Sala Accident Report Brussels/London, 13 March 2020.

The following response can be attributed to the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA), the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) and The Air Charter Association (The ACA), following the publication of the Sala accident report conclusions by the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).

Link to Report :- https://www.gov.uk/aaib-reports/aircraft-accident-report-aar-1-2020-piper-pa-46-310p-malibu-n264db-21-january-2019

“EBAA, BBGA and The ACA note the findings of the aircraft accident report published by AAIB into the crash that claimed the lives of Emiliano Sala and David Ibbotson, the pilot flying the aircraft, on 23 January 2019.“Our thoughts are with the victims’ families and loved ones involved in this tragic and avoidable accident.“Regrettably, the conclusions have raised the issue of illegal charter flights. Amongst other contributing factors, it appears the aircraft was operated without the appropriate licences and approvals to do so.

“For decades, EBAA, BBGA and The ACA have been heavily involved in educating the business aviation community, the public and authorities about the risks of illegal charter flights. Despite these efforts, there remains a small, but a significant number of aircraft owners who ignore the law and carry passengers illegally. “EBAA, BBGA and The ACA will intensify their efforts to fight against the issue of illegal charter flights. This practice threatens passenger safety and gives legitimate providers a bad name, while undermining their financial viability.We will organise a series of dedicated workshops across Europe for operators, brokers and authorities to accelerate knowledge and best-practice sharing. We will roll-out new tools to empower passengers and the business aviation community to look up charter operators, access factsheets, and report questionable operations. “The focus needs to shift to establishing clarity on what defines a private operation and a commercial operation. Compounding the concern, is a lack of clarity on the definition of an illegal charter, but also on who has what responsibility when operating or booking flights.“The challenge lies in explaining the complexities of the industry to prospective customers.

Should customers have any questions or concerns; they should contact:

the European Business Aviation Association

The Air Charter Association

BBGA in the UK

“EBAA, BBGA and The ACA call on governments worldwide to take the issue of illegal charter flights more seriously and make additional resources available to actively prosecute offenders who flout the law. There needs to be far higher sentences, more substantial fines, the removal of pilots’ licences and seizure of aircraft for those people who, despite knowing the law, operate as if they weren’t subject to any of it.“EBAA, BBGA, The ACA and their members are committed to upholding the aviation industry’s highest safety standards and codes of practice for passengers and crews alike. We will continue to sound the alarm and educate regulators, the industry and public, at all levels, of the risks and dangers of these fraudulent activities.”

-END

-Media Contacts

The ACA: Dave Edwards, ceo@theaircharterassociation.com, +44 207 118 7557EBAA:

Frederique Luca, fluca@ebaa.org, +32 479 660 813

BBGA: Alison Chambers, alison.chambers@emerald.co.uk, +44 (0) 7721 882939

About The ACA: The Air Charter Association (The ACA) is a worldwide organisation founded in 1949 in London’s Baltic Exchange, whose membership is open to those involved within the Aviation Industry, engaged in the chartering of aircraft. The objectives of The Air Charter Association have always, and continue to be, to promote the highest standards of professionalism and ethics within the Aviation Industry. The Association continues to fight for the rights of over 250 members around the globe as well as providing networking opportunities for members to grow their businesses. Members including Charter Brokers, Passenger and Cargo Airlines, Business Jet Operators and a number of leading supporting providers to the industry. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. www.theaircharterassociation.aero

About EBAA: The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) is the leading organisation for operators of business aircraft in Europe. Our mission is to enable responsible, sustainable growth for business aviation, enhance connectivity and create opportunities. EBAA works to improve safety standards and share knowledge, to further positive regulation and to ease all aspects of closely tailored, flexible, point to point air transportation for individuals, governments, businesses and local communities in the most time-efficient way possible. Founded in 1977 and based in Brussels, EBAA represents +700 members companies, corporate operators, commercial operators, manufacturers, airports, fixed-based operators, and more, with a total fleet of +1,000 aircraft. Follow us on Twitter, Linkedin, Instagram and Facebook, or visit our website on www.ebaa.org

About BBGA: BBGA is the UK’s national trade body representing business and general aviation. Now in its 46th year, (formerly known as GAMTA) its member companies span all facets of the business aviation sector. BBGA is headed by Chair Aoife O’Sullivan and CEO Marc Bailey. BBGA represents +175 companies, including airports, corporate flight departments, operators, aviation services organisations and aircraft manufacturers. In a partnership with EBAA, all members of BBGA enjoy dual membership of both associations. Similarly any UK-based organisation seeking to join EBAA should do so via BBGA. BBGA is based at Dorton, Aylesbury, Bucks. www.bbga.aero

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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