Industry leaders at AERO have highlighted barriers to progress, including limited SAF supply, slow certification, fragmented regulation and skills shortages, warning that Europe risks falling behind in next-gen technologies.
Business aviation must shift its image away from luxury and towards its role as a driver of efficiency, connectivity and technological innovation, according to industry leaders speaking ahead of the AERO Friedrichshafen show.
Svenja Wortmann, managing director of DC Aviation, said the sector plays a critical role in enabling global economic activity and serves as a proving ground for new technologies. “Business aviation is a great place to test and adapt innovation quickly before wider industry rollout,” she noted, adding that the sector remains an essential test bed for aviation as a whole.
A strong theme throughout the discussion was the role of emerging technologies, particularly autonomy, electrification and hydrogen. AAM consultant Katrin Mayrhofer pointed to the urban air mobility (UAM) ecosystem as a key environment for testing autonomous systems in real-world conditions. However, she warned that certification frameworks are lagging behind technological progress, with fragmented national approaches creating barriers to deployment.
Europe in particular faces structural challenges. “There is a chicken-and-egg problem,” Mayrhofer said, referring to the lack of infrastructure for hydrogen and electric aviation, which discourages aircraft investment and vice versa. She warned that without greater political will and risk-sharing, Europe risks losing talent and innovation to other regions with more supportive funding and regulatory environments.
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) remains a priority but also a constraint. Wortmann said demand from clients is rising but availability, particularly at smaller airfields, remains limited. Interim solutions such as “book and claim” are being used, though cost and scalability remain concerns. “Innovations need reliable supply to have a future,” she said.
Panellists at the German show's media preview agreed that improving access and broadening participation is essential. Initiatives discussed included outreach programmes, internships and targeted events to attract younger and more diverse talent. Wortmann highlighted efforts to engage women through dedicated programmes, while Mayrhofer stressed that diversity must also include social mobility and access for those from non-traditional backgrounds.
Overall, the discussion underscored business aviation’s strategic importance, not only as a transport segment, but as a catalyst for innovation, sustainability and workforce development across the wider aviation industry.
