European Business Aviation Association

European Business Aviation Association or EBAA, is a non-profit association based in Belgium that has existed since 1977. Its 400 member companies span all aspects of the business aviation sector in Europe and elsewhere. The EBAA’s aim is to promote excellence and professionalism amongst its members and to ensure that business aviation is properly recognized as a vital sector of the European Economy. EBAA represents corporate operators, commercial operators, manufacturers, airports, fixed-base operators, and business aviation service providers.^[1]

History

1977

Dr. Frits Philips founded the International Business Aviation Association (Europe), set up in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, with 12 founding Members.

1984

Recognizing that Brussels was the strategic place to be, the Association moved to Belgium and became known as the EBAA (European Business Aviation Association). Membership amounted at that time to 49.

2001

Together with its LLC partner in the U.S., the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), the EBAA launched for the first time the European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (EBACE). Membership for the first time hit the 100+ landmark, establishing at 137 that year.

Present

The European Business Aviation Association, or EBAA, is a not-for-profit association based in Brussels, Belgium. Its 547 member companies span all aspects of the business aviation sector in Europe and elsewhere. The EBAA’s declared aim is to promote excellence and professionalism amongst its members and to ensure that business aviation is properly recognised as a vital sector of the European Economy. EBAA represents corporate operators, commercial operators, manufacturers, airports, fixed-base operators and other business aviation service providers.^[1]

Focus

EBAA focuses on creating an environment that fosters business aviation in Europe and around the world, and is one of the few entities recognised by the European Government as representing business aviation in Europe. The Association is involved in regulatory discussions in the various European bodies^[2] and especially with the European Commission, Council and Parliament, to communicate its position on regional and international regulations and issues affecting the business aviation industry in Europe. Such issues include the Single European Sky; environmental issues including emissions trading; the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) rulemaking process including fees & charges, security, and access to airports and airspace.

Other European national aviation associations encompassed by the EBAA include: BBGA (British & General Aviation Association), EBAA France, EBAA Switzerland, GBAA (German Business Aviation Association),^[3] IBAA (Italian Business Aviation Association) and NAOA (Norwegian Aircraft Operators Association).

In cooperation with the American NBAA, EBAA hosts the annual European Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (EBACE) convention, which has become Europe's largest Business Aviation trade show, and for several years has been held in Geneva, Switzerland.

The association regularly produces Industry Surveys and Studies and State of the Market Assessments. EBAA is headed by Chairman and CEO Brian Humphries CBE.^[4]

In 2007, upon a decade of robust, double-digit growth of the Business Aviation sector, EUROCONTROL recognised that the sector had reached for the first time 7.3% of all IFR movements in Europe. This prompted the European Commission to issue a Communication on the importance of Business Aviation for Europe and its economy, thereby formally dubbing the Association as the official voice of the sector in Europe. It was soon followed by a Resolution of the European Parliament in 2009.

Today, the Association is involved in regulatory discussions with the EU-28 Member States and with various European bodies,^[1] including in particular the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), EUROCONTROL, the European Commission, the Council and the European Parliament. Amongst others, it is involved in a vast range of aeropolitical issues affecting air transport and its members in particular, such as the Single European Sky (SESII), the Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), Safety, Security, or the access to ground infrastructure.

Connections with National Associations

National aviation associations based in Europe, such as the BBGA (British & General Aviation Association), EBAA France, and the GBAA (German Business Aviation Association), are also members of the EBAA. Together they boast a combined membership of around 800.

EBAA is a founding member of the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC), an international body representing the interests of national/regional Associations at ICAO in Montreal.

2013-2014 Priorities

At the Annual General Meeting in May 2013, the Secretariat presented the following topics as representing its top priorities in terms of

• Ensuring that ATM is both efficient and effective (SESII+)
• Safeguarding access to airport infrastructure (slot allocation)
• Making sure environmental measures are fair and affordable (EU ETS)
• Promoting wide use and recognition of international standards (IS-BAO, IS-BAH)

The association regularly produces industry surveys, studies and state of the market assessments.

Annual event: EBACE

In cooperation with the American NBAA, EBAA hosts the annual European Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (EBACE) convention, which has become Europe's largest Business Aviation trade show. Since its inception, EBACE has been held in Geneva, Switzerland.

References

External links

• NBAA
• BBGA
• EBAAF
• IBAC
• EASA
• Eurocontrol
• EBACE