IBGAA widens out membership as it meets for its fourth annual conference

Building on a positive year for business aviation,characterised by new and used business aircraft committed to the Irish registry*, a strong showing of chartered jets and helicopters arriving for the Irish Open and the landmark decision keeping Dublin Airport exempt from the commercial passenger cap – the Irish Business & General Aviation Association (IBGAA) meets in upbeat mood.

Returning to the magnificent K Club, County Kildare, and supported by the Irish Aviation Authority, IBGAA announced plans to create a new Irish Aviation Diaspora Association within the Association. “Open to companies all over the world with connections to Ireland, this is a smart and engaging way to grow our fledgling national association, which currently embraces 30 members,” commented Josh Stewart, IBGAA Chair.

“We’re excited to officially launch the Irish aviation diaspora and unlock the immense power of the global Irish community. This potential 70m-strong diaspora is a national asset and the IAD will bring the global Irish aviation community together to spotlight international companies doing business in Ireland through third party affiliates, associations even company directors with Irish heritage,” he added.

Ireland, with its renowned legacy in aircraft leasing, is also playing a big part in progressing next-gen aviation. As part of its strategy to obtain wider recognition, IBGAA will become the latest national European business aviation association to partner with the NBAA’s CLIMBING.FAST industry advocacy initiative. IBGAA is also planning, for the first time, to take a country pavilion presence at the AEROFriedrichshafen Show, Germany next April, within its dedicated and expanded business aviation hall.

Wider OEM participation at 4^th annual conference

This week IGBAA is pleased to bring a varied agenda to its 2025 annual conference, moderated once again by the masterful Oisin Lunny. The event commenced with an evening reception hosted by Weston Airport on the evening of 12^th November. Cirrus Aircraft brought along a Cirrus Vision Jet. IBGAA is especially delighted to welcome more OEMs to Ireland this year. Joining Gulfstream Aerospace, which has loyally supported IBGAA since the outset, are Airbus Corporate Jets; Dassault and Textron, including Bell Helicopters.

Topics on the agenda include:

Honeywell Aerospace’s Chris Bigwood, aka The WiFi Guy,’ leading a session on Are You Future Proofed for Staying Connected?

In a session titled Future of Flight, Gulfstream’sVice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, Smitha Hariharan joins 4Air’sChief Operating Officer Nancy Bsales, to explore the challenges and opportunities in shaping a more sustainable future. Their conversation will balance ambition with realism, legacy with transformation, as Ireland and global leaders chart a course toward cleaner skies.

Have I got news for you? is a new session this year. Moderated by Jetcraft Sales Director Colin Dunne, who closely follows the market, he’ll be joined by leading aviation writers and commentators Aviation Week’s Daniel Williams, Aviation International News’ Kelly Lynch; EVA Editor Paul Eden and bizav comms specialist Alison Chambers at Emerald Media. They’ll discuss what stories grabbed their attention this year and their significance into the future.

The National Business Aviation Association and IBAC will lead the returning Global Perspectives from International Associations panel, while the regular business aviation in Ireland slot will include a session on preparedness for the Ryder Cup (coming to Ireland in 2028) and advancing collaboration and skill-sharing between Ireland and Saudi Arabia. Ty Murphy, editor of The Family Office magazine on what a Family Office needs to be aware of in contemplating aircraft ownership. A panel session on Pre-owned Aircraft will be moderated by Daniel Cheung, Principal, Aviation Tax Consultants with Johnny Foster, OGARA JETS; Simon Davies, Global Jet Capital, Paul Doherty, ACASS and Mary Preudhomme, Air Docs.

We’ll also hear from Tom Lyons, author of Aer Dogsand how a small team ofIrish trailblazers made low-cost air travel available to billions of people across Europe, Asia, North America and Latin America.

“Putting on a conference like this isn’t possible without the backing of sponsors and we are most grateful to our regular and new sponsors this year,” commented Josh Stewart. Their commitment is testament to the enormous success our past three conferences have delivered.

IBGAA 2025 is being held at The K Club, a luxury golf hotel, 40-minutes by car from Dublin Airport and a 15-minute drive to Weston Airport, Ireland’s only dedicated general and business aviation airport.

*Flexjet Group and StellAer of Ireland are adding business aircraft on to the Irish registry, along with a cluster of recently delivered privately owned jets.

