Delivering the keynote address at the ABACE Opening General Session here yesterday morning, new International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) secretary general Fang Liu vowed to work with industry organizations to ensure that member nations appreciate the important socio-economic contributions that business aviation provides, and to mitigate restrictions that could hinder it.

“The business aviation community is an invaluable partner….We will continue to working closely with [the industry] to make certain that your voice remains an important one around our table,” said Liu.

She noted that air transport is a crucial driver of economic, social and cultural development, supporting 60 million jobs and $2.4 trillion in economic contributions. “Business aviation is an integral member of the civil aviation community and an important contributor to these positive impacts,” she said, noting the $22 billion and 164,000 jobs the sector contributes in Europe and $200 billion and 1.1 million jobs generated in U.S.

“It would be encouraging to see similar levels of business aviation economic influence becoming more globally widespread,” she said.

Liu noted less developed regions and other areas of infrastructure constraints face challenges with transportation. Business aviation, however, has the ability to provide links to these regions, opening the ability for emergency and humanitarian efforts.

“Especially here in Asia Pacific, the business aviation sector is expanding faster than anywhere else in the world, with current projections of 5 percent per year,” she said. “There is still significant room to better optimize this growth.”

A Global Approach

Global standards and policies must take into account unique requirements of business aircraft users and regional potential, she said. “ICAO is committed to accommodating these diverse needs.”

ICAO is working with the International Business Aviation Council to help pursue such key initiatives such as the guidance just issued on fatigue risk management for general aviation operators. She also pointed to recently adopted standards in Annex 6 Part II General Aviation designed to facilitate recognition of specific approvals.

“I strongly encourage ICAO member states to adopt these new Annex 6 provisions as soon as possible, so that they can adjust their regulatory regimes in a manner that can help facilitate and optimize business aviation benefits.”

She further noted safety data sharing among business aviation organizations, which she believes will benefit the industry. ICAO further has been working to review operations, aviation infrastructure, access to airspace and airports and environmental issues–all of which are important to business aviation sustainability.

“Airport and airspace restrictions represent clear opportunities for more effective consultation and coordination,” she said. “ICAO is working very hard today to mitigate the capacity and management challenge due to projected air transport growth, but there remains a tendency to restrict access for non-scheduled operators. Effective and flexible airspace solutions…must be fully respectful of the needs and concerns of every transportation stakeholder.”