Phillip Ashley-Smith, PAS Aviation Group

From a Royal Air Force family, my father and uncle flew DH Mosquitos post war, I chose to take a different route and joined the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm as a Helicopter Navigator/Weapons Systems Operator.

Following my UK military service, with my maternal Swiss roots awakened I left for Switzerland, collecting my Fixed Wing and Helicopter Licences en-route. Joining Swissair in Zürich Flight Operations as a Flight Planning and Ops Control Officer, from where in 1992 I was seconded to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to establish ship-based helicopter food airlift operations, initially in Somalia and later in other war zones in Africa.

Having mastered the challenges of operations in demanding areas especially Africa, I joined Zimex Aviation as Flight Operations Manager, operating a fleet of Twin Otter and Pilatus Porter aircraft for various oil companies, the United Nations, ICRC and other NGOs specialising in difficult operational areas or conflict zones worldwide.

Since founding the PAS Aviation Group in 1998, I have led the PAS Aviation team as CEO, for over 27 years through aviation’s perennial turbulence. With a multitude of companies across Europe the PAS Aviation Group has in-depth experience in the sector of cross-border employment as well as comprehensive knowledge of airline operations. Our services further include aircraft and helicopter brokerage and aircraft asset management by a globally connected network of experts. The PAS Aviation Group has had a strong affiliation with ERA over many years.

With a wide-spread client base, through the consulting arm of the Group, I have served as Head of Sales and Marketing at Swissair Flight Support, established the partnership networks for both NetJets Europe and its competitor Bombardier Flexjet Europe and acted as interim COO for Pilatus UK. Through these and other mandates, I have gained wide ranging and extensive experience across the industry and built up a comprehensive network of aviation connections.

In addition to being the Board representative for the aviation services sector, I also serve on the Finance Committee, where in both capacities I bring a focussed point of view and perspective to ERA’s activities, ensuring that the interests of the non-airline and especially aviation services members interests are represented.