November 10, 2010
At the first Business Aviation Safety Seminar – Asia, held this week in Singapore, the National Business Aviation Association offered friendly advice to Asian countries that expect to benefit from business aviation’s rapid growth in the region: develop aviation-friendly regulations, reasonable access rules and harmonize regulations across Asian countries.
“A patchwork of safety requirements across a geographic region can contribute to a reduction of safety as operators attempt to comply with myriad rules and procedures across states,” said Jason Liao, China Business Aviation Group chairman and CEO, and NBAA’s chief representative in Asia. “We encourage states, as much as possible, to coordinate… safety standards that reflect a harmonized approach to airspace use, airport access and safety oversight.”
NBAA helped create this week’s Singapore seminar for government officials and aviation professionals in the Asian business and regulatory community. It is co-sponsored by the Flight Safety Foundation, the International Business Aviation council, the Asian Business Aviation Association and the Singapore Aviation Academy. The seminar has been endorsed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
“This event re-affirms our industry’s commitment to safety best practices, not just in the US but around the world,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “We’re delighted to see this event welcomed by industry.”
Doug Carr, NBAