The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) is celebrating its 40th anniversary this month with a busy agenda that includes continuing its work with the International Civil Aviation Organization, forwarding sustainability efforts, and expanding on the IS-BAH program and other safety initiatives.
The organization was formed in September 1981 when six business aviation associations—the Canadian Business Aviation Association, NBAA, British Business and General Aviation Association, European Business Aviation Association, German Business Aviation Association, and African Business Aviation Association—signed a charter during the annual NBAA convention in Anaheim, California, to advocate for the industry globally. As the industry grew, so too have the number of business aviation associations and IBAC now counts among its members organizations around the globe.
“Much has been accomplished in 40 years for the business aviation community, including establishing IBAC’s presence at ICAO in Montreal as an official observer; developing two recognized global codes of best safety practice: IS-BAO, and IS-BAH; revising Annex 6 Part II of the Chicago Convention; offering aircrew IDs; and leading industry sustainability efforts, including the new carbon credit exchange voluntary offset platform, among others,” said IBAC director-general Kurt Edwards.
As for its agenda, IBAC is remaining involved as the ICAO Council and Air Navigation Commission resumes their sessions in preparations for the upcoming High-Level Conference on Covid-19 in November and the full 41st ICAO Assembly next year.
Meanwhile, the organization continues to support the work of the EASA Ground Handling Rulemaking Task Force and grow its own IS-BAH program, which recognized 260 locations as Stage 1 since the program launched in 2014. It recently completed the first IS-BAH Stage 3 renewal for SRC Aviation in New Dehli.
As for the long-established IS-BAO program, the organization is working with support affiliates to promote a number of SafetyNet webinars, including those presented by MedAire and Polaris.
IBAC further has been active on sustainability on a number of fronts, most recently announcing its alliance with Carbon Trade eXchange (CTX) to offer a carbon offset program.
