Inaugural Irish Business & General Aviation Association conference puts sustainability, tourism high on agenda

Wednesday 19th October 2022

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The Irish Business & General Aviation Association’s debut conference on 17 November, 2022, is putting sustainability, and the value of business aviation to tourism and Ireland’s economy, high on its agenda at the stunning, award-winning Adare Manor, Limerick venue.   (Adare Manor has just been acclaimed the No 1 Resort in the World at the 2022 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards.)

 

Ms. Hildegarde Naughton, Minister of State at the Department of Transport, will formally open the event and make an opening address to the expected 150 delegates.

 

Keynote speaker Charles Etter, Staff Scientist and Technical Fellow of premier sponsor, Gulfstream Aerospace, will advocate the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as an important and easy step to help business aviation meet its carbon reduction targets.   This conference, which will be defined by its widened audience, is an excellent platform to underline that SAF has the same characteristics and is just as safe, as traditional Jet-A fuel.

 

Etter will also lead a panel of experts that will address cost, supply demand and government mandates and what the business aviation sector has to do on the education of SAF. Panelists include  Bryan Sherbacow, President & CEO - Alder Fuels; Elouisa Dalli, Senior Vice President Group Marketing – Jet Aviation; Mark Sanderson, Group Corporate Responsibility Manager – Farnborough Airport;  Frank Moesta, Senior Vice President Strategy & Future Programmes  - Rolls-Royce; Chris Mace, CEO Mace Sheehan, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Air Company.

Ali Ahmed Alnaqbi, IBAC Chair and founding executive chairman of the Middle East Business Aviation Association and EBAA’s COO Robert Baltus will highlight trends and challenges in the sector as demand for business aviation continues to rise.

In a packed programme other highlights include:

The advantages of setting up an aviation business in Ireland – with speakers  from The Irish Aviation Authority and Graham Williamson, President, ACASS. Mike McCready, President, Argus International will address international traffic, with a specific Ireland focus.

Lauding Ireland’s convenience as a stopover and for business aviation and GA Josh Stewart IBGAA Chair and XJET founder will address U.S. Customs & Immigration Preclearance for GA with a Q and A session with Area Port Director – Ireland – Jennifer Schroeder-Fawcett, Liam Murphy, General Manager – Universal Aviation and Joe Buckley, Executive Director – IBGAA.

Connectivity technology and satellite communications will be addressed by Chris Bigalow, Honeywell’s Regional Connectivity Sales Manager for Business Aviation and UAM Satcom, UK & Europe and Anna Montanuy Sellart, Regional Director – Europe for Satcom Direct.

Navigating Aircraft Transactions in Corporate Aviation will be tackled by Aoife O’Sullivan, Partner at the Air Law Firm and Chair of the British Business & General Aviation Association on an experienced panel which includes Sean O’Leary, Sales Director – Jetcraft; Simon Davis – VP Sales, UK, Middle East, and India for Global Jet Capital Heather Gordon, Legal Director – Martyn Fiddler Aviation. 5-Year Pre-Owned Business Aviation Market Forecast will be presented by  Colin Dunne, Sales Manager at Jetcraft.

Ultra luxe tourism and business aviation chiefs join forces

Doug Gollan, Founder & Editor-in-Chief – Private Jet Card Comparisons - will chair a panel on Ireland's Ultraluxe Tourism Potential, along with Mark Nolan, Managing Director – Dromoland Castle; Paula M. Carroll, M.B.S. Director of Sales & Marketing – Ashford Castle Hotel & Lodge; Miriam Kennedy, Head of the Wild Atlantic Way – Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland.

There will  be updates from business aviation friendly airports – Shannon and Weston Airport,  IBGAA’s newest member, moderated by Josh Stewart.   Josh will be at NBAA next week in Orlando to answer any questions about the conference and encourage more US delegates to join at this stunning venue.

IBGAA’s first conference will also propose a new Business Aviation National Development Plan for Ireland which will be presented to the Irish Government with key recommendations on sustainability

The event will conclude with a gala dinner held in Adare Manor’s majestic ballroom.

 

“We are absolutely delighted with the support we have received for our first conference since announcing it back in May, during EBACE,” said Josh Stewart Founding Chairman of the Irish Business  & General Aviation Association.   “Bringing together tourism entities and business aviation professionals will make for a highly educational and interesting conference and terrific networking, as we tackle issues like sustainability, fostering growth and Ireland’s pivotal role together.”

 

For delegate prices, hotel recommendations please see

Delegate Registration (eventsair.com)  also see  www.ibgaa.com

 

* Adare Manor will be the venue of the 2027 Ryder Cup.  JP McManus has transformed Adare Manor, investing a considerable sum of money to make it one of the best golf resorts in the world.  Adare is of huge importance to the Shannon Region, supporting around 600 jobs directly.

