Meet Our Experts: Edward Bacon - Senior Private Aviation Advisor

Here at SHY Aviation, our team has an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience in the world of private aviation. We have become renowned in the industry for finding the best option for private jet charters anywhere in the world at the most competitive price possible. Our access to the finest aircraft and premier operators worldwide is fundamental to achieving that, but that’s only one part of the puzzle. Our broking team's skills, knowledge, and experience are the most important commodities we offer, and our Senior Private Aviation Advisor, Edward Bacon, is among the most successful in the market.

In this article, we sit down with Ed to discuss his career, his views on the current private jet charter industry, his advice for those seeking a similar career, and how he helps keep SHY Aviation at the forefront of private aviation. 

I went to boarding school in Dorset, before moving to university where I studied Business Management. After leaving university I started out in the real estate industry, going on to work for one of the largest lifestyle management concierge companies. From this, I moved on to working with super yachts, and from there I got into private aviation.

My experience in the aviation industry is roughly 5 years now. I originally worked at SHY, then went and worked for a client of mine for a few years – this gave me a great insight on the other side, and dealing with SHY as a supplier, and how SHY operates from a client’s perspective. I am now back at SHY, working as the Senior Private Aviation Advisor looking after these clients and many more.  

In short, my role is to sit between the client and the aircraft, sourcing the client the most suitable aircraft for their journey and preferences. My day-to-day role involves a lot of problem-solving, offering value in terms of my knowledge of airports, timings, types of aircraft and so on. Always representing my clients' best interests and using my expertise and relationships with operators around the world to ensure the best private jet charter options can be fulfilled is what has made me successful. 

At the SHY office, we have Mike Ryan - our Chief Strategy Officer – who shares aviation headline news on a weekly basis. I’ve found this helps myself and the SHY team in terms of keeping us all up to date with the same set of information. 

I frequently receive newsletters from industry bodies as well as attending air charter shows, such as my most recent show, the Air Charter Expo in Biggin Hill. This is extremely helpful as these events give the myself and others the opportunity to talk to people who also work in the industry, and see what trends other people have noticed. 

These both help me keep up to date with industry trends, however the most helpful thing that I have found is simply talking to clients. By doing this, we get to see what they currently like, or what they would like in future travels etc. 

The best thing about working at SHY Aviation is the teamwork aspect, especially with the people in my team and who I work with closely on a daily basis. Having great teamwork is key for this industry. A flight that might seem ‘simple’ takes a team, and we need to collaborate as individuals to execute this one ‘simple’ flight—it may require permits, the need to contact different airports, and so on.  

My strengths are born from my experience in working with ultra-high net worth individuals and my contact base. From this I’ve really got to know what the clients wants and needs are, especially with the fact that I have been extremely lucky to work in a few industries but all with the same clientele.

There are so many trips that could be considered ‘interesting’, but the one that stands out to me the most is that I have flown some very interesting politicians into war zones with very short notice. One of which requested ‘steak medium rare’ on their way there! 

I believe that any electric/hybrid operated aircraft will become a trend in the future, as well as any personal aircraft – helicopter, drone-type set ups. These aircraft operate at a much lower cost, compared to other types of aircraft that are offered, meaning that our client base will be very much open to these new opportunities.

I feel that the biggest misconception about private travel, and which clients need to understand, is the process of booking a slot at the desired airport. Clients need to pay the amount before we book their trip, which can, unfortunately, sometimes mean that their desired landing time may not always be available. Working with an experienced private jet charter company such as SHY will mitigate this risk significantly, and our relationships and expertise ensure we secure the desired slot for our clients 99% of the time, but it can still sometimes happen. Whenever it does, we always communicate as clearly and regularly as possible to find the solution that suits our clients' schedules. 

One thing that most people may not know, is something as simple as to fly within the UK since Brexit, you will need to fly on a G-registered aircraft. There is not that many of this aircraft, only a few hundred, therefore prices to fly internally in the UK are more expensive than if you wanted to fly to Paris, Nice or Ibiza, for example. 

The advice I would give to someone who is interested in private aviation is to speak to as many people in the industry or similar industries as possible. This will help you gain an understanding of their job role and what they may do on a day-to-day basis.

You would then need to work out what role would suit you best. There are many sides to this industry that people tend not to realise—not everyone is a broker. There are many roles to be explored within this industry, such as operations, sales, and marketing, for example, but one thing is for sure: it is a great industry to work in.  

SHY Aviation is an industry-leading provider of global private aviation solutions including private jet charter, group charter, and helicopter transfers. The expertise of our team and our access to the finest aircraft and the world's premier operators ensures we deliver the most convenient, private, safe and luxurious private travel experiences possible.