Day: February 17, 2021

In the same way after 9/11 when we got much more serious in airports with security checks, we will have now health checks. At the airport they are taking your temperature and asking you to take a test. We are already talking about the health passport being required to show proof of our vaccine, but it could be extended to many more health areas and not just COVID.

As part of our series about “The Future Of Air Travel”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Francois Chopard .

Francois Chopard is the CEO and Founder of Starburst Aerospace and an entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in strategy consulting, entrepreneurship and business development. In 2012, he founded Starburst Accelerator, the 1st incubator/accelerator dedicated to aerospace start-ups, and has since expanded the company to offices in LA, Munich, Singapore, and several other countries. Mr. Chopard specializes in the Aviation Aerospace and Defense industries featuring high stakes technology and has developed a wide experience of innovation-related issues.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

I was always passionate about aerospace and everything that flies. I wanted to be able to travel faster and everywhere around the globe. At the beginning of my career, I worked for Airbus and had the opportunity to spend two years in the U.S. with the Air Force. I then got my pilot license and came back to Europe but I always knew my career would bring me back to the U.S. and allow me to travel around the world.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?

I spoke at Davos, met Elon Musk, and met with our current French President a couple of times, but the most interesting is when we launched our business six years ago in the U.S. We organized the first Space startups pitch competition with Boeing in LA and right away we got a phone call from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy under the Obama administration. We had the amazing opportunity to go to the White House for several meetings to discuss Space Policy and be a part of the conversation on a higher level.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I started in Paris (France) to test the business model and the interest from startups and corporate players. It worked quite well so I decided to open an Office in Toulouse (the other French Aerospace Capital and Airbus HQ). I spent months there and met with almost one hundred people, but it ended up not being a great fit. I started to think my venture would be a failure, but then I came to the U.S. and things really took off. Sometimes what seems like a great opportunity in the beginning will not be the best fit for your company and goals and you need to keep pushing forward.

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”? Can you share a story about that?

It’s a Marathon and not a sprint. You need to be super determined because so many people in the industry told me that I would not succeed and my business model would not work. However, I proved them wrong and still look back on those emails from the people who thought I’d fail to remind myself how far I’ve come.

It’s also good to lay out execution plans along with your big ideas. Ideas can take a couple of hours to develop, but execution is what takes you years to accomplish.

The people you are hiring are also a big part of the solution. You need to hire smart people that you can trust and rely on. And that’s not easy.

You need to have good nerves as it’s a roller coaster. You have good news and even great news but you also have tough situations to manage and the past year was clearly one. We were anticipating a major growth year, doubling our team and our revenue, and closing our fund. In the end none of this happened, we lost a lot of corporate clients and we went into survival mode to make sure we were able to pay the salaries of everyone at the end of each month. It was very stressful, but we made it thanks to the persistence of the team.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?

I had a couple of amazing people that supported me along the way. The ex-Airbus CTO believed in us right away and gave us his moral support at first and then a contract. The same thing happened a year later with the ex-Boeing CTO. Both are great visionaries who truly believed in our mission and the way we were going about achieving our goals.

Can you share with our readers how have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

We’re very focused on sharing our success amongst our employees, so most of them have shares in our business. We try to share the profits and the growth to almost everyone. Outside of our internal operations, we are focusing on renewable / green transportation, and we have invested in electric and hydrogen aircraft, new types of batteries, solar technologies, etc. all with the goal in mind to make our planet more sustainable.

Thank you for that. Let’s jump to the core of our discussion. Can you share with our readers about the innovations that you are bringing to the Aviation and Air Travel industries?

There are several innovations and disruptions that we are investing in and helping to prepare right now.

The first is in urban air mobility with startups like EVA for aviation batteries charging. There’s also Skyways, which is working on cargo drones for the moment but looking to expand their scope once battery technologies become more appropriate. Ascent in Singapore is developing the future of urban air mobility by setting up new types of transportation modes as well.

The second is regional transportation through more electric aircraft platforms, like Ampair developing the first regional Hybrid-electric aircraft, being deployed right now in Hawaii. Zero-Avia is the first aircraft manufacturer which has flown an hydrogen powered aircraft. Mobius Energy, a koreen startup we have invested in, is working on more efficient battery technologies for the aviation market.

We are carefully watching supersonic jets that are being redeveloped, so we’ll be able to invest when the time is right. We’re also keeping an eye on spacecraft going from one point of the globe to another through sub-orbital trajectories.

Which “pain point” are you trying to address by introducing these innovations?

We’re trying to reduce travel time at a reasonable cost and while finding a way to fly using greener energies. The concord was a great invention but at the end very expensive to fly and reserved to an elite. Now we want to give access to fast travel to the business class and everyday fliers.

We’re also trying to overcome the pain point of fuel efficiency and work on projects that focus on this challenge. Having planes that are more efficient is great but we also need planes that can use alternative sources of energies and energies that are better for our planet, emitting less CO2.

