The Irish Business & General Aviation Association (IBGAA) is holding its debut conference on November 17 in Limerick with plans to focus on sustainability and the value of business aviation in Ireland’s economy. Hildegarde Naughton, minister of state at the Ireland Department of Transport, is scheduled to formally open the event and address the expected 150 delegates in attendance.

In addition, the conference will feature a keynote from Gulfstream staff scientist and technical fellow Charles Etter on the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Etter will further lead a panel delving into cost, supply and demand, government mandates, and education of SAF.

Ali Ahmed Alnaqbi, chair of the International Business Aviation Council and founding executive chairman of the Middle East Business Aviation Association, will join European Business Aviation Association COO Robert Baltus in discussing trends and challenges in business aviation. Speakers from industry and government will review the advantages of establishing an aviation business in Ireland, customs clearance and international traffic, connectivity and satellite communication, and corporate aviation transactions, among other topics.

Also during the conference, IBGAA will propose a new Business Aviation National Development Plan for Ireland with key recommendations on sustainability.