ISTAT Jetrader - Summer 2021 - 13

we are making good progress in that
area, as our board showcases a widely
diverse set of individuals who now
better reflect our membership and the
industry at large. I also intend to focus
the board on sustainability, which is
another key concern in our industry.
We will not only look to make our
conferences " greener " but also will
seek to dedicate more panel time to
this critically important topic.
Our educational offerings are also
going to blossom over the next two
years. ISTAT is planning the launch of
our ISTAT Professional Development
Program (PDP) in partnership with
PwC. These Dublin and U.S.-based
classes are new to ISTAT, and they
have already proved to be extremely
popular. We aim to further expand the
program next year to Asia. We are
also looking to expand ISTAT's Rising
Executive Program, designed for ISTAT
members and professionals with
fewer than 10 years' experience in
the commercial aviation industry. Through these programs, we look to advance our
goals of helping develop the future leaders of our industry.
Through it all, we will continue to oversee our industry-leading appraiser
program (headed by Bryson Monteleone) and continue our support of the ISTAT
Foundation and all of its critically important programs.
Jetrader: What excites you about where the industry is headed 10 or 20 years
down the road?
DG: We are (hopefully) toward the end of this horrific pandemic and, notwithstanding
the record levels of airline failures, parked equipment and downward valuations, I
continue to remain incredibly optimistic about the future of our industry. These types
of massive jolts to the system only delay but don't derail the further expansion of
air travel. While some naysayers suggest the pandemic will leave a lasting negative
impact on the appetite for travel, I simply do not subscribe to that notion. Human
beings need a personal connection that can often only be achieved through travel,
and I don't see that changing. Technological changes, green initiatives, population
growth, demographic changes, fuel costs, funding gaps and myriad other factors
all come into play in the growth of aviation, but I think growth is inevitable. The
OEMs continue to predict a massive expansion of aircraft production over the next
20 years, and nothing I can see will alter that course. Financing that volume of
equipment will prove challenging but, as we've seen, operating leasing will continue
to expand, and banks, institutional investors, capital markets and private equity
will continue to provide critical funding to the sector. Commoditization of financing
products, fleet simplification, and global harmonization of aviation rules and
regulations will set the platform for the growth needed to carry us the next 20 years
and beyond.
Dean Gerber, left, moderating the New Financing Solutions panel at
ISTAT Americas 2019 in Orlando, Florida.
Jetrader: For young people
considering a career in aviation,
what thoughts would you offer?
DG: As Nike would say, " Just Do It. "
I have thoroughly enjoyed my career,
which has a lot to do not only with
the nature of aviation as an industry
but also the people in it. Aviation is
never static. We are constantly facing
challenges that are unique to our
industry. But our industry is resilient,
and we work our way through whatever
roadblock is in front of us. It's an
enormous industry, but, to me, it still
feels like a club that I am lucky to be a
member of. There is a collegial nature
to aviation that really sets us apart from
other industries. The fact that a society
like ISTAT exists highlights the point.
ISTAT is a place where individuals from
all corners of aviation, including fierce
competitors, come together to learn,
laugh, share, gain insights and achieve
common ground. If I were a young
person looking to start a career, what
more could I ask for?
Jetrader * SUMMER 2021 * 13
ISTAT Jetrader - Summer 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ISTAT Jetrader - Summer 2021
