As part of the opening session at the European Business Aviation Convention and Expo on Tuesday, the business aviation environment in Africa was brought into light. Former French minister of foreign affairs and cofounder of Doctors Without Borders Bernard Kouchner recounted several stories during his remarks. “The jeep of the sky,” was what Kouchner called the Douglas DC-3 that flew him into Nigeria on an early humanitarian mission, as part of a small group of dedicated health professionals who sought to establish a medical center there. After being targeted by anti-aircraft guns, the aircraft returned to base and they had to try again.
EBACE 2016 Brings African Business Aviation in Focus
Key Takeaways:
- Business aviation in Africa faces significant logistical and operational challenges, including poor intra-continental commercial airline routes, making private aircraft essential for business expansion and crisis response.
- Maintaining corporate flight operations is difficult due to expensive, extended Aircraft On Ground (AOG) times caused by a lack of parts and skilled labor, alongside a public perception that jets are solely for the elite.
- The African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) is actively working to support and grow business aviation across the continent, addressing these challenges and planning for future developments, including potential cooperation with drone technology.
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