CARIBAVIA breaks the traditional conference mold and on purpose

In two weeks we'll be coming together at CARIBAVIA, an aviation event unlike any other. I've had the pleasure of participating twice, and each time the findings were genuinely fascinating, enlightening, and helpful. CARIBAVIA 2025 Summit & Retreat will be held June 10-12 on the French Caribbean Island St.Barth. CARIBAVIA brings aviation, tourism and investment stakeholders together. Airlift is the common denominator of the interests of stakeholders in aviation, tourism, business development and investment industries in the Caribbean, which is the world’s region that is most depending on air transportation.

 CARIBAVIA is attended by private sector professionals and public sector officials to exchange best practices, research, lessons learned, challenges and opportunities. This year several Ministers will make individual presentations on topics related to airports and aviation and engage with business leaders in discussions around the event. 

Conference chairman Cdr. Bud Slabbaert, commented: “I am not fond of sessions with panel members sitting on couches or comfortable seats on stage talking to each other and diplomatically exchanging opinions.  I prefer individual speakers addressing the attendees, making a point, and willing to interact with the professionals in the audience. And note that we stand for more core and less mass”

 Topics vary from the use of AI in aviation, to eVTOL, to liberalization of Caribbean skies’, to Inter-island relations, to airport development, to importance of facts and data, to ‘establishing an International Aviation Academy of higher learning in the Caribbean, etc.

CARIBAVIA 2025 will have a static display of the TECNAM P2012 aircraft at St.Barth airport sponsored by Costruzioni Aeronautiche TECNAM S.p.A., Italy, in cooperation with St.Barth Executive airline. The TECNAM P2012 Traveller STOL eleven-seat aircraft designed specifically for short regional hops. It offers excellent performance on short runways, spacious interiors, and exceptional passenger comfort. Its versatility and reliability make it the ideal choice for high-frequency island operations in the Caribbean.

CARIBAVIA will be the location where the founding of a new aviation academy of higher learning in the Caribbean may be determined in June. The CEO of Intercontinental Aviation Academy will attend the conference with a presentation and discussions will be held. It currently has 6 training locations, 18 nationalities enrolled, is trusted by 18 airlines.

Statistics have shown that in the Caribbean basin alone about 300 pilots need training every year and currently have to get training outside the region. The new center will focus on the training and certification of professional and commercial pilots. Worldwide at various institutions, typically the costs of the training for a commercial pilot license is between US$ 60-90,000+. 

Establishing the center at a location in the Caribbean will make a considerable contribution to the economy of the location besides investing in facilities including a flight simulator and education rooms. For one, accommodation for the trainees will be needed to stay overnight for a period up to a semester, ground transportation, and they need to buy their groceries, etc.

During CARIBAVIA 2025  15-20 girls, ages 8-16, from St.Barth will participate in Girls in Aviation Day. Each year, thousands of girls from 58 countries around the globe come to experience Girls in Aviation Day at more than 150 events coordinated by Women in Aviation International since 2015. It's a thrilling day filled with fun, learning, and empowering experiences. Age-appropriate activities are designed to introduce the girls to the career and lifestyle possibilities in aviation and aerospace. At this event, girls will have the chance to interact with inspiring female aviation professionals. They will get a T-shirt and backpacks with activity kits and take advantage of hands-on fun and educational activities. With a focus on adventure and discovery, this event provides a unique and immersive experience that ignites the imagination and encourages girls to dream big.