Post published:02/11/2023
Post category:Latest Member News
Reading time:5 mins read

The aviation industry has lost a prolific and popular colleague with the departure on 19 October of Graham Stephenson, aged 84.

Graham enjoyed a near 60-year diverse career in aviation, working in operational and development roles for companies including British Airways, Luton Airport and Jersey European. However, it was his exacting work and devotion to developing high standards of operations and safety at FBOs around the world, that won him much deserved recognition and respect among his peers.

His aviation career started with a RAF scholarship, where he learned to fly the Tigermoth and Chipmunk. Graham achieved a PPL at 17, well before he passed his driving test.

Originally joining BEA/BOAC as an apprentice, he spent 21 years at British Airways, latterly as country manager, based in Moscow and then British Air Tours at London Gatwick. His first business aviation role (with Jet Aviation) took him to Saudi Arabia.

A story Graham enjoyed recounting was in 1993 when BA launched a series of Concorde flights between London Heathrow and Jeddah. As COO of Jet Aviation, instrumental in helping establish a new FBO at the Saudi airport, BA agreed to put him and his family on an empty, positioning flight from Heathrow. It was the ultimate positioning flight he recalled, because it delivered him direct to his office door, in three hours.

Graham worked with ExecuJet Aviation Group in the the mid 2000s as Head of FBOs, helping them establish new facilities around the world. He stayed on with the group in a consultancy role helping establish the first FBO at Cambridge City Airport (for ExecuJet and Marshall) and an executive lounge at London City Airport’s Private Jet Centre when entrepreneur Dermot Desmond, one time co-owner of ExecuJet, acquired the airport.

He was especially pleased to oversee that project, having formerly worked for London City Airport tasked with developing its Jet Centre. While working there (in 2004) he was allowed to fly his Cessna 172 in and was pleased to enter LCY in his pilot log book.

An IBAC, IS-BAH endorsed auditor, Graham visited business jet terminals worldwide to check their safety and best practice handling.

He also enjoyed mentoring young professionals he worked with and was proud to see their careers flourish.

One initiative he spearheaded was an online training course with London Metropolitan University, designed to be used by FBO staff anywhere in the world.

Recognising his many achievements, Cdr Bud Slabbaert presented Graham with a Lifetime Achievement award during the BA Meetup at RAF Northolt. In 2017 he was honoured for his achievements in business aviation at the Sapphire Pegasus Awards during CARIBAVIA 2017.

Testament to Graham’s passion for business aviation he continued to write insightful commentaries and articles about FBOs for Business Airport International. When he could no longer travel to shows he would send industry friends an email as soon as the event finished, eager to know the highlights.

After hearing about the outbound airport experience to Geneva for EBACE 2022 Graham wisely replied, there must be a lot of recently retired staff who would be prepared to go back and help out. He also cited a former British Airways‘ venture, Speedwing, which did just that.

Graham leaves a widow Ludmila and a commercial pilot son, Alex. Most recently Alex was flying with Flybe 2.0. Currently he is in his father’s familiar territory working with XLR Jet Centre in Exeter. Funeral details to follow.

Alison Chambers

Emerald Media Ltd

Tel +44 (0) 1420 560094

Mob: 44 (0) 7881 628057

E:Alison.chambers@emeraldmedia.co.uk

Twitter: @emeraldmedia

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BBGA is the main business and general aviation industry Association in the UK. It represents a wide range of services and operators. It’s contribution to fairly represent our interests with the regulators and government departments as well as other associations is absolutely essential. The various BBGA events throughout the year are a great opportunity for everyone to network and discuss the current industry affairs and issues BBGA’s ability to bring together all sectors of UK general and business aviation gives us enviable networking access. Nobody has the ear of the regulator like BBGA and that’s two-way thing; BBGA is not just able to elicit answers from EASA, the CAA and DfT, its advice and recommendations are sought both nationally and supra-nationally too. That makes membership a vital way to influence upcoming policy.

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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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