BBGA Up to Date Information

The team at BBGA are working closely with the authorities to keep our members up to date on the current situation regarding COVID-19.

Please see below the link to access the most up to date information.

Government Covid 19 Updates

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BBGA MEMBER APP LAUNCHED

In order to provide you with the most up to date information for our industry, particularly concerning COVID-19 and BREXIT, we are delighted to launch the BBGA Member app. This app will be continually updated with not only the latest advice and updates but we will also be providing the current BBGA lobbying activities and its progress.

This is a member benefit and whilst we are all striving to continue to work in these unusual circumstances the app should serve as a useful resource for you.

Members will have received an email outlining how to download and log in to the app. Any member who hasn't received this can contact Sandra Thompson for full details

If you are not currently a BBGA member and would like to join us and get access to the app or for further details of how to join and member benefits, please contact Rachael Paskin

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BBGA ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2020

FLIGHT TO SUSTAINABILITY

An in depth look at environmental and business sustainability for the Business and General Aviation Industry”

The BBGA Annual Conference and AGM took place at the Mansion House. Luton Hoo on Thursday 5th March 2020.

The conference was attended by around 150 industry professionals along with speakers from a variety of industry bodies including EBAA, ACA, AOPA, CAA & DfT

BBGA’s Chair Aoife O’Sullivan welcomed delegates to the event and the keynote Speaker Stanley Johnson engaged the audience with his views on climate change.

The speakers throughout the day ranged from Air BP, Shell Aviation, London Oxford Airport, Farnborough Airport, Avidus Jet, Medaire and Gama Aviation discussing a many different and current industry topics including sustainable fuels, Coronovirus, Illegal Charter, the Future of our Airports and the Future of Aviation Strategy.

The conference closed with a fascinating insight into how Business Aviation is an enabler for climate change research from Rod Arnold from the British Antarctic Survey. Rod certainly got the audience talking and thinking about the planet.

The day finished with the prestigious Gala Dinner in the amazing dining room at the Mansion House.

We would like to thank all our sponsors who enable us to hold this event for our members each year. The conference trade show enabled our sponsors to network with delegates during the event.

Bombardier Aviation, Gulfstream Aerospace, Lux Aviation, FlightSafety International, London Biggin Hill Airport, Universal Aviation, Collins Aerospace, Inflite – The Jet Centre, Harrods Aviation, Shell Aircraft, Emerald Media, Martyn Fiddler Aviation, Paragon Bank, The Air Law Firm, Hayward Aviation and Hunt & Palmer, Shawbrook Bank. Guardian Jet

The next BBGA networking event is our Palace of Westminster Reception on 22nd July.

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Brexit Advice from BBGA CEO Marc Bailey

As we move into the next stages of the Future Aviation Strategy we can assure the BBGA members that we will continue your contribution to this process and in advance of the white paper we will work with DfT to arrange a number of workshops to review the final material. We are ideally positioned with both DfT and the UK CAA having established formal meetings with these government agencies. For clarity there are a limited number of organisations working on behalf of our sector in such a way.

Working through the transitional Brexit process there are a very limited number of organisations in the UK who can continue representing your interests in the context of EASA and the EU commission. The BBGA can continue representing those interests through ECOGAS (European Council of General Aviation Support) irrespective of the outcome at the end of the transitional period on the 31st of December 2020. This is an important time for members to realise that there are very few organisations who have the links to Government, its agencies and EASA. Make sure your voice is heard and use established channels would be our advice.

Additional advice from CAA

As the U.K. prepares to leave the European Union at 23:00 UTC this evening, the European Aviation Safety Agency and the UK Civil Aviation Authority have confirmed that the transition period will mean that EASA regulations continue to apply until at least the end of December this year.

“Following the country’s exit from the EU on 31 January, the UK is entering a transition period during which EU law will continue to apply and the UK and its aviation sector will continue to participate in the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) system while the future UK-EU relationship on aviation is determined. During the transition period the UK continues to be party to the EU Air Services Regulation and mutual recognition provisions established under the EASA Basic Regulation. Existing agreements between the EU and third countries, such as those relating to air connectivity and aviation safety, will continue to include the UK. As a result, businesses and individuals operating in the UK should see no change to existing conditions during the transition period, which is due to end on 31 December 2020.”

In short, for the next eleven months the status quo applies, and we will continue to monitor and update our members as and when more advice is issued. We are working closely with the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Transport on issues directly affecting our members, most particularly in terms of mutual recognition of Licences and Certificates.

Whichever side of the political spectrum you’re on and no matter where you are based, we know that aviation has always brought the world closer together and allowed us to easily cross borders. We look forward to continuing to be part of that strong, close-knit and friendly industry well into the future.

Further information is available at the following links:

https://info.caa.co.uk/brexit/

https://www.easa.europa.eu/brexit

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BBGA 2019 Highlights

BBGA CEO, Marc Bailey has summarised the Association's activities throughout 2019. We will continue to support and work with our members during 2020 which could prove an intersting year for our industry.

For more information click here

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VAT treatment of Aircraft in the Event of a No Deal Brexit

BBGA have been very concerned at the apparent lack of clarity surrounding the VAT treatment of aircraft in the event a deal is not agreed and the UK leaves the EU without a Withdrawal Agreement.

It was our understanding that all aircraft which were previously imported through the UK or Isle of Man would be deemed exported from both the UK and the EU on Exit Day. There was a risk that such aircraft would be exposed to UK VAT on entering the UK or that such aircraft would have to be reimported into the UK. Our Board Members have therefore been working with the DfT, HMRC, Treasury and the CAA to give comfort to owners and operators of aircraft which have already been imported into the UK or Isle of Man, that they will not have their UK VAT paid status affected, irrespective of where the aircraft is located on Exit Day. We are pleased to confirm assurances have been given to us in writing that “HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will take steps to minimise burdens on aircraft, on which UK VAT has been paid, re-entering the UK from the EU. In particular, transitional changes will be made to Returned Goods Relief (RGR) to allow for returns of goods from the EU to the UK. This will mean that if an aircraft has previously been imported into the UK/IOM and the appropriate taxes and duties have been paid, its UK VAT paid status will not be affected on the day of EU Exit, irrespective of where it is located”.

Please note BBGA is not qualified to give tax advice and this note is for information purposes only. Please ensure you take appropriate advice on the tax treatment of aircraft you own or operate.

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Industry Calls for Stronger Penalties on Illegal Charter

The British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) is calling for legal changes to strengthen deterrents for illegal charter and boost enforcement. “Fines are pointless and they are not being enforced,” aviation attorney and BBGA Chair Aoife O’Sullivan said today at the Air Charter Expo conference at Biggin Hill Airport. “We need a change in the law.”

Read More

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Brexit and access in the EU

The diagram below shows representations of the nine freedoms of the air, taken from a recent ICAO report.

Source: A Study of the effects of the UK Leaving the EU on airlines flying to and from the UK - R-038-001-001