How do you envision that this might disrupt the status quo?

A lot of money is being poured into these disruptions and not necessarily from the legacy players. A lot of automotive manufacturers are investing in Urban Air Mobility, thinking the future of cars might be autonomous and in the air. There is much more space available in the air and many ways to remove all traffic jams on the ground, giving back the road to pedestrians in cities for example. This would change the global landscape and the way new cities are being developed. NEOM in Saudi Arabia is a great example of a new developed city, imagined from scratched with very limited ground transportation.

Are there exciting new technologies that are coming out in the next few years that will improve the Air Travel experience? We’d love to learn about what you have heard.

Hydrogen is a key area of interest which is coming to maturity in the coming years. The key here for urban air mobility and electric transportation is the way we store the energy and right now it’s through batteries.

However, they are too heavy and their density makes them take up too much space and volume inside the vehicle. The best flying vehicles right now can fly for thirty minutes (electric planes like pipistrel) and the best vertical take off ones can fly for 15 minutes (like Volocopter). What is really going to change the autonomy of these vehicles is Hydrogen and fuel cells. Hydrogen has a much better energy density than a Li-Ion battery. The future will be Hydrogen tanks combined with Fuel Cells.

As you know, the Pandemic changed the world as we know it. For the benefit of our readers, can you help spell out a few examples of how the Pandemic has specifically impacted Air Travel?

It has definitely changed the way we travel for work and for leisure. The last crisis was just after 9/11 and we thought that visio-conferences would replace travel but technologies were not ready. Now they are and it’s changing everything. We realize that we don’t need to travel all the time anymore so we are anticipating some corporate travel cut. On the leisure side, I’m not sure that it’s going to change our habits. People still want to go to warm places in winter and they still want to discover the world more than ever.

Can you share five examples of how the Air Travel experience might change over the next few years to address the new realities brought by the Pandemic? If you can, please give an example for each.

1. In the same way after 9/11 when we got much more serious in airports with security checks, we will have now health checks. At the airport they are taking your temperature and asking you to take a test. We are already talking about the health passport being required to show proof of our vaccine, but it could be extended to many more health areas and not just COVID.

2. More travel will take place in the air, as Urban Air mobility will take off. In large cities, we will have the opportunity to take new types of flying cars or flying taxis from the airport to downtown or between two major hubs of a city. It’s already the case in Manilla with the services provided by Ascent.

3. Regional transport will also evolve to become more private and more flexible for a lower cost. We are already witnessing it in california where new airlines like Surfair are using underutilized regional Airports like San Carlos (KSQL) 10 miles south of San Francisco International Airport for a more tailor made experience to fly to Los Angeles and land in Hawthorn close to LAX or Burbank close to Hollywood.

4. We’ll also see an increase in monthly subscription fees for unlimited flying. It used to be reserved for high-end airlines but we are now seeing it being democratized in China on major airlines.

5. There will be faster travel at the speed of the concord for an affordable price. Several startups like Boom are working to achieve this but there are also others who want to bring the concord back and develop planes that will go even faster. We are talking of Mach 5 which is twice as fast as the concord. Virgin Galactics is also talking about flying from London to Tokyo in 90 minutes through suborbital flights.

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

I would for sure work toward even more green aviation, which means switching to electric engines instead of piston or turbines. The way electricity is powered is a concern. Right now 80% is produced from fossil fuel, which is not acceptable. So we need to produce green energy with solar for example, storing it with Hydrogen and releasing it when necessary There is no more technology barrier, it’s just that it’s more expensive than fuel or electricity made from coal.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

https://twitter.com/fchopard71

François Chopard – CEO – Starburst – Starburst Aerospace | LinkedIn

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Francois Chopard of Starburst Aerospace: The Future of Air Travel in The Post Covid World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Wellness — 2020 was an incredibly challenging year with repercussions on mental health, as well as economical consequences. This has led to a heightened focus on wellness and now more than ever, people are researching wellness-related experiences and “mindful travel”.

The majority of travelers are still lacking the confidence to book indoor or direct therapy treatments and are instead seeking opportunities to recharge through alternative amenities offered by hotels. On-property wellness offerings that connect guests with nature in a socially-distanced way, such as open-air yoga or sound baths, are faring better and this trend is likely to continue. Overall — an outdoor and healthier lifestyle is on the rise and people are looking for travel locations that will allow them to do more of this.

As part of my series about “developments in the travel industry over the next five years”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Ronald Ndoro Mind, CEO and founder of WorkMango.com, an exclusive relocation and remote working membership platform for people seeking a work-life balance in premier Caribbean locations. Ronald has always been a global citizen, now working on projects across 4 continents. He is a UCL and College of Law graduate who over the past 20 years has built an impressive resume of tech start-up, membership subscription models, venue operation, event management, entrepreneurial expertise and enterprise. Since March 2020, Ronald is now based in Antigua & Barbuda where he is currently working on an initiative to drive more traffic onto the small Caribbean island through the recently launched WorkMango.com.

