Established names Bestfly and EAN Aviation have been joined in an expanded African pavilion (Booth A065) by four companies from the continent making their EBACE show debuts. The pavilion is managed by the African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA), which promotes the development of business aviation in the continent and represents owners, operators and suppliers.
New exhibitors include Astra Aviation Services, which has 10 years experience of flight support services in Africa and currently operates in Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Madagascar, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Zambia. It just increased staffing to allow for permanent 24/7 operations.
Also at the pavilion, Great Circle Services is highlighting aviation safety and its expertise in technical writing, training courses, audits and consultancy. Paisajes Gallegos is showcasing its aerial survey capabilities, and Primus is focusing on its aircraft parts and spare care program that sources competitively priced parts.
Meanwhile, Angola’s Bestfly is marketing its wide range of aviation, FBO and maintenance services, having just achieved Stage 1 of the International Standards-Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO), representing the first company from the southern African country to achieve this status. Before passing its IS-BAO audit, the company invested around $75,000 in training and preparation, explained managing director Nuno Pereira.
EAN Aviation is also highlighting its range of services, including an expanding aircraft transactions division, as well as unveiling changes planned for its FBO at Lagos. The business aviation services group recently appointed Adetutu Akinyemi as its new head of sales and marketing.
AfBAA itself continues to grow at a dramatic rate. Having been launched at EBACE four years ago with 12 founding members, the roster now numbers 93. The association has launched a new Professional Member category that allows individuals with no specific affiliation to a group or company to join. The association is to hold its third annual symposium in September this year in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which will also feature complementary training sessions.
At EBACE AfBAA unveiled its aviation database, the first detailed review of business aviation in Africa. Another development is the signing of an MoU with the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to develop a range of tailor-made training courses, and to establish a safety and training committee to develop AfBAA’s training capabilities and set an implementable course of action.
