A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR GENERAL
Kurt Edwards
It is always a pleasure to recognize and thank all those who participate in the IBAC programmes/workshops and demonstrate their commitment to excellence and safety: operators, handlers, and auditors. We also saw great support for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which will be increasingly important as business aviation seeks to meet its carbon emissions reduction goals.
We announced the new IBAC Governing Board executive officers following the NBAA-BACE meeting in Las Vegas. [press release] Mr. Ali Alnaqbi, Founder and Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Business Aviation Association will become Chairman of the IBAC Governing Board from 1 January 2020. Mr. Alnaqbi is currently the Vice Chairman of the Board. Mr. Juergen Wiese, Chairman of the European Business Aviation Association, will become Vice Chairman. Mr. Sudhir Nayak of the Business Aircraft Operators Association of India will continue to serve as the Treasurer of the IBAC Governing Board. I extend my sincere gratitude to Scott Macpherson of the Canadian Business Aviation Association for his service as Chairman and Vice Chairman for the last six years.
Allow me to thank the IBAC Governing Board, too, for its support. It took a key decision at our meeting just after BACE to support our Strategic Direction to 2025. I look forward to working with the Board members and member associations to make the vision a reality over the next several years.
I would like to congratulate AsBAA on its successful events in early November: its Icons of Aviation annual gala and the second AsBAA Safety Day in Manila. Both drew larger audiences than the last editions – true displays of the increased energy level in the community and a desire to increase awareness of our sector and its focus on safety.
As we come into the end-of-year holiday season, allow me to thank all of you for your support of IBAC this year. Whether you volunteer to assist us, participate in one of our programmes, or play a role in our governance, you all contribute to IBAC’s collective efforts to advance the interests of business aviation around the world. I look forward to building on our efforts with you in 2020.
Elections at ICAO
The ICAO Council, a 36-member governing body in permanent residence at ICAO in Montreal, has elected a new President at the end of November. Mr. Salvatore Sciacchitano of Italy will start a three-year term as President of the Council from January 2020. Mr. Sciacchitano is a former director general of civil aviation in Italy and executive secretary of the European Civil Aviation Conference. He succeeds Dr. Olumuwiya Benard Aliu of Nigeria.
The ICAO Council also selected the next President of the Air Navigation Commission, the highest technical body at ICAO, which advises the Council. Mr. Nabil Naoumi of Germany will take up the ANC President duties in January 2020. He succeeds Mr. Claude Hurley of Canada.
Best wishes to all for the New Year and thank you for your continued support!
IS-BAO:
• The IS-BAO standards board met in October. The Standards Board added a Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) subcommittee made up of industry experts to guide the program’s work in 2020 toward adding RPAS capability to the IS-BAO.
• The Progressive Stage 3 and FlightPlan Stage1 programs continue to progress through testing with operators engaged in registration audits.
Source: us11.campaign-archive.com