 

For more information, please contact:   

 

E: jbuckley@ibgaa.com

Media enquiries:

The Emerald Network

T: +44 (0) 1420 560094   

Mobile: +44 (0) 7881 628057 

E: alison.chambers@emeraldmedia.co.uk

 

  

Editor’s notes

 

The Irish Business and General Aviation Association was formed in September 2020 with nearly 30 members including leading Irish resort venues and lifestyle brands.  Its board comprises:

 

Josh Stewart, Founding Chairman of IBGAA, Founder & CEO of Robusto Capital, Founder & CEO of XJet®, IBGAA Representative on the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) Governing Board and Board Member of the Middle East & North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA), and a veteran of the aviation industry for more than 30 years.

 

Dave Scully is the Founding Vice-Chairman of the Irish Business & General Aviation Association (IBGAA) and Managing Director & Accountable Manager at Private Sky, Shannon-based leading corporate aircraft management company. A stalwart of Irish business and general aviation, Dave has close to two decades’ experience in aviation operations at senior management level. He previously held the position of Director of Operations at Dublin-Weston Executive Airport and was also the founder of AEM Limited Aviation Consultancy.

 

Joe Buckley is the Founding Executive Director of IBGAA. An aviation industry veteran, with over 40 years’ extensive experience working for Shannon Airport, Joe has held several executive roles within airport operations and business development. He is a member of the EBAA’s Advocacy Committee and the Irish representative on the Council of European Business Aviation Associations. An early advocate of extending US preclearance to business aviation, Joe played a key role in the subsequent opening of the world’s first US preclearance facility in Shannon for business aviation.

 

Keith McKay, Founding Member, is Operations Manager & Business Development Manager at Woodgate Aviation, the Belfast International Airport-based fixed wing air ambulance operator, private jet management company, charter broker, FBO and general aviation maintenance provider.  Keith joined Woodgate Aviation in 2012, after 14 years in the airline sector, bringing an in-depth knowledge of operational and service delivery.   He is credited for increasing Woodgate Aviation’s brand awareness via social media platforms, marketing campaigns, introducing a new company website and organizing and promoting successful local business aviation product placement and showcase events in Northern Ireland.

 

Kenneth Fielding is General Manager for Signature Flight Support in Shannon. Signature Flight Support is the world’s largest Fixed Base Operator with over 200 locations worldwide including Shannon and Dublin, supplying essential support services for business and private aviation including ground handling, refuelling and a variety of other world-class amenities. Kenneth began working for Signature in 2005 as a customer service representative, becoming Operations Manager in 2014. In 2015 he was promoted to General Manager for the Shannon base. In his current role, he handles day to day activity, delivering a consistent premier service to Signature customers while supporting a strong safety culture.

Angie Deady-Fiddler is a director of Martyn Fiddler Aviation based at their Irish office. Angie oversees and manages customs businesses in Ireland, UK, Isle of Man and the Netherlands. Having previously worked extensively in customer service roles and administration services, Angie joined the business in 2000 and has led the customs team for over 20 years, growing it to be a globally recognised brand within the business aviation sector.

Liam Murphy is General Manager for Universal Aviation based in Shannon Airport, Ireland. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Universal is a leading Trip Support Services specialist for business aviation operators with a multi-national, global client base.  Liam has over 20 years’ aviation experience, primarily involved in business aviation sector, including roles in Customer Service, Safety & Training and Operations. As part of his experience, Liam spent a number of years as the Director of Ground Operations for one of Ireland’s leading charter operators.

Russ Allchorne is Chief Operating Officer for ACASS Ireland, a Shannon-based corporate aircraft management and charter company and founding company of the IBGAA.  Russ has been involved in aviation for his entire life. Having gained a pilot’s licence before he could drive, Russ joined the RAF in 1983 and flew a variety of fighter jets and WWII aircraft over a career spanning 25 years.  Russ left the RAF as a Group Captain in 2008.

Jim O’Sullivan is founder and Managing Director of Dublin-based EXjets Ltd, which started in 1994 offering leasing and charter flights.  The business is 100% committed to providing a first-class personalised service with flying schedules tailored specifically to client requirements.

Alan Nee is a Licensed FAA and EASA ATPL corporate jet and helicopter pilot with extensive operational experience in North and South America, the Caribbean, Middle East, Asia, Far East, Russia and Europe. Past operational roles have included: CEO and Accountable Manager for Premier Aviation Ltd. (Helicopter AOC), CEO and Accountable Manager for Premier Executive Jets. (Jet AOC). Alan has a strong working relationship with Embraer, Dassault, Bombardier, Gulfstream, Airbus, Leonardo, Bell and Sikorsky, having purchased aircraft from each of these manufacturers for resale and leasing.

Peter Costelloe is the founder of By Appointment DMC which has successfully grown an executive concierge business from Ireland to now being present in five countries across two continents. Peter’s achievements include logistical planning for a vast array of A list celebrities, government officials and the senior decision makers within large multinational companies. Peter has been involved in the logistical support for four U.S. Presidential visits to Ireland and received a personal thank you from President Barack Obama after his trip to Ireland in May 2011.