Thank you so much for joining us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

WorkMango.com was conceived in May and launched in October during the global pandemic of 2020 on the realisation that many people would now have to work from home going forward. This smart concierge platform connects people and facilitates remote working arrangements in Antigua and Barbuda and Barbados, and is changing the way people work by offering a VIP experience to relocate stress-free. The WorkMango community is a small group of people looking to thrive in a world beleaguered by existential challenges, interested in finding ways to more than exist.

I moved to the Island of Antigua and Barbuda to live in March 2020. It was this move that prompted me to come up with WorkMango.com to help facilitate anyone with an interest in relocating and working remotely. It was through my other work commitments in London, New York and Africa that it became obvious and apparent that living in Antigua and Barbuda or Barbados while working in another city is more than possible. It was this very process of working in paradise that led to the realisation that many other people could benefit from such a transition. I have a much better work-life balance since moving to Antigua and Barbuda. It feels like something worth sharing.

Another influence is that during the pandemic, many Western citizens had access to stimulus packages of one kind or another — the US and many European countries offer welfare to help support their citizens. In places like Antigua or Barbados, the reserves and opportunities are minimal and a majority of the population is reliant on tourism. So as a result, WorkMango assists by driving more traffic to these islands to help sustain their economies.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?

The most interesting thing about my career is how I have sought to create businesses with purpose. What do I mean by that? I mean, everything I have done, the intent has always been to re-invent, rewrite or reposition the way things are done and in the process I have worked hard at being innovative, diverse and inclusive. As a result I have traveled all over the world, been in some very interesting boardrooms, met with world leaders, influential personalities and celebrities — all the while trying to find ways to learn, assist or improve whatever the project.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Now this is a hard one… I’ve made lots of mistakes and learnt a lot too but not sure how funny the mistakes were at the time or even now!

The 5 biggest lessons however have been growing to understand that 1) Being right is not more important than being able to move forward 2) You can’t do it all alone — so your team and how you treat them is everything 3) If you have partners — understand that it’s a relationship with all the ups and downs, the key is to ensure that your life maps and journeys are aligned — then you can work through most issues 4) Cash-flow is “king” in any business — it allows you the freedom and flexibility to manoeuvre in what is literally a competitive jungle out there, where only the fit survive and 5) Consistency in quality and of delivery will win the day over flashes of individual brilliance.

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”? Can you share a story about that?

Well this one is easy — it’s all about finding balance, learning to delegate and fully understanding that the world is not going to stop spinning if you take time out for yourself. Balancing work and personal life can sometimes be difficult, but it is crucial for your wellbeing. Everything in life, in order to sustain itself, requires nourishment and that comes in many forms. The mind, the body and the soul all need constant maintenance and feeding for them to keep developing and remain healthy. Too often people under nourish one part while perhaps over nourishing another — which throws them out of sorts.

We all need to find a middle ground and have some boundaries to avoid burnout or a missed opportunity. Everyone should basically, “work to live” meaning you work so that you can allow yourself to enjoy other things in life, aside from your job. I am lucky in that for the majority of my working life, I have worked for myself which has meant that I am able to decide when I do or do not work…

A few years ago before the pandemic, I created rules to manage my work-life balance for example; I never worked on Wednesdays, which made my week seem much shorter, I had meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays but not Mondays and Fridays which allowed me to make time for things like working out. And wherever possible, I would work remotely — in a different setting or in a different country when possible which allowed me to get work done but also to learn and experience new things.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?

Well, as an entrepreneur, often before you can get institutional funding — you need to have proof of concept and a business that has developed beyond the idea phase. Often that means months and sometimes years of no income or sacrifices of working multiple jobs at the same time. Ever since starting out — I have had support from my family, they have been there all the way and were my first investors when I needed my first backing. Even now, they continue to be my foundation. I would not be here without them and I could not be any more grateful than I am for their patience, assistance and support.

Thank you for that. Let’s jump to the core of our discussion. Can you share with our readers about the innovations that you are bringing to the travel and hospitality industries?

Historically, the travel market has largely been people on holiday or people permanently relocating. So either short stays of up to a month or much longer stays of over a year. There is a recent trend of mid-term stays of say 3–6 months and I have positioned WorkMango to focus on this new and currently underserved market. Platforms such as AirBnB typically cater for the short term stay but not the mid-term as it is often too expensive for a longer duration. There are many benefits to relocating for 3–6months that all feed into a better work-life balance and choice. In order to facilitate this we are working with property owners and resorts to come up with mid — term pricing which will naturally fall in-between short stays and long stays. In addition to this our focus is to get people to form communities when they travel so they can network and not feel so isolated or alone.

Which “pain point” are you trying to address by introducing this innovation?

