African Business Aviation Association Has Commitment From 18 Founding Members

The business aviation community’s latest member, The African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) will be launching four new membership categories as well as detailing its Founding Members list during its debut at this year’s NBAA Convention next week in Orlando, Florida. The new membership categorization have been initiated following the significant interest AfBAA has received from the international business aviation community and will complement the Founding Membership category which is near its fulfilment.

AfBAA already has fully funded commitment from 18 Founding Members, including international and African businesses, and is now working through a selection process to finalize the last two Founding Members. As the realization of the 20 Founding Member places reaches completion AfBAA will now encourage applications for the new Launch Member category from North American and international businesses. “We noted that a number of companies we would have welcomed as Founding Members were unable to apply originally for a variety of reasons. As we value their input and the potential support they can offer, AfBAA will now encourage them to apply for this unique Launch Member status,” said Tarek Ragheb (pictured), Founder and Chairman of AfBAA. In addition interested parties will be able to apply for the newly formed Normal and Affiliate Membership types at NBAA.

Inaugural Founding Members have made a strong financial commitment and are expected to support African nations in understanding and leveraging the unique value that business aviation can provide for the continent’s economic prosperity. With initial membership commitment until 2015 Founders will adhere to the guiding principles, which focus on advocacy, safety, security, integrity, service and training. Launch Members will also have a strong voice within the association and will take an active role in shaping the future of business aviation in Africa.

AfBAA also plans to maximise its presence at the show to develop existing, and build new relationships, with US companies that have interests in operating on the African continent. “We are keen to showcase AfBAA, the only Pan-African aviation association, as a well-funded, professional and active association with a genuine commitment to supporting the development of the future of business aviation in Africa. Following on from the Founder and Launch member status we also aim to encourage interested parties to join the association as regular and affiliate members,” continued Ragheb.

As the Association looks to the future a new Leadership Group has been formed which features leading figureheads from African Business Aviation nominated by the Founding Members. The Board, which will be led by Ragheb, who will be joined by Ivor Ichikowitz of Paramount Group, South Africa as Vice Chairman and Treasurer, will be supported by four sub-committees each with their own remit and elected Chairperson. Overseeing the Association’s operations will be Rady Fahmy, former programme director, as the newly promoted Executive Director. Jack Olcott, formerly president of the NBAA, and a well-known advocate of the value of business aviation, has been retained in his advisory role supporting the association’s development.

“We are confident that the elected Board and committee chairpersons reflect the complete spectrum of interests of the Association. Each member of the leadership group brings a unique set of skills providing a strong foundation from which to develop the Association’s strategy in a professional and cohesive manner,” commented Fahmy. Collectively, they will use their extensive resources, experience and knowledge to create a forum for implementing ideas designed to strengthen the inherent benefits of business aviation for the African continent.

FMI: www.nbaa.org/ops/intl/afi/20120423-african-business-aviation-association.php