Gulfstream Aerospace, principal sponsor of the second edition of The Irish Business and General Aviation Association annual conference on 1 November will be revisiting business aviation’s significant progress on sustainability by moderating a panel session titled, ‘Navigating aviation’s dynamic path to efficiency and sustainability.’  The panel of representatives to drive this important discussion will include Kennedy Ricci, President at 4Air; Stewart D’Leon, Director of Environmental and Technical Operations at the USA’s National Business Aviation Association; Alexander Kuper, Vice President, EMEA of Neste and Nicola-Jane Sellers, Group Sustainability Manager at Luxaviation Group.

 Charles Etter, Technical Fellow at Gulfstream, commented: “The goal of the industry is to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Sharing the undisputable progress we have made so far is vastly important as we continue to tackle this complex issue.”

Joe Buckley, IBGAA Founding Executive Director, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Gulfstream back as our principal sponsor. We are gearing up for a diverse and interesting event packed with hot topics and plenty of networking opportunities across the business aviation and ultra-luxe tourism industries.  All in the most stunning of settings at the award-winning prestigious gold resort, Adare Manor.” 

IBGAA is putting this topic front and centre for the second year, amid calls for operators and executive aircraft owners to be more visible in their efforts to demonstrate measurable improvements in operational sustainability.  That can be carbon offsetting, book and claim, increased use of SAF, which is becoming more widely available. Ireland’s Minister of State for Transport, Environment, Climate and Communications, Jack Chambers, will deliver the opening keynote. 

IBGAA is looking forward to taking a global view of the industry with leaders from around the world, moderated by Doug Carr, Senior Vice President, Safety, Security, Sustainability & Internal Operations at NBAA. Panel members will include: Robert Baltus, COO of the European Business Aviation Association; Kevin Ducksbury, chair of The Air Charter Association; Kurt Edwards, DG of IBAC and special guest, Ali Alnaqbi, founding Chairman of the Middle East Business Aviation Association and Chair of the IBAC Governing Board.  His comments will be especially noteworthy, coming just ahead of the Dubai Air Show next month.

IBGAA’s Chair Josh Stewart will explore opportunities for business aviation in Ireland and why, as a world-renowned aircraft leasing epicentre, it’s a smart choice for establishing a business.Picking up this thread, the event will also address positioning Ireland to capitalize on future growth. There will also be a session on crisis management led by Michael O’Keeffe, CEO at Teneo. 

IGBAA is looking forward to welcoming 150 industry delegates to the conference from senior decision makers in business aviation, with its audience of corporate jet operators, private aircraft owners, charter users from various sectors (MICE, sport and entertainment), tourism, airport and luxury hoteliers.