As a result of the pandemic more and more people are now able to work from home or remotely going forward. However, doing that in what is typically a small city apartment during a cold and miserable winter is less than ideal. There are places around the world that are able to offer remote working possibilities, provide better accommodation and better weather at a fraction of the cost of remaining in the city.

How do you envision that this might disrupt the status quo?

The disruption is already happening, both Antigua and Barbuda and Barbados, along with others have introduced mid-term stay visa options to encourage digital nomads and this has seen tremendous pick up from across the globe. The disruption is already here — it’s all about facilitating it at this stage. The “work from home” or rather the “work from anywhere” revolution is gathering pace and it is only a matter of time before it is the new norm.

As you know, COVID19 changed the world as we know it. Can you share 5 examples of how travel and hospitality companies will be adjusting over the next five years to the new ways that consumers will prefer to travel?

1. Wellness

2020 was an incredibly challenging year with repercussions on mental health, as well as economical consequences. This has led to a heightened focus on wellness and now more than ever, people are researching wellness-related experiences and “mindful travel”.

The majority of travelers are still lacking the confidence to book indoor or direct therapy treatments and are instead seeking opportunities to recharge through alternative amenities offered by hotels. On-property wellness offerings that connect guests with nature in a socially-distanced way, such as open-air yoga or sound baths, are faring better and this trend is likely to continue. Overall — an outdoor and healthier lifestyle is on the rise and people are looking for travel locations that will allow them to do more of this.

2. Socially conscious, cause-driven content

As general brand loyalty is dropping across consumers, it is becoming more apparent that audiences are more loyal to and driven to engage more with brands that value social impact. This is especially true among millennials, a demographic that is predicted to be the one to travel most in 2021. Of this demographic, 75% expect brands to take a stance on the social issues that matter most to them. Brands that can speak about these issues authentically — and help guests make a difference — will have an advantage. It is important to note that sustainability and environmentalism are also key.

3. Brand personification

People want to relate to brands in a more personal, human way. The more authentic and real a brand — the better. Boutiques have seen an increase in traveler interest as they tend to feel more personal, tangible and relatable rather than remote and distant.

4. Celebration-centric travel

Following the postponement of life events and seasonal traditions, people are eager to celebrate those milestones missed in 2020. Travelers are looking to plan birthday getaways, anniversary trips, wedding celebrations, honeymoons, family reunions and religious observations. Those plans are already underway, with travelers turning to social media for ideas.

Consumers are prepared to spend more on travel insurance and upgrading other elements of their holiday to ensure they can travel safely during the pandemic, according to new research. Those with underlying health issues are willing to spend even more to ensure they have as safe a trip as possible. There is likely significant “pent-up demand” for traveling again among the older generations as soon as they feel it’s safe, they’ll want to go.

Another trend is the emergence of large, multigenerational group bookings to make up for all the missed family time with our broader families and that will feed into upcoming travel decisions.

5. Gaming

Gaming is set to emerge as the next dominant technology platform — much the way search engines, mobile phones and social networks redefined industries in previous decades, the Wall Street Journal reported in October 2020.

Gamification in tourism is not a new concept and many brands have already explored the technology as a way to promote their destinations / brands in a new way. Such as ‘gamified tour guides’ — city tourism boards investing in mobile gaming apps which act as both scavenger hunts and informative guides, allowing visitors to explore lesser known sights and compete with other gamers to maintain engagement.

You are a “travel insider”. How would you describe your “perfect vacation experience”?

Simple… Off grid — no tv, no phones — great weather — sun, sea and sand, great food, drinks and a few good books to pass the time.

Can you share with our readers how have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

I co-founded Ndoro Children’s Charities in 2009 an organisation working with orphans in Africa and also co-founded Ibex Earth in 2008 an organisation committed to bio-diversity and sustainability. Both of these sustainable development goals have been at the heart of everything that I have done and will continue to do. I believe that if more people and more businesses were designed to give back more than they take out, the world would be a more just place… I am still on this journey so only time will tell how much impact or success my career will have, so watch this space…

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

I love this question! It has always frustrated me how each year festivals such as Glastonbury and Burning Man spend over $40 million setting up only to dismantle again. Imagine, as a solution, identifying remote areas in the world desperately in need of development. You set up and host a festival with people from all over the world coming to support and frolic, but instead of dismantling it — you set up modular systems and accommodation with solar, water, sewage, wifi etc. Everything we demand — they should have too — because why shouldn’t they? When the festival and fun is over, you leave it for the local community to use. That simple!

And year on year — you move to a new part of the world in need of infrastructure development. In addition, partner up with both local and international organisations to run a legacy programme after the event, there would be tourism for the local community plus employment opportunities. This is something I’d love to do — but if anyone can do it sooner and better — then I’ll be the first in line to buy a ticket!

Imagine building an actual modern village each year while having fun in places most in need of development!

How can our readers follow you on social media?

