The first of the new regional forums organized by the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) will be staged at London Biggin Hill Airport on September 10. The event, which is being hosted by the Jet Aviation FBO on the south side of the airport, will consist of sessions covering regulatory and operational issues, as well as a small exhibition.
The main agenda item is to present the business aviation community’s response to the UK government’s White Paper on the Future of Air Transport. This presented contentious proposals on planned new runway and airport capacity, both in the London area and at numerous regional airports around Britain.
UK Secretary of State for Transport Alistair Darling is expected to give the keynote address, and other scheduled speakers include Biggin Hill Airport chairman Andrew Walters, London City Airport managing director Richard Gooding and Jet Aviation CEO Heinz Koehli. The following topics will be debated in the main morning session: airport and airspace capacity, business aviation and its value to local and national economies, the airport view of business aviation, corporate helicopter applications and environmental issues.
In the afternoon an operations session will be moderated by EBAA chairman and Shell Aircraft International managing director Brian Humphries. This will provide updates on new aircraft equipment requirements and the vexed issue of competition and market access. A second afternoon session moderated by Don Spruston, director general of the International Business Aviation Council, will consider issues relating to fractional ownership, security, safety and training.
The forum will begin at 9 a.m. and will conclude with a cocktail reception starting at 6 p.m. The exhibition area and static display of aircraft will be open throughout the day.
Reservations for exhibit booths are now being taken, with nine-square-meter (97 sq ft) spaces being offered for €800 ($960) and 18-square-meter spaces available for €1,500 ($1,800). Participating companies can also sponsor coffee and meal breaks.
For more information, visit www.ebaa.org or contact EBAA convention manager Darcy Christiansen at +32 2 766 0076.
The Biggin Hill forum is being held jointly with the UK Business Aircraft Users Association, the General Aviation Manufacturers and Traders Association and the British Helicopter Advisory Board. The organizers hope to draw some 250 people.
Brussels-based EBAA intends to stage forums at other European locations in partnerships with local business aviation groups. The forums are intended to complement the ever-growing annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in Geneva by providing more direct platforms to discuss issues facing business aircraft operators throughout the continent.
