AfBAA publishes inaugural white paper

The African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) has published its inaugural white paper, the first in a series of anticipated AfBAA reference documents which will be made available to the public.

The paper titled African ‘Business Aviation Infrastructural Challenges’ analyses the range of barriers facing business aviation on the continent and provides a series of recommendations that aims to support and encourage accelerated business aviation infrastructural development and economic growth

The paper was commissioned in October by Tarek Ragheb, chairman of AfBAA in conjunction with AfBAA founding members and executive director Rady Fahmy following the establishment of specific parameters.

The analysis of the existing African business aviation landscape will be used by AfBAA to formulate a way forward for future activity. The document will act as a foundation for formulating a demographic research study which will detail specific business aviation needs and the issues demanding urgent attention. The paper has also identified crucial infrastructural deficits which are negatively affecting the development of business aviation and in consequence economic growth across most of the African continent.

These include absence of or degrading infrastructure, security and safety concerns, exceptionally high landing fees, manpower shortages, insufficient training, non-compliance with legal requirements, taxation and a general misconception across the continent about how business aviation can support economic development. In response to the barriers the paper offers solutions that include increased dialogue with Transport Ministries of African Governments, participation at national and international aviation Air Shows and meetings, lobbying of appropriate bodies for refined regulatory statutes and the need to advocate the benefits of business aviation to governments, relevant associations and the business community.

“This marks a significant milestone for AfBAA,” said Tarek Ragheb about the publication. “It is ground breaking in that we now have a single document outlining the essential areas we need to focus on, and enables us to formulate a strategy for the Association’s activity for the next twelve months.”

“It demonstrates that AfBAA is a vibrant body that genuinely wants to advocate on behalf of business aviation stakeholders in Africa. We look forward to beginning the research as recommended and reporting back to our growing membership,” said Ragheb.

The document was authored by Dr Winston Mahabir who was invited to produce the paper owing to his experience within the business aviation industry. Dr Mahabir, a former diplomat who has worked with Gulfstream and Hawker Beechcraft in Africa. He has had extensive interaction with Ministries of Transport throughout the region.