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For more information, please contact:  

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Paul Cremer

My name is Paul Cremer, and this marks my 42nd year working within the business and general aviation industry. Over this time, I’ve had the privilege of overseeing a diverse array of sector activities, ranging from aircraft charter and management to air ambulance services, ground operations, air traffic control, airport management, technology implementation, and the outsourcing services I currently manage.

In my role focused on delivering advisory, technology, and outsourcing services to aviation customers, I handle a wide spectrum of responsibilities. This includes overseeing International Trip Support, Operations Control Centre Services (OCC), Continuing Airworthiness Management Service (CAMO), Airworthiness Reviews, ARC Services, Aircraft Delivery and Re-delivery Support Services, Maintenance Coordination Services including AOG, Tech Ops (Maintenance Control Centre), and managing myairops software products. As the Head of Aviation Delivery, I lead the customer-facing delivery of Technology & Outsourcing products and services for the market, drawing upon a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and industry connections within Gama Aviation’s Technology and Outsourcing Strategic Business Unit.

My journey into Business and General Aviation began during my teenage years while still in school. I was fortunate enough to be welcomed into the industry, starting at a flying club, and later working at the Air Traffic Services Unit at Blackbushe Airport. There, I maintained the ATC Movement Logs in the Control Tower during weekends, solidifying my passion for aviation. Upon completing my schooling, I seized opportunities at Fairoaks Airport, where I began as Ground Crew while pursuing my Aerodrome Flight Information Service Officer’s license. Advancements in my career led me to the role of Air Traffic Services Manager.

Since joining Gama Aviation in 1996, I’ve held various positions, including Operations Manager (Post Holder), Operations & Commercial Manager, Commercial Manager, Operations Delivery Manager, Head of Business Aviation Delivery, and currently, Head of Aviation Delivery. This role encompasses Gama Aviation Group’s Gama Aviation, myairops, and FlyerTech companies.

In 2023, I was honoured to be invited to serve as the Chair of the Operations Working Group for the British Business & General Aviation Association. This opportunity allows me to contribute to industry initiatives within BBGA’s membership of nearly 200 industry companies, focusing on challenges such as regulatory compliance, Air Services Agreements, technological advancements, workforce development, operational matters, and sustainability.

Marc Bailey

Marc Bailey has spent his entire career in aviation and has worked in most areas of Aviation Services with scheduled airlines, MRO’s, military contract support and latterly with associations, government, and its agencies.

Marc represents your position in Europe (even post Brexit) – as President of ECOGAS (European Council of General Aviation Support) which maintains a voice with EASA. All the major member states are represented on the ECOGAS board. With EASA restructuring its meetings with industry, ECOGAS is now well positioned to represent our position in all areas following industry partnerships with the European Independent Maintenance Group and with ARPAS the new drone and autonomous association.

Marc is chair of the UKASF (United Kingdom Airworthiness Strategic Forum) as part of an initiative to develop Aviation Services across all aviation activities. The UKASF pulls together airlines, MROs, Rotary, Drones, and commercial GA bodies to work with CAA and DfT. The objective is for industry to take the lead to drive strategic issues to benefit all parties. We are well positioned after four years to continue our good work and with the re-established role of Chief Surveyor in the CAA we have a good focal point to do this.

Marc chairs the CAA Finance and Services Forum which allows industry in the UK to discuss in the financial plans for the CAA and the value for money delivered by those funds paid by industry. This is a new and valuable new platform for all parties.

Under recent developments Marc has formed an alliance with, ARPAS, AOPA, BHA and BBGA so that we can strengthen our voice under a joint ‘GA 4 Biz’ banner. This alliance is working to do everything possible to represent the industry’s business interests with UK government and to help realise the Government’s desire to make UK General Aviation a Global Leader in a post Brexit environment. GA4Biz – GA4Biz

The next Generation initiatives with industry and government have continued to develop with the retention platform now evolving into the “Aviation Skills Recruitment Platform”. The platform now not only offers a vehicle for those offering and seeking posts in aviation, it also provides pathways with its TalentView portion seeking to provide pathways for new entrants into our sector. The recruitment platform is being further developed to include training opportunities across a wide range of providers, from government agencies through academic bodies. Getting our next generation activities right in the UK over the next couple of years is our single most important issue which we in aviation must grab with both hands. Marc is playing a central role to help develop many of these channels.

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Alison Chambers

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Jason Hayward

James Moreton

James Hardie

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Alex Durand

Marc Bailey

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Heather Gordon

Lindsey Oliver