A boom in sub-Saharan Africa is attracting business talent from the all over the globe. According to an article in the Economist, in recent years investors have been piling into Lagos and Nairobi “as if they were Frankfurt and Tokyo of old”.

Direct investment from foreign entities has increased by about 50% since 2005 and the world’s biggest underwriter of emerging market debt, JP Morgan, has just added Nigeria to its government -bond index for emerging markets.

All this hope of new affluence means that business aviation is enjoying a surge of interest on the continent, spotlighted by the formation of the Africa Business Aviation Association (AfBAA).

Launched at the European Businesses, the fledgling trade body has a mission to promote private aviation in Africa.

To date it is the only pan-African aviation association that represents the interests of the continent s business aircraft owners, operators and suppliers.

According to founder Tarek Ragheb, it is “well -funded, professional and active, with a genuine commitment to supporting the development of the future of business aviation in Africa.

He added:”Although there is a great deal of interest in Africa, it is a diverse continent with a spotty aviation infrastructure.”

AfBAAs mission is to promote the benefits that executive aviation can contribute to the continents economic development and prosperity. The group aims to work with entrepreneurs, business leaders and governments, plus their respective civil aviation authorities, to facilitate growth in the sector. It will also push for operational safety and security through training programmes that teach “professionalism and excellence”.

Ragheb would also like to see more new aircraft installed in Africa. The current business aircraft fleet stands at around 1,300, only 400 of which are jets under eight years old. He explained: “Traditionally Africa has been a dumping ground for old aircraft, such as DC-3S .We need to see newer types, such as Gulf stream G450s and G550s here.”

All the founding members have made a strong financial commitment to developing the private aviation sector in the continent, and are expected to support African nations in understanding and leveraging the value that it can provide to future economic prosperity.

With initial membership commitment until 2015, the founders will adhere to the associations guiding principles, which focus on advocacy, safety, security, integrity, service and training. Launch members will also have a strong voice within the association, and take an active role in shaping the future of business aviation in Africa.

All founding members either operate in, or have interests in,Africa.They are: Business Service ,Air BP,Best Fly Flight Support, Crystal Ventures,Dalie Air Private Jets,Embraer Executive Jets, Evergreen Apple Nigeria,ExecuJet Aviation Africa,Gainjet Aviation, Gulf stream Aerospace Corporation. Hawker Beech craft Corporation. Nexus Flight Operations Services, Paramount Group, Piero Scarpellini, Satcom Direct, SkyJet Aviation Services, Tarek Ragheb, Universal Weather and Aviation and Z-Aviation Services.

The group has elected 18 board members to implement the association’s policies and strategy.

Extra Support

Ragheb heads up the board and is joined by Ivor Ichikowitz of Paramount Group, who is vice chairman and treasurer .There are also four sub-committees, each with its own remit and elected chair, to add extra support.

Executive director Rady Fahmy oversees the whole group’s activities, while Jack Olcott, formerly president of the NBAA, and a well-known business aviation advocate, has been retained in his advisory role supporting the association’s development.

This October AfBAA launched four new membership categories in order to attract recruits from the rest of the World. The association is committed to building bridges with the international aviation community and also joined the US National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) to further that goal.

Additionally, it is forging links with other influential regional business aviation groups, such as the Middle East Business Aviation Association, and has applied for International Business Aviation Council membership.

Demonstrating its commitment to education, a delegation from Africa paid a visit to NBAA s headquarters this summer, while traveling around North America studying the business aviation industry there.

NBAAs senior manager, finance & tax policy Scott O’Brien explained:” Their big challenge is learning how to deal with business flight operations. One goal of this reverse-trade mission was to help them become educated about our industry and what it needs to operate in Africa.”

He added that outsiders planning a trip to Africa would be well advised to start a few months ahead of time ideally, and to investigate health issues, such as necessary vaccinations. He pointed to aircraft, and the fact that fuel and service availability are major considerations.

He said: “There may not be maintenance services in some areas. Ramp equipment could be a factor and even the purity of the fuel is a consideration.”

AfBAA is determined to combat such obstacles and is now working through a selection process to finalize its last two founding members, as well as soliciting applications from international businesses to join as launch members.

Ragheb said: “We noted that a number of companies we would have welcomed as founding members were unable to apply originally for a variety of reasons. As we value their input and the potential support they can offer, AfBAA will now encourage them to apply.”

In addition, interested parties will be able to apply for the newly formed normal and affiliate membership types.

Although AfBAA is developing quickly, Ragheb said there is “no race” to create a local airshow.His main goal is to establish a robust organization during his two years in charge in order to help create a culture of safety in the region, modeled on that of South Africa.

He concluded: “There have been some horrendous accidents in Africa. Other continents are able to operate a level of legislation thanks to their regulatory environments. We are focused on understanding and addressing safety here.”

Anthony A Juma is the Editor and Director Commercial & Flights Operations at Wings Over Africa Aviation Limited. This is an Air Charter Company that specializes on Air News on Aviation Industry in Africa on Scheduled & Private Charter Flights . The website has guided thousands of travelers to achieve their dream holiday. For more information and guidance, visit the site at http://www.wingsoverafrica-aviation.com/index.php/services/charter-flights.html

Anthony A Juma is the Editor and Director Commercial & Flights Operations at Wings Over Africa Aviation Limited. This is an Air Charter Company that specializes on Air News on Aviation Industry in Africa on Scheduled & Private Charter Flights . The website has guided thousands of travelers to achieve their dream holiday. For more information and guidance, visit the site at http://www.wingsoverafrica-aviation.com/index.php/services/charter-flights.html

Author Bio: Anthony A Juma is the Editor and Director Commercial & Flights Operations at Wings Over Africa Aviation Limited. This is an Air Charter Company that specializes on Air News on Aviation Industry in Africa on Scheduled & Private Charter Flights . The website has guided thousands of travelers to achieve their dream holiday. For more information and guidance, visit the site at http://www.wingsoverafrica-aviation.com/index.php/services/charter-flights.html

Category: Travel
Keywords: air operators Africa,air operators East Africa,air operators Kenya,air operators Tanzania,avaition