A Word From Our Director General

Kurt Edwards As September begins, many of us are returning from vacation to work and to school. I hope your rentrées are going smoothly.

Preparations for meetings this month and into the fall are well underway. For IBAC, in the first week of September, we are looking forward to a meeting of the Planning and Operations Committee (POC) hosted by ABAG in Iguaçu, Brazil. Two central topics for discussion will be the formal launch of the new CORE risk-management initiative for small operators and ground handlers, which IBAC has developed at the request of Member Associations, and preparations for the ICAO 7^th Worldwide Air Transport Conference (ATConf/7) in November.

Regarding ATConf/7, we are grateful for the input of both the Member Associations and Industry Partners in the development of the IBAC position at the conference. IBAC will seek nominations later this month from Member Association officers and Industry Partners to join the IBAC delegation in Montreal 16-20 November.

However, in the meantime, IBAC will have a delegation participating at the 61^st Asia Pacific Directors General of Civil Aviation Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in September. I’m pleased to have several officials from AsBAA join me for this annual conference. The focus on regional cooperation in safety, security, sustainability, air navigation, as well as incorporating new technologies, such as advanced air mobility and artificial intelligence, into the air transport system will figure prominently.

Also in the Asia Pacific region, we are excited to join the Corporate Jet Investor for CJI Asia 2026 in Singapore on 15-16 September.

Last, we are preparing for NBAA BACE in Las Vegas, 20-22 October, where we look forward to seeing many of you. Plans are coming together for the IS-BAO Standards Board meeting, the Industry Advisory Forum (IAF/06), the IBAC Governing Board meeting, and the recognition event for IS-BAH and IS-BAO participants.

ICAO and Environment

Capt. Claude Hurley, Director, Environment & Flight Operations • ICAO ATConf/7 — Business Aviation aiming to shape future International Air Transport Policy.
Planning is well underway for ICAO’s Seventh Worldwide Air Transport Conference (ATConf/7), scheduled for 16–20 November 2026 at ICAO Headquarters in Montréal. Held under the theme “Air Transport: Powering Global Connectivity, Economic Development and Resilience in a Dynamic World” the conference will bring together senior government officials from national aviation regulatory bodies, alongside international organizations such as IBAC, to address economic regulatory frameworks, industry resilience, infrastructure financing, and policy foundations for innovation and sustainable growth.

IBAC – along with our Member Associations and Industry Partners – has been steadily working towards effective participation, including through close coordination with other international organizations. Our objective is to ensure that the perspectives and needs of the diverse non-scheduled aviation sector are appropriately reflected in the discussions — particularly where policies developed primarily around the scheduled airline model may not readily translate to other forms of international air transport. With ATConf/7 now less than three months away, this work is moving into an increasingly active phase. More detail on our positions and preparations will be shared in the next monthly updates.

• Getting to Know CAPSCA — and Its Latest Ebola Advisory
ICAO’s Collaborative Arrangement for the Prevention and Management of Public Health Events in Civil Aviation (CAPSCA) is ICAO’s standing mechanism for coordinating aviation’s response to public health threats. It brings together ICAO, WHO, and a network of Member States and partners – such as IBAC – to keep international air travel moving safely through health emergencies and acts as a clearinghouse for the latest public health advisories affecting aviation.

A timely example is the latest CAPSCA update concerning the EbolaBundibugyo virus disease (BVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). WHO’s updated recommendations do not recommend suspending international flights from affected States or denying entry solely on the basis of travel from an affected area. It however sharpens earlier guidance on surveillance, case detection, infection prevention and control, and clinical care, and adds new provisions on mass gatherings and domestic mobility. The DRC continues to carry a “Very High” WHO risk rating, with States ’sharing borders with affected areas are assessed as High Risk.

For business aviation operators and crews, the practical message is therefore one of preparedness rather than travel restriction. Operators flying to or from affected regions should remain alert to applicable State requirements and ensure that procedures for recognizing and managing suspected illness, notifying authorities, and preventing infection are understood and readily available. CAPSCA’s website is certainly worth bookmarking as a useful aviation health resource.

• Environment: CAEP Working Groups Back in Session Ahead of October Steering Group
On the environmental front, ICAO’s Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) — the technical body developing the Standards and Recommended Practices for aircraft noise, emissions, and aviation’s broader environmental impact — is coming back into full swing after a short summer break. CAEP’s working groups, spanning noise, local air quality, CO2 and non-CO2emissions, sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), and measuring progress on the Long Term Aspirational Goal (LTAG) are resuming their meeting schedules this month, with a clear near-term target being to provide updates to the yearly CAEP Steering Group meeting in October, which aims to take stock of progress across the current cycle and help set direction for the work ahead.

For business aviation, CAEP’s output eventually feeds into binding ICAO standards affecting aircraft certification, engine emissions, and noise limits — and this working group activity by subject matter experts – many nominated by IBAC – is where the substance of future rulemaking takes shape.

Industry Partner Programme

Leo Knaapen, Head, Industry Partner Programme

Greetings Industry Colleagues, I trust you were able to take some time off this summer and managed to recharge your batteries. You’ll likely need it as the second half of the year usually requires a major push to meet all our deadlines and targets.

