News
Business Aviation takes centre stage at Asian Aerospace ’09

Aug. 11, 2009 – A key new feature of the forthcoming Asian Aerospace 2009 show is Asian Business Aviation, a conference and networking platform dedicated to a growing sector of the industry  – corporate aviation.
 
The two half-day afternoon conference sessions on the 8th and 9th of September will complement a strong showing of business aviation players: Bombardier, Gulfstream, Airbus, Jet Aviation, Piaggio, VistaJet, Jet Aviation, Embraer and Dassault who are all displaying aircraft in the static park. 
 
The event’s unique positioning and focus will provide a business platform for the business aviation industry to meet the widely forecasted groundswell of demand in Asia, particularly from China.
 
Day One will provide an overview of the challenges and opportunities of operating business aviation in the region. The sessions will tackle regulatory, legal and insurance considerations.  Key figures will address crucial issues on airspace and other requirements. AsBAA Chairman Chuck Woods, President of Macau?s Jet Asia will moderate.  Eric Cheng   Chief of Flight Standards, Hong Kong CAD, will address safety regulations, including the granting and renewal of Air Operator’s certificates. 
 
Paul Ng, Global Head of Aviation Stephenson Harwood will be among the  panelists giving an overview of legal requirements in the region, while Ed Bond, VP Aerospace, Willis Insurance and Peter Coles, partner Barlow, Lyde and Gilbert will map out the insurance issues relevant to operators in today’s economic climate.
 
The USA’s Senior VP International Affairs of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) Ed Smith will deliver the keynote address on day two, which will cover the evolution of maintenance and repair (MRO) for business aircraft, addressed by Chris Buccholz, CEO of Hong Kong’s MetroJet.  The current financial climate and how it is impacting aircraft sales (new and pre-owned) will be addressed by a panel of speakers, including Fernando Grau, Director Airline Market  Analyst, Embraer, Jay Mesinger, CEO Corporate Jet Sales and Andrew Hoy, Managing Director ExecuJet Aircraft Trading AG. An executive from Bombardier will deliver the company’s latest market forecast for the region.

What local operators are doing to weather the storm is the next panel discussion with participants Joe Wilson MD of Hong Kong’s ASA Group who will speak about VIP airport development and security and a speaker from HK’s TAG Asia (on the charter perspective). Bombardier’s Jason Liao will moderate.
 
Asian Aerospace in Hong Kong is taking place at a time when the rapid economic development of Asia is constant.  China is featuring strongly as an engine of growth.  Although a relatively new entity in Asia, and in spite of the world economic turndown, 2008 was a record year for the business aviation market, particularly in Mainland China. China is already the world’s second-largest overall aviation market having experienced substantial growth over the past ten years.
 
www.asianaerospace.com