Air Charter Scotland partners with South Pole to offset carbon emissions

Air Charter Scotland, a leading UK-based air charter and aircraft management company, is pleased to announce its first commitment to a worthy environmental and community project. It is teaming with global sustainability consultancy South Pole to fully offset carbon emissions from its business jet fleet based out of London (Biggin Hill and Luton Airports), Glasgow and Malta. Clients and charter brokers will be offered the option, effective immediately.

After close consultation with South Pole, Air Charter Scotland determined its initial project will help support a new, hydro power water project located on the Du River in the Hubei Province in China. Newly designed to aid the supply of clean energy, it delivers clean electricity through the hydropower station with an installed capacity of 500MW, reducing pollution for the local community.

“We have been evaluating doing something meaningful and tangible on carbon emissions for some time now,” said Air Charter Scotland COO Derek Thomson. The business, founded 21 years ago, is looking forward to building its business relationship with South Pole, where it hopes to support other international projects after an initial 12 months. Air Charter Scotland is also investigating a suitable nature project in the UK to invest in later this year.

“Aviation contributes to 2.5% of all global CO2 output. Business aviation contributes a fraction of that – no more than 0.2% – and our sector continues to lead in the drive to sustainability with next gen alternative powered aircraft the widening supply of sustainable aviation fuel at business aviation airports,” he highlighted.

“This Hubei project is a well-considered community programme our growing base of international clients can identify with. It will enable the local community to tap into new, renewable energy sources and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels as the main source of power generation, sparing the environment from 782,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions on average per year.”

“South Pole supports this worthy project as a significant contributor to improved local transportation and communications systems. It provides employment opportunities for 70 people plus training provision, as well as enhanced investments that benefit the local economy. We are duly very pleased to be working with Derek Thomson and his team as they embark on their carbon offsetting journey with this valued initiative,” said Agnieszka Kwolek, Aviation and Shipping Expert, South Pole.

Through its sustainability programmes, South Pole sees that 782,000 tonnes of CO2 are mitigated on average each year.

https://www.southpole.com/projects/hubei-pankou-hydropower-china

Link to the registry: https://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/projsearch.html

Editor’s notes

Headquartered in Glasgow, with operational bases at London Luton, London Biggin Hill Airports, Glasgow Airport and Malta, Air Charter Scotland commenced charter flights 21 years ago. It has a fully worldwide operation following the creation of Air Charter Scotland Europe in January 2021, and a new European AOC. Its current fleet includes three Cessna Citation M2s, an XL and Citation Latitude; one Dassault Falcon 7X; two Embraer Legacy 500s and a Legacy 650, plus a Bombardier Challenger 350 on the Maltese Registry. The fleet is all offered for third party charter.

Air Charter Scotland is a member of the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) and The Air Charter Association (ACA) where Derek Thomson is a Board member.

South Pole

Founded in Switzerland in 2006, South Pole has been at the forefront of business decarbonisation, developing and implementing strategies that turn climate action into long-term business opportunities. For Fortune 500 companies, governments and organisations around the world, South Pole is more than a leading consultancy: its team of 700+ experts have developed climate action projects, created innovative tools for finance, APIs for automation, and carbon offset solutions that help clients reach their carbon mitigation and Net Zero goals.

South Pole supports all players across the aviation industry and assists airports, airlines, cargo operators, fuel providers, business aviation and travel agencies to take climate action.

www.aircharterscotland.com

www.southpole.com

Media contacts:

Air Charter Scotland

Alison Chambers/Liz Danner

E communications@emeraldmedia.co.uk

South Pole

Eleanor Ross

Senior Client Communication Manager

E.Ross@southpole.com

Paul Cremer

My name is Paul Cremer, and this marks my 42nd year working within the business and general aviation industry. Over this time, I’ve had the privilege of overseeing a diverse array of sector activities, ranging from aircraft charter and management to air ambulance services, ground operations, air traffic control, airport management, technology implementation, and the outsourcing services I currently manage.

