BACA—The Air Charter Association (Booth F53) said its membership hit “a record high” in early 2019 as the number surpassed 250 companies. Positioning itself as the global voice of the air charter industry created the surge in member numbers, BACA said. In addition, taking a strong stance on illegal charter has also garnered support from the industry.

The association, which grew out of the Baltic Exchange in London, is due to mark its 70th anniversary this year and will hold a “special event to mark the occasion” on July 4. “This is a significant step forward for the association," said BACA chairman Nick Weston. "We always knew that 250 members was an objective we would like to meet, but to achieve it in our 70th year is very satisfying.” The association’s membership includes air carriers, professional charter brokers, and “myriad specialists working in the charter industry,” according to BACA.

Turning to what has commonly been referred to as "gray" charter, Weston said, “We are working hard to ensure that the authorities are aware of our stance on illegal charters, and we have seen some significant progress in combating the issue. The more members we have the greater the global influence we have when speaking with the relevant authorities.”

Weston noted that BACA had become increasingly concerned about illegal air charter, and with the crash north of Guernsey earlier this year that killed soccer player Emiliano Sala it has added new impetus to the campaign as it looks to “educate the general public about illegal charters and what the difference is between them and legal commercial air transport with air operator certificate [AOC] holders.

“To the average traveler, if someone in a pilot’s uniform meets you at the bottom of the aircraft steps, then you’ll generally take it at face value that everything about that flight is safe, legal, and compliant,” said Weston. “For those of us in the charter industry, we all know and recognize that there is a monumental difference between an aircraft being operated by a pilot-manager and one being operated within the boundaries of a professional AOC structure.”

He urged those booking aircraft to exercise more caution. “If you are paying for a charter flight, take the simple option, use a professional charter broker and choose a commercial aircraft operating on an AOC.”

BACA CEO Dave Edwards added: “We still need to get away from the term ‘gray charter’—implying that, in some way, it’s legal. In the vast majority of cases, aviation law is very clear and charter flights are either legal or illegal.”

AOC regulations are far stricter than those covering private flight operations, noted BACA. “Air crewmembers are subject to more regular training and checks, the flights take place within a regulatory environment where there are substantially more layers of oversight, and fully supported by safety and compliance structures, designed to minimize risk as much as possible,” it said.

In addition, it's difficult for legitimate charter operators to compete with those who cut corners, given their avoidance of certain key costs. “An illegal charter flight not only risks lives, but it also risks jobs and livelihoods in a sector that complies with the law and operates professionally and honorably,” concluded Weston.

Thus, BACA is campaigning for regulators throughout Europe to take a stronger line on enforcement action and is “spearheading a fresh campaign to help educate the traveling public about the dangers of illegal aircraft charter.”