On instagram @work_mango

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!

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Ronald Ndoro Mind of WorkMango: The Future Of Travel In The Post COVID World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Cleanliness of aircraft — Most airlines have invested deeply already into new technology with automated spraying machinery onboard as well as changing surfaces to anti-microbial parts that deflect germs and so on, such as on arm rests tray tables and regularly used areas including bathroom seats and surfaces. This WILL remain ongoing.

As part of our series about “The Future Of Air Travel”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Fran Hume.

Fran Hume has enjoyed a career from 3 different industries, the Technology Sector, Food Manufacturing and more recently Aviation. Fran enjoys working with startup companies, and has been involved in 3, including her own start up children’s food company over 10 years ago. “You do not have to be an industry expert to be successful. Having passion, enthusiasm and the ability to form business relationships is key to all businesses, and you must love what you do. I have been a CEO of my own business, but I am a salesperson every day”! …. Quoted by Fran Hume.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

My husband has been in aviation all his life. I always found it fascinating, as he was largely in Engineering. I had a tour of a 747–400 which was in service once, with no interior panels, and the interior was being completely upgraded. It was absolutely fascinating the miles and miles of cabling etc, that are hidden behind the walls of the cabin. I also had the pleasure of having a tour on the empty aircraft, and in the good old days, flew in the cockpit of a 747 400 from New Zealand to LAX for 4 hours, including landing. It was an incredible experience. I was hooked!

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?

I worked with a major airline on an interior seating upgrade from start to finish. It was the first time I had been involved in an entire fleet change. The general public most likely do not understand the complexity of simply changing seat covers and the seat bottoms. There are many departments in an airline that makes this happen from Engineering, who need to ensure that the new covers and cushions are compliant (for fire or flotation) with the FAA, through to marketing who are obviously responsible for the design, corporate colors, and positioning of logos etc, and being involved in the comfort level for the customer. Then there is a manufacturing process and having to change schedules to ensure the aircraft is on the ground at a particular time to remove old covers and cushions, then replace the new ones. A large team is often required as this process can take hours — depending on the size of each aircraft. Often it is a particular fleet at a time. An entire seat cover change project can take anywhere from 6–18 months… that’s how complex it can be. After working in interiors for years now, I feel the general public, certainly do not understand fully the work processes that go on, simply to change a seat cover, or redesign an interior of any aircraft.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Following an order for my first aircraft interior I was invited to visit the aircraft on the ground at the airport, it was after midnight when the aircraft was parked. As I hadn’t met these particular people before, I decided to wear a skirt suit and heels. I was expecting a gate ramp to walk onto the aircraft.

We had to walk across to the aircraft at the gate, and up metal steps… Horrified, I did my best, but my shoe heel got wedged in the metal stair half-way up, and while trying to release it, my skirt blew up in the wind and showed everyone behind me a view of my underwear! My lesson was, wear trousers and flat shoes when visiting aircraft!

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”? Can you share a story about that?

When I joined aviation from a technology background, I knew little about the aviation industry. I consider myself a salesperson, and my motto has always been, be HONEST! If I didn’t know the answer to a question, I always suggested I would find the correct answer or solution and get back to people with the correct answer. The industry can be very complex. You are respected more when you say you don’t know, or you can’t, rather than saying you do and you can, and you find you are wrong. In aviation, it is often time critical, I would never take an order I could not fulfill, or make a statement I knew was wrong.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?

My husband of course. He has been in the industry over 35 years. He is my “daily dictionary” or “Information Center” for things I don’t know or want to check. I go to him all the time with technical questions or to find answers I need. He has been my information rock and has shown me many things, such as how to fit seat covers, where certain parts fit on an aircraft, and he has always been an interior and wide-bodied expert, so his knowledge covers literally every part of an aircraft big or small. He fully supported my career change, and I can’t thank him enough for sharing his knowledge.

Can you share with our readers how have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

I wouldn’t say I affect the world however; I have encouraged many people to enter aviation, have recommended people for jobs, and encouraged my friends son to get himself an A&P license as he loved taking things apart and had never considered aviation. My husband helps him too. Last year he entered an A&P School, and with the pandemic, he was allowed to carry on online, so it worked out well for him. Now of course, we can recommend him to people we know as an excellent student, so we certainly played a part in kicking off his career. He LOVES it. Years ago, I started a children’s healthy food company, I was successful nationally, and created a recipe for healthy children’s sausages. The concept made its way to England and our company at the time came 2nd place for innovation in children’s food and packaging at an international food show in Paris. I have always had a personal interest in food concepts, especially for children.

Thank you for that. Let’s jump to the core of our discussion. Can you share with our readers about the innovations that you are bringing to the Aviation and Air Travel industries?

