AfBAA to Launch Commercial General Aviation Symposium at EBACE

The African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) will launch the AfBAA Commercial General Aviation Symposium (CGAS), at EBACE 2018, booth W43. Nairobi, Kenya will be home to the meeting that will take place 21-23 November 2018. This will be the Association’s first meeting focusing on flight operations in the turboprop hub of East Africa, as the spotlight shines on the CGA community.

Rather than a one-day conference, where attendees are seated in a single space, the event will take advantage of tailored, focused sessions and workshops discussing the operational needs of rotary aircraft, remotely piloted aerial systems, and business jets. The variety of missions, and the huge spectrum of aircraft serving the humanitarian, tourism, medevac, agricultural, and industrial sectors in East Africa have defined the parallel-session format. The symposium will aim to build a platform from which smaller suppliers and operators can interact with local, regional, national, intercontinental and international colleagues. Each session will address specific topics, and attendees will be encouraged to debate and discuss relevant issues currently affecting those operating in the sectors.

AfBAA is partnering with Nairobi-based The Aero Club of East Africa, which has been supporting aviation in Kenya since 1927. The members’ club serves those with an interest in aviation, and acts as a base for pilot training, air shows, safety seminars, and navigation education. It will provide the venue for the CGAS pre- and post-event networking activities, as well as hosting the table–top exhibition.

“As far as we know this type of format has not been undertaken previously for an aviation event in Africa, but the Association has a duty to represent the interests of these sectors in addition to business jets.  We’re delighted that our first Kenya event will focus on the aviation workhorses of the region,” said Rady Fahmy, CEO of AfBAA. “Unlike West Africa which maximises the capabilities of longer-range jets, East Africa depends on the flexibility, versatility and “off-road” capabilities of the smaller turbo-prop and helicopter machines. We are very excited to set this event in motion.”