African Business Aviation Association to announce new membership categories at NBAA

The African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) will be launching four new membership categories as well as detailing its founding members list during the National Business Aviation Association Convention. The new membership categorisation have been initiated following the significant interest AfBAA has received from the international business aviation community and will complement the founding membership category.

AfBAA already has fully funded commitment from 18 founding members, including international and African businesses, and is now working through a selection process to finalise the last two founding members. The AfBAA has now launched new member categories.

“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 for this unique launch member status,” said Tarek Ragheb, founder and chairman of AfBAA. In addition interested parties will be able to apply for the newly formed normal and affiliate membership types at NBAA.

AfBAA also plans to maximise its presence at the NBAA to develop existing, and build new relationships, with US companies that have interests in operating on the African continent.

“We are keen to showcase AfBAA, the only Pan-African aviation association, as a well-funded, professional and active association with a genuine commitment to supporting the development of the future of business aviation in Africa. Following on from the founder and launch member status we also aim to encourage interested parties to join the association as regular and affiliate members,” continued Ragheb.

The Association has formed a new leadership group has been formed. The board, which will be led by Tarek M. Ragheb who will be joined by Ivor Ichikowitz of Paramount Group, South Africa as vice chairman and treasurer, will be supported by four sub-committees each with their own remit and elected chairperson. Overseeing the Association’s operations will be Rady Fahmy, former programme director, as the newly promoted Executive Director. Jack Olcott, formerly president of the NBAA, and a well-known advocate of the value of business aviation, has been retained in his advisory role supporting the association’s development.

“We are confident that the elected Board and committee chairpersons reflect the complete spectrum of interests of the Association. Each member of the leadership group brings a unique set of skills providing a strong foundation from which to develop the Association’s strategy in a professional and cohesive manner,” commented Fahmy.