Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

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The first Business Aviation Asia Forum &amp; Expo (BAAFEx) opened at Singapore Changi Exhibition Centre on Tuesday. The event&nbsp;is the long-awaited replacement for the Asian Business Aviation Conference &amp; Exhibition, which was staged in April 2019 for what turned out to be the last time in Shanghai.
“Asia is the third-largest market for business aviation,” said Leck Chet Lam, managing director of Experia Events, which launched BAAFEx and also runs the biennial Singapore Air Show. Plans call for holding the two shows on alternate years at the same site, so BAAFEx will return in 2027.
Signs point to growing interest in business aviation in Asia, with the number of ultra-high net worth individuals reaching one-third of the world total, according to show organizers. “We expect healthy growth in the Asia-Pacific business aviation industry over the next 10 years,” Leck said, outpacing the global average.
Experia saw an opportunity to create a new business aviation show, Leck said, “due to solid market fundamentals, buoyant demand, and a lack of a global platform to act as a catalyst to facilitate growth in the Asia-Pacific business aviation industry.” Adding to the expanding interest in business aviation are emerging economies in the Asia region.
“We looked at the landscape in this part of the world, and there isn’t a global event dedicated to business aviation," Leck added. "We see a vacuum we can step in.”
Singapore was chosen to host for BAAFEx due to its business-friendly environment and proximity to neighboring countries, according to Leck. In addition to the city state’s “world-class support infrastructure,” Leck touted the show site’s huge indoor exhibit hall and more than enough ramp space for a large static display that can grow along with the event.
The first day of the show opened with a strong showing of visitors crowding the exhibit hall. Although it encompasses a small area at the Changi Exhibition Centre, exhibitors told AIN they were happy with the show’s location and ability to attract companies and individuals from surrounding countries.
A number of Chinese charter/management and MRO providers are on the exhibitor list, which includes more than 50 companies and organizations and the three-day event is expected to attract more than 2,000 visitors. A small static display is just steps away from the exhibit hall and features three airplanes: a VistaJet Bombardier Global 7500, an AmberJet Gulfstream GIV, and a Falcon 8X brought by Dassault.
<figure role="group" class="caption caption-img">
<img alt="VistaJet at BAAFEx" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="42ba06a0-3cbb-4153-9338-4c6fc3d5940c" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Vistajet%20Selfie%20DSC00336.jpg" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>Singapore's BAAFEx show is introducing business aviation to growing numbers of wealthy Asian travelers.</figcaption>
</figure>

Unlike the Singapore Air Show, BAAFEx has a full complement of conference sessions, 12 in all over three days, with 46 speakers planned. Conference sessions on the first day of BAAFEx were standing room only, and Leck was encouraged that people were sharing information to help improve the business aviation arena in the Asia-Pacific region.
“When there is growth,” Leck said, “you attract challenges.” These include harmonization of regulations that govern business aviation and planning for infrastructure, especially airports and air traffic control systems, to keep up with that growth. “Those are key challenges to keep pace with demand over the next 10 years,” he said.&nbsp;
Even though there is no dedicated business aviation show in China, that country remains the largest market for that segment in the Asia-Pacific, when Hong Kong is included. “It’s very important in terms of its size,” Leck added. “But we’re starting to see that companies see potential for growth outside of China, in Southeast Asia. And they are going to try to tap into the Southeast Asia market too.
“We’re launching this show,” Leck said, “and I think it’s going to be a success.” The next BAAFEx is scheduled on April 6-8, 2027.

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