In my role focused on delivering advisory, technology, and outsourcing services to aviation customers, I handle a wide spectrum of responsibilities. This includes overseeing International Trip Support, Operations Control Centre Services (OCC), Continuing Airworthiness Management Service (CAMO), Airworthiness Reviews, ARC Services, Aircraft Delivery and Re-delivery Support Services, Maintenance Coordination Services including AOG, Tech Ops (Maintenance Control Centre), and managing myairops software products. As the Head of Aviation Delivery, I lead the customer-facing delivery of Technology & Outsourcing products and services for the market, drawing upon a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and industry connections within Gama Aviation’s Technology and Outsourcing Strategic Business Unit.

My journey into Business and General Aviation began during my teenage years while still in school. I was fortunate enough to be welcomed into the industry, starting at a flying club, and later working at the Air Traffic Services Unit at Blackbushe Airport. There, I maintained the ATC Movement Logs in the Control Tower during weekends, solidifying my passion for aviation. Upon completing my schooling, I seized opportunities at Fairoaks Airport, where I began as Ground Crew while pursuing my Aerodrome Flight Information Service Officer’s license. Advancements in my career led me to the role of Air Traffic Services Manager.

Since joining Gama Aviation in 1996, I’ve held various positions, including Operations Manager (Post Holder), Operations & Commercial Manager, Commercial Manager, Operations Delivery Manager, Head of Business Aviation Delivery, and currently, Head of Aviation Delivery. This role encompasses Gama Aviation Group’s Gama Aviation, myairops, and FlyerTech companies.

In 2023, I was honoured to be invited to serve as the Chair of the Operations Working Group for the British Business & General Aviation Association. This opportunity allows me to contribute to industry initiatives within BBGA’s membership of nearly 200 industry companies, focusing on challenges such as regulatory compliance, Air Services Agreements, technological advancements, workforce development, operational matters, and sustainability.

Marc Bailey

Marc Bailey has spent his entire career in aviation and has worked in most areas of Aviation Services with scheduled airlines, MRO’s, military contract support and latterly with associations, government, and its agencies.

Marc represents your position in Europe (even post Brexit) – as President of ECOGAS (European Council of General Aviation Support) which maintains a voice with EASA. All the major member states are represented on the ECOGAS board. With EASA restructuring its meetings with industry, ECOGAS is now well positioned to represent our position in all areas following industry partnerships with the European Independent Maintenance Group and with ARPAS the new drone and autonomous association.

Marc is chair of the UKASF (United Kingdom Airworthiness Strategic Forum) as part of an initiative to develop Aviation Services across all aviation activities. The UKASF pulls together airlines, MROs, Rotary, Drones, and commercial GA bodies to work with CAA and DfT. The objective is for industry to take the lead to drive strategic issues to benefit all parties. We are well positioned after four years to continue our good work and with the re-established role of Chief Surveyor in the CAA we have a good focal point to do this.

Marc chairs the CAA Finance and Services Forum which allows industry in the UK to discuss in the financial plans for the CAA and the value for money delivered by those funds paid by industry. This is a new and valuable new platform for all parties.

Under recent developments Marc has formed an alliance with, ARPAS, AOPA, BHA and BBGA so that we can strengthen our voice under a joint ‘GA 4 Biz’ banner. This alliance is working to do everything possible to represent the industry’s business interests with UK government and to help realise the Government’s desire to make UK General Aviation a Global Leader in a post Brexit environment. GA4Biz – GA4Biz

The next Generation initiatives with industry and government have continued to develop with the retention platform now evolving into the “Aviation Skills Recruitment Platform”. The platform now not only offers a vehicle for those offering and seeking posts in aviation, it also provides pathways with its TalentView portion seeking to provide pathways for new entrants into our sector. The recruitment platform is being further developed to include training opportunities across a wide range of providers, from government agencies through academic bodies. Getting our next generation activities right in the UK over the next couple of years is our single most important issue which we in aviation must grab with both hands. Marc is playing a central role to help develop many of these channels.

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