a current safety management system. The operator must also have a training regiment and accurate documents and record keeping. In addition, the operator must have an operations manual that specifies maintenance programs, equipment and other aspects of the aircraft.

Once the regulations are implemented, it will not be uncommon for regulators to do ramp inspections to make sure operators have complied with the rule – so be prepared! Your Jetex Trip Planning specialist will be able to help ensure your operation is Part NCC compliant.

IS-BAO

The International Standard for Business Aviation Operations (IS-BAO) was developed by the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) and its associated members. It is a set of best practices codes for business aviation operators and is recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States. The European Committee for Standardization also recognizes IS-BAO for safe operation and maintenance of business aviation aircraft.

There are over 700 IS-BAO registered operators in the US and around the world, and that number continues to increase each year. The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has a complete toolkit for becoming IS-BAO compliant. The package contains a CD-ROM and other material. There are also companies that specialize in helping operators earn an IS-BAO certification.

For any questions or concerns regarding any of these regulations contact your Jetex Trip Support specialists – who will also be able to advise you on any updates to the regulations that could impact your operations.