A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR GENERAL
Kurt Edwards
Business aviation showed a strong presence at the Avalon Air Show in Melbourne, Australia, at the end of February. The members of the Australian Business Aviation Association (ABAA) rallied in support of the sector, participating in an Avalon-hosted meeting of the General Aviation Advisory Network, which, along with other industry associations, provides advice directly to the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development, and Cities. On behalf of ABAA and all our member associations, IBAC represented business aviation at the Next Generation World Airports Conference held at the Show. Last, ABAA held a general meeting at the show, demonstrating its growing membership and increasingly effective advocacy.
I’d like to thank David Bell of ABAA, show organizers Aerospace Australia Ltd, and Pilatus Aircraft for being such kind hosts and demonstrating the utility and value of business aviation to Australia. The significant presence of the Royal Flying Doctor Service and Pilatus Aircraft was particularly impressive, a reminder of one of the important missions filled by business aircraft.
Separately, I would like to thank the members of IBAC’s Planning and Operations Committee, who came from all corners of the globe in early March to consider and discuss IBAC’s future directions. The effort will continue throughout the year, including with Governing Board input in May and October, in order to set our goalposts for work beyond 2020.
I am looking forward to meeting with business aviation leaders at ABACE in Shanghai, China, this month. Please stop by IBAC’s stand (H1717) and join us for a presentation on the International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH) at the Ground-handling Safety Panel on Day 2 from 13:30-14:30.
The month of May will have an environmental theme, about which we’re excited. We will participate in the first ICAO Stocktaking Seminar in Montreal 30 April-May 1 to continue our work from the Conference on Aviation and Alternative fuels (CAAF/2) in Mexico City in 2017. Please consider attending the ATAG Global Sustainable Aviation Forum in Montreal on 13 May, where you can learn about sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and other innovative efforts to mitigate and reduce aviation’s environmental footprint while furthering its growth. In addition, look for more details about a SAF demonstration and educational event at Farnborough Airport on Saturday 18-May as business jets journey to Geneva for EBACE 2019.
IS-BAO
• The IBAC and IS-BAO leadership had a good collaboration kickoff regarding the Civil Aviation Authority of the Phillipines and AsBAA efforts to leverage the IS-BAO as potential Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC) for Philippine operators.
• The IS-BAO team had a successful presentation at EASA to the SAFA forum. There was significant interest in continuing to deepen the relationships with IS-BAO for use in the SAFA program from not only the EU States but EASA as well. Hundreds of IS-BAO registered aircraft are now in the IBAC SAFA database to assist with consideration toward SAFA inspections.
• The IS-BAO Programme continues to work with industry vendors toward infrastructure support for the Progressive Stage 3 option that is under development.
IS-BAH
• Hong Kong workshop proved successful with a truly International group attending. New workshop schedules being added now, including London Luton, Madrid, Brussels and Marrakech.
• The IS-BAH Programme Director was involved in the recent EASA Ground Handling Conference and provided a short presentation on the business aviation industry standards to a number of ground handling stakeholders. The support work will continue with EASA and the NAAs as they further develop the roadmap to the regulation of ground handling service providers.
• Global IS-BAH registrations approach the 170 mark with Dassault Le Bourget and Signature Flight Support Van Nuys achieving Stage 1. Congratulations to all those involved.
• The IS-BAH Standards Board gathers this year on May 20th ahead of the annual EBACE. Now is the time to get us your suggestions / comments on the Standard for 2019/20.
Source: https://mailchi.mp/7b40478ec00a/ibac-update-april-2019
