Ian Sheppard has acted as Editor International Show Editions for AIN since June 2013. Based in the Redhill, England, Ian reports for the various AIN publications as well as providing support to International Editor Charles Alcock in covering international air shows (such as Farnborough, Paris, Singapore and Dubai), and the EBACE and MEBA business aviation events. His central role is to cover Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Prior to becoming more involved with AIN in mid-2011 (initially as deputy international editor), Ian worked for various aviation publications through his company, First Aerospace Media. This included being part of the AIN team covering daily news at international air shows.
Ian has worked for publications such as Flight International (technical reporter, 1997-8) and Aerospace International (editor, 1999-2000). He was publications manager at Airclaims (Ascend) between 2000 and 2004 before forming First Aerospace Media. Since mid-2009 Ian has also been managing editor of Regional International, the journal of the European Regions Airline Association (ERA).
Ian hasis working towards a European commercial pilot licence, having held an FAA private pilot license in 1991, and instructor rating. He also has a degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Bath, England, and a graduate diploma in law from Kingston University, and is a graduate of the legal practice course (College of Law, Guildford).

Editor

Ian Sheppard

Business aircraft flights from the UK will be subject to <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/?q=aviation-news/ainalerts/2011-12-01/uk-hit-business-aviation-passenger-tax">air passenger duty (APD)</a> beginning in April 2013.


The planned change was announced on November 29, but further details published on December 6 revealed that the British government has made concessions to the bizav community, such as withdrawing plans for flat rates of tax regardless of distance flown and with two bands of charges according to aircraft size. Helicopters and flights involving emergencies, training and research will be exempt.


The APD, which already applies to airline passengers, will apply for flights in business aircraft weighing more than 5.7 metric tons (12,566 pounds). Rates will be assigned by distance flown, according to four bands–A, B, C, D–already used for airlines (see chart).<img alt src="img/Airpaxdutyrates.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 240px;">


For aircraft weighing 20 metric tons (44,091 pounds) or less or with 19 or more seats, the APD “reduced” rate would apply for aircraft with seat-pitches equivalent to those of airline economy-class cabins (as might be the case for corporate shuttles) or the “standard” rate for any more spacious configuration. The “standard” rates are twice the “reduced” rate and would likely apply to most business aircraft.


For aircraft weighing 20 metric tons (44,091 pounds) or more or with fewer than 19 seats, passengers will be charged twice the “standard” APD according to the distance band of each flight. So, for any aircraft the size of a Bombardier Challenger 601 and larger, each passenger would pay between £52 ($80) and £368 ($570) depending on the length of a flight.


With a view to reducing administration costs, the UK government intends to introduce a program under which business aircraft operators can choose to estimate the average number of passengers carried and pay APD on that basis. The details of the plan and the exact means for collecting APD will be subject to further consultation with the industry. This is one reason the government agreed to defer the new tax by 12 months, until April 2013.


In a joint statement, the British Business and General Aviation Association, the European Business Aviation Association and the British Helicopter Association expressed some relief over the final form of the tax, commenting that, “this was an excellent consultation process and result provides a sensible and fair solution for our business aviation.”


Privately, business aviation lobbyists have conceded that they felt unable to oppose the extension of APD altogether out of concern that it would provoke a negative reaction from airline passengers who have had to pay the duty for several years and who now face increased rates of duty.

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