I started a small business during COVID-19, which produced PPE Seat Covers for aircraft and transportation. I have passed this onto a friend to manage this now, as I was offered the opportunity to manage the USA office for Egret Aviation and set up their USA operation in Dallas. Egret Aviation are the No2 supplier for galley equipment globally. Egret manufacture galley equipment such as meal carts and products for aircraft galleys etc. The airlines use all these products daily and there is always a need for them. Egret have designed very lightweight products as airlines always consider weight for fuel savings. In addition, I have implemented a new initiative, and have put in place a lease initiative given the cash crisis many airlines have faced during COVID. Egret Aviation are the first company to do this for galley equipment, and we are just getting started. I am very excited about our future.

Which “pain point” are you trying to address by introducing these innovations?

Cash flow for many airlines who lost billions of dollars during the crisis. We want airlines to know, they can still have access to the products they need, and get them immediately without having to spend ANY money as they enter our lease program. We also stock in USA, unlike some of our competitors.

How do you envision that this might disrupt the status quo?

I know for a fact, from customer feedback, a number of our competitors struggle to get equipment to customers within 3–6 months, unless ordered well in advance. Others cannot produce spare parts on time for repairs either. Egret’s lease program also includes a service contract where we will SWAP a damaged piece of equipment, so there will be no waiting for repairs either. Our focus is on ensuring our customers always have the equipment they need with a CAPEX reducing option, and a 145 Repair Station in USA with our partner Aereos Interior Solutions with locations in Dallas and Miami for this service.

Are there exciting new technologies that are coming out in the next few years that will improve the Air Travel experience? We’d love to learn about what you have heard.

Innovations in this industry are constant. Especially interiors where airlines focus on customer needs and comfort, especially for long haul. Some airlines are considering onboard mini kiosks where customers can purchase snacks on board, and can help themselves, from mini vending machines. I haven’t seen one on board, however, I have noted the concept. Other suppliers to airlines are also designing a barrier between seats since COVID. Personally, I don’t like this idea, first it becomes less personal, and may reduce the width of the seat space for larger people. My thoughts are, perhaps these screens may also be detrimental to exiting the aircraft in an emergency situation? That comment is just my own opinion.

As you know, the Pandemic changed the world as we know it. For the benefit of our readers, can you help spell out a few examples of how the Pandemic has specifically impacted Air Travel?

Quite frankly, I think fear. Unfortunately, many journalists write articles before checking facts. I think the media both in print and TV have instilled many people with fear that travel is something you should NOT do. Some media outlets have made people panic. It has taken a while, however, many travelers are starting to understand how much money airlines have invested in safety and cleaning measures, and are starting to return to the skies. It is important to get the correct information to people, on how safe traveling on aircraft actually is. There are HEPA filters onboard which change the airflow every 2–3 minutes, and these filters are designed specifically to reduce and expel germs, including COVID, and keep the air clean and comfortable for all. In addition, the airline industry as a whole have engineered new coverings and anti-microbial surfaces on seat parts to reduce germs. Most airlines also deep clean aircraft interiors daily. There is more chance of contracting COVID at the supermarket. Whilst this is my own opinion, I am not an expert in this field, but I am very aware of the investment the airlines have made to ensure safety on board. I also travel weekly and have continued right through the pandemic with no issues or illness what-so-ever.

Can you share five examples of how the Air Travel experience might change over the next few years to address the new realities brought by the Pandemic? If you can, please give an example for each.

I will rate these in importance:

Cleanliness of aircraft –

Most airlines have invested deeply already into new technology with automated spraying machinery onboard as well as changing surfaces to anti-microbial parts that deflect germs and so on, such as on arm rests tray tables and regularly used areas including bathroom seats and surfaces. This WILL remain ongoing.

New Seat Configurations

Some airlines are still keeping the middle seat empty, to make sure their customers feel safer. Many designers are already changing interior concepts for the same reason. I believe you will see new seat developments (I have seen some) that are quite amazing. Airlines want to ensure their customers feel comfortable and safe, as well as it being a pleasant environment for customers who travel regularly and on long haul.

Catering Changes

Many airlines are not supplying meals on board currently. I mentioned earlier about onboard catering kiosks, you may see this adopted in the near future. A number of airlines already hand drinks and snacks as you enter, which is ok for now, but certainly not as glamorous as serving at the seat. I have ideas myself how this could be changed.

Replaceable Parts / High Use Areas

I believe airlines may look towards providing re-useable and disposable items as we move into future travel. I believe he airlines are so heavily invested in their clean programs now, it will always continue. There are many concepts for these, and new ideas are coming out constantly. I think disposable will be the way to go eventually. Although it needs to be thought about more, because of the waste it can create and the need to be recyclable or bio degradable. This will be an ongoing conversation for many.

Our Own Concept

My husband and I have come up with an idea which we are having designed at the moment. I believe it would solve two issues one for the airline and keeping passengers safety in mind at the same time with COVID. We can talk again when we have a prototype.