• I am delighted to report that many IPP members are actively stepping up for Business Aviation by supporting IBAC on several files and disciplines:

Two IPP organizations are official IBAC delegates at two new ICAO Working Groups under the CAEP and CYSECP portfolios (Environment, Cyber Security). Another member has joined ICAO’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Study Group. Thank you for volunteering your time and your expertise!
Seven IPP organizations are also helping to build our position at the upcoming ICAO Air Transport Conference in November. Five are part of our IBAC Working Group. We’ve conducted one WG session to date, with more planned in the coming weeks as we draw closer to the conference.
A preliminary draft of an important IBAC Working Paper was prepared and distributed to all IPP members and IBAC Member Associations. This triggered input from two more IPP members who are not part of the Working Group, per se. In other words, a total of seven IPP members are engaged in this initiative — thank you for your attention and engagement!

• A quick reminder: the next meeting of our increasingly popular Industry Advisory Forum (IAF/06) is scheduled for Thursday, 22 October 2026 in Las Vegas – following the conclusion of NBAA-BACE. As usual, one seat is reserved for each IPP member. More details will be sent to IPP members shortly.

IS-BAO

Andrew Karas, IS-BAO Programme Director

• ICAO: The ICAO SMP Working Groups met to review the latest draft of the Safety Management Manual (SMM), which had been consolidated with support from ICAO Member States. Stephane De Wolf serves as Chair of the panel, which leads the development of safety management best practices and guidance for ICAO Member States and service providers.

• EBAA Advocacy: In support of EBAA’s European advocacy initiatives, a review of the next European Plan for Aviation Safety (EPAS) was conducted and comments provided. Feedback from the business aviation industry will be consolidated by EBAA and presented to EASA for inclusion into Europe’s future roadmap for improving aviation safety across their network. This roadmap covers areas such as flight operations, airworthiness, airports, remotely piloted aircraft and safety management.

• LABACE 2026: Daniel Devraignes attended LABACE 2026, hosted by ABAG. The well-attended event provided valuable opportunities to engage with business aviation operators and industry stakeholders. Brazil and Latin America represent a significant and growing segment of global business aviation, making LABACE a valuable forum for strengthening industry relationships and advancing IBAC’s engagement in the region.

• IS-BAO Training: Workshops this summer have been well attended, and the schedule has been published for the remainder of the year. Register here for upcoming courses: International Business Aviation Council | Workshops

• NBAA-BACE and IS-BAO Standards Board: Planning is being finalized for NBAA-BACE and the IS-BAO Standards Board meeting. As a For the Industry, By the Industry programme, industry input, feedback, and recommendations remain integral to IBAC’s mission and the continued development of the IS-BAO programme. The link to feedback is here: Quality Feedback – Quality Submission Home Page

IS-BAH

Terry Yeomans, Programme Director

• WORKSHOPS: Both IS-BAH Fundamentals and Auditing workshops in August, were well attended and represented by the global ground handling community. The next IS-BAH scheduled workshops are open for registration and posted on the IBAC website – beginning with 8-9 September (Fundamentals).

• IBAC POC: As mentioned, the IBAC team will meet in Brazil this week for the POC meeting and will present details and roll-out plans for the new CORE Risk Management training.

• NATA GHSS PARTICIPATION: IS-BAH Audit Manager, Steven Abreu-Hill will be attending the 10^th Annual NATA Ground Handling Safety Summit 15-16 September along with IBAC Communications Manager, Marj Rose. They look forward to seeing many IS-BAH friends in Fort Worth, Texas.

• OCTOBER-NOVEMBER ACTIVITIES: Preparations are in progress for a busy fall beginning in October with NBAA-BACE (including the NBAA National Safety Forum), the ICAO GHTF Meeting and ACAO-ICAO North African regional meeting that are all taking place the same week. Followed by an equally busy November with the ICAO EUR Regional meeting, followed by the EBAA Safety Week including BASIC

SAFETY EVENT REPORTING
IS-BAO Progressive Stage 3 operators and IS-BAH registered organizations are encouraged to use the deidentified safety reporting systems developed to track, share, and learn from your experiences.

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 career in aviation and has worked in most areas of our industry with scheduled airlines, MRO’s, military contract support and latterly with associations, government, and its agencies.

Marc currently 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 Continued Airworthiness Group and with the Association for Remotely Piloted Aviation Services (ARPAS). 

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 six years to continue our good work for industry. With the re-established role of Chief Surveyor in the CAA we have a good focal point to undertake this work with the regulator including regular discussions and a full industry day with the CAA each year.

Marc chairs the CAA Finance and Services Forum, which allows industry in the UK to discuss the financial plans for the CAA and look closely at the services being delivered to industry. This is a new and valuable new platform for all parties.

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. 

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. Moving into 2026 we are seeking to further develop the pathways to enter aviation, and this effort is being supported with development of multimedia platforms with the organisation Metaverse. This multimedia approach is being developed so that it is more relatable to the next generation of people wishing to join aviation in a myriad of roles.

In the role of President (honorary) Marc can support the BBGA in many aspects and continue to ensure that we retain the right connections across industry, with regulators in the UK, regulators in the EU and wherever possible help hold government and its departments to account using normal channels, and where necessary utilise All Party-Political Groups for aviation.

A Word From Our Director General

ICAO and Environment

Industry Partner Programme

IS-BAO

IS-BAH

James Carroll

Alison Chambers

Paul Cremer

Jason Hayward

James Moreton

James Hardie

Aoife O’Sullivan

Alex Durand

Marc Bailey

Sarah Towerzey

Heather Gordon

Lindsey Oliver