Blog | December 16, 2020 Written by: Camber Media Team
From my point of view, as the CEO of Camber Aviation Management, the business aviation industry has begun the process of recovery and will become an integral part of of the day-to-day business for many industries. With airlines’ reduced networks combined with the challenges of social distancing, companies are seeking safe and efficient travel for their management, technical and sales teams that only business aviation can offer. It has been proven, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, that flying privately is a remarkably safer and more efficient way of travelling. As for Camber Aviation Management, I am very pleased to see that our objectivity and positive client-centric philosophy is being welcomed in the industry and that business is growing.
We have been closely observing the market and have identified underserved niche opportunities within our industry. One of the most interesting lies in the refurbishment of ACJ and BBJ aircraft, where the asset has been depreciated but the aircraft continues to be more than capable of offering many years of excellent service to its owner. We see tremendous potential to guide owners through the updating of their cabins to enhance passenger comfort, update furnishings and upgrade communication, entertainment and galley systems to reflect technological improvements over the past 10 – 15 years, in a very cost-effective way. Refurbishing these aircraft takes significantly less time and costs a fraction of the price of purchasing and outfitting a new aircraft. With a fresh livery and new interior, it is difficult to differentiate a well-executed refurbished aircraft from a newly outfitted one – important points to consider for the owners contemplating replacing their current jet.
Camber will manage the complete project – whether it is a new aircraft completion or a complex refurbishment - from the first spark of an idea to the delivery of the finished masterpiece. Our team will focus on finished product quality, functionality and reliability while ensuring budget and schedule adherence.
During COVID-19, we have invested and developed proprietary software allowing our experts to effectively capture, track and resolve issues from the initial design stage right through to aircraft acceptance, all while keeping our client abreast of the project. The software called “Streamline” dramatically increases efficiency of reporting, tracking and closing issues, leading to even higher quality of the finished aircraft. Our new Streamline software and processes have already been implemented into the first project with very positive results.
Our team considers innovation to be the cornerstone of our business, not only in the cabin completion and refurbishment processes we manage, but also in our efforts to contribute to the industry’s development. Camber has recently embarked on a strategy of assisting first-time and established owners by publishing insightful articles and providing interviews on aircraft completions, refurbishments and corporate jet care. We find it important to educate the market on the significance and benefits that our services bring.
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Head of State cabin completion management.
Heavy maintenance, technical compliance and redelivery management to OEM.
VIP Cabin completion management, green and completed aircraft acceptances, heavy maintenance and modification project.
Green aircraft and completed aircraft technical acceptance, cabin refurbishment, heavy maintenance oversight, aircraft survey and technical records review.
Tom Chatfield has over 35 years’ experience working with highly respected companies in the aviation industry. A trained avionics technician holding Transport Canada and EASA Aircraft Maintenance Engineer licences, with a MSc in Airline Transport Management from Cranfield University, Mr. Chatfield is characterised by his professionalism, technical insight and solutions-oriented approach.
In high school, Tom worked at a flying school to pay for his flying lessons. After gaining his pilot’s licence, he attended Canadore College before being hired by de Havilland Canada in 1986. Starting as a production flight test technician, he was fast-tracked into avionics engineering, later becoming de Havilland’s youngest international field service representative.
Tom joined Lufthansa’s partner, Contact Air, in 1992 to lead the Avionics Department and, later, to manage the Engineering and Maintenance Planning Teams. Recruited as Maintenance Manager in 2000 for DaimlerChrysler’s new corporate jet division, he led the team to achieve 100% dispatch reliability of its A319CJ during the first two years of daily trans-Atlantic business-class shuttle operations. Tom oversaw the maintenance, modification and AOG recovery of DaimlerChrysler’s global operation of Airbus, Global, Challenger, Falcon, Learjet and Cessna business jets.
A boutique leasing consultancy, Santos Dumont Aircraft Management, hired Tom in 2004 as VP Technical to develop processes and train specialists to support an impressive list of client airlines and leasing companies.
Qatar Airways’ offered an opportunity in 2009 to join the senior management team of its new business jet operation. Mr. Chatfield managed Qatar Executive’s technical operations, defining new aircraft specifications, overseeing completions and leading the team to receive Part 145, CAMO and Bombardier Service Center approvals.
In 2013, after 24 years of working abroad, Tom returned home to Canada to launch Camber Aviation Management with a trusted team of professionals to deliver technical advisory services and unique custom designed, world-class corporate and private aircraft to the high net worth, corporate and head of state clients worldwide.
Since January 2020, Mr. Chatfield is the CEO of Camber Aviation Management.