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement, that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

I have also had, and still have; a strong interest in food and nutrition for kids, in fact in New Zealand pre-USA I started a healthy food company, specifically for kids, as I mentioned earlier. It started with readymade healthy children’s meals for schools and eventually went into retail stores. It was a success and eventually we sold it and came to USA. My son is a golfer and earned a golf scholarship to college, hence the international move.

After living in USA for the last few years, I have noticed there is a lot of food waste. Having the ability to use up food that is slightly damaged, over produced or just simply thrown away for other means, such as for the homeless, school meals and lower income families would be an amazing concept, and something I would love to get involved in again, outside of what I already do. Such a concept would also create jobs, as I would want it to be a national initiative. As an example, I would use the same set up I had in NZ, whereby I partnered with a food manufacturer, and a distribution company. Itg would need to have a central point (like Texas where I am located), and request for donations from farmers and producers / growers / retailers etc, that would otherwise throw away their products / produce. These could be slightly spoiled vegetables or leftover meat cuts etc. I would create a simply recipe using the meat and vegetables, and puree’ them to a point it would be put into a simple sealed pouch, (becoming an ambient food option). I guess like a chunky soup. It could be eaten cold for people in negative situations such as being on the street, although still a hearty meal and certainly nutritious. The pouch would keep it fresh for few weeks given new technology, and it could be handed to people in need, literally on the streets, food banks and schools, and they could eat directly from the pouch. In fact, it could also become a concept that could be considered at another level to be used on an aircraft and warmed slightly or eaten as is. It would certainly bring down the possibility of germ transfer, as there would be less handling required. To get such a venture (and a worthwhile venture off the ground), it would take a lot of capital…. I would need a partner with very deep pockets who would want to put it to good use as a charity venture.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

I typically don’t use social media such as Facebook although I have thought about an Instagram page, maybe I should do that? In fact, I will set that up. I do use LinkedIn as my professional page, and I have many connections and people read my posts, which is nice and encouraging. On LinkedIn, I am — Frances (Fran) Hume.

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!

You are welcome, I enjoyed reflecting on what I do and why….

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Fran Hume of Egret Aviation: The Future Of Air Travel In The Post Pandemic World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

…A transition to touchless everything. The points of transaction or physical contact, like turning on a bathroom faucet, will all be sensor-based. Activities like bag-drop will be conducted via your smart phone and a self-serve drop off.

As part of my series about “developments in the travel industry over the next five years”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Sharron van der Meulen

As Managing Partner of ZGF’s Portland office, Sharron van der Meulen provides thoughtful and inspiring design leadership, while guiding marketing and interior design for a diverse portfolio of projects including corporate workplaces, law offices, civic and federal institutions, higher education, healthcare, and aviation. Sharron works closely with her clients to articulate their aspirations and develop the program; employing a human-centric design approach to align a project’s vision and goals with the wants and needs of multiple user groups.

Thank you so much for joining us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

I was one of those kids that was creative but didn’t know exactly how to equate that to a career path. It began with a love of the art and history and evolved naturally into the study of architecture and design. What kept me interested and intrigued all these years is just how important the role of the built environment is in building community, innovation and creating the best outcomes for people, no matter the market sector.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?

In 1999, Turkey experienced a devastating earthquake in Izmit, outside of Istanbul, that killed over 17,000 people, mostly due to collapsing structures. I was working on a project in Turkey and arrived several weeks after the earthquake. One afternoon, while in the client’s office, the entire building started shaking back and forth. People ushered us outside into the middle of street, where I saw people jumping from the second floor to escape the potential collapse of buildings. That experience gave me a new appreciation for the rigorous life safety standards we have in the United States.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

One of my first projects was an history museum and I was working with Bob Frasca, one of ZGF’s founding partners and my mentor for many years. Bob informed me that I would be making the presentation to the museum director. Without much knowledge of how to present to a board or how to prepare, I launched into a high speed, high octane presentation. It must have been dizzying because the director stopped me mid-stream and asked me in the most polite, formal manner, if I could slow it down so he could try and keep up. Believe me, he had no issues in keeping up. He was a brilliant historian with a laser-quick mind, but he was teaching me a lesson about how to draw out a story and invite the audience on the journey.

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”? Can you share a story about that?

It’s all about teamwork. You know that saying, “many hands make light work.” Having a unified team, where everyone has a part in meeting deadlines is important to spreading the load and creating balance. When I started out, drawings were done on mylar with ink or pencil and we had an unspoken rule that at the end of the day if there were people still working, no one would leave unless they asked if they could help in any way. Seriously! Today it’s still a good approach to take. Teams become stronger and frankly it’s more satisfying when people share the responsibility.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?

I’ve been lucky enough to have many mentors, but there is someone that has been a mentor from the very beginning: Bob Packard. Bob was the managing partner of ZGF’s Portland Office for most of my career, and then last year I took on the managing partner role. There are too many stories to list just one, but I can say that Bob teaches everyone to look at the world differently; not to come to conclusions too quickly; and to always seek out more information, be curious and do your research.

Can you share with our readers how have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

Today I’m focused on others. Building a stronger ZGF for the future with more talent, more innovation and more diversity. I am especially focused on supporting women in more leadership roles across the firm.

Thank you for that. Let’s jump to the core of our discussion. Can you share with our readers about the innovations that you are bringing to the Aviation and Air Travel industries?

Flexibility is a word that is thrown around a lot when you talk about airport design. The one thing that is constant about airports is that they must change over time. As designers, we are focused on looking at every component as a “now and in the future” scenario.

Take the ticket lobby, for example. One of the big questions we are considering is whether we still need a ticket lobby if there are no physical tickets. In the future this space may become a baggage drop-off that doesn’t require personal interaction. In fact, the baggage drop-off may happen offsite entirely, when you leave your home or at your immediate point of arrival at the airport.

Our approach to this space today is to address current needs and ways of travel but build in flexibility to accommodate the inevitable changes of the future.

Which “pain point” are you trying to address by introducing these innovations?

This might seem obvious, but the pain point is change. Change is hard, especially in a setting like an airport that can already be a high-stress environment. We are working to acknowledge and embrace the natural evolution, or change, of technology and how people will eventually travel in the future.

How do you envision that this might disrupt the status quo?

It could manifest is several ways. The disappearance of the ticket lobby as we know it today as I referenced above. We are thinking about retail hubs inside airports as inherently flexible spaces that can be converted to support different brands and experiences with relative ease. In the future, maybe retail spaces are less about picking up a good that you then must take with you but selecting a good that is sent to your destination, or back to your home. Retail becomes more immersive and experienced based.

Are there exciting new technologies that are coming out in the next few years that will improve the Air Travel experience? We’d love to learn about what you have heard.

There are a couple of things that I’m excited about. One that is happening now is IoT, or the Internet of Things. This essentially allows internet connectivity across the airport and with the different stakeholders — airlines, TSA, etc. — that allows you as a passenger to both receive and send data about your preferences. This could make your travel more seamless and catered to your preferences throughout your entire experience.

I’m also excited about the possibilities of short distance passenger drone travel. Imagine being in a non-piloted flight, beating the traffic and landing at an intermodal hub, and then continuing on with your flight.

As you know, the Pandemic changed the world as we know it. For the benefit of our readers, can you help spell out a few examples of how the Pandemic has specifically impacted Air Travel?

Passenger well-being has been brought to the forefront. Both airports and airlines have been required to demonstrate to passengers the efforts to make the journey safe, from arrival and security to sitting on the plane. They’ve had to build and earn trust in an entirely new way. Approaches like leaving the middle seat empty are unprecedented moves by airlines but critical to signaling to passengers that their safety is top of mind.

Business travel has been significantly impacted. We’ve seen this within our own firm with colleagues that used to be on a plane several times a week and are now having the same meeting over Teams and Zoom while realizing all the other benefits of less travel. While I have no doubt air travel will come back, I think the ramp up of business travel will be much slower as companies have proven their work can be just as effective virtually with less overall costs.

Can you share five examples of how the Air Travel experience might change over the next few years to address the new realities brought by the Pandemic? If you can, please give an example for each.

1. A transition to touchless everything. The points of transaction or physical contact, like turning on a bathroom faucet, will all be sensor-based. Activities like bag-drop will be conducted via your smart phone and a self-serve drop off.
2. Biometric security screening will become the norm. This transition was underway before the pandemic but will further accelerate the need to no longer hand over your passport or ticket. This is will also speed up security screening.Airport design will emphasize healthy materials and nature-based strategies, or biophilic design. This includes things like more plants and using materials like wood. There is well-documented research that shows the real impact on how people react to their surroundings, pulse rates slow and anxiety recedes. These strategies contribute to mitigating their overall stress and feelings of wellbeing.
3. This might seem obvious, but airports will be better prepared to take action quickly, without delay. There were many lessons learned at the onset of the pandemic around minimizing risk to passengers and employees, introducing new cleaning protocols and coordinating with relevant agencies.
4. Speaking of, a coordinated response from the various agencies that operate within the airport. Currently, agencies like the FAA, Homeland Security, TSA, and the various airlines have their own approaches and it can look different in each airport. A coordinated response to mask policies, personal distancing and health screenings would ensure passengers can expect the same standards no matter their destination.

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

Wouldn’t it be great if the airlines came out and made a commitment to flying only electric planes by the year 2030? The benefits to our collective health and the planet’s health would be significant We’re seeing this push across other industries like the auto industry. I hope we all can inspire aviation to follow suite, but it will take the airlines to really push airplane manufacturers into taking the next step to reduce the carbon emissions.

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Sharron van der Meulen of ZGF Architects: The Future of Air Travel in the Post-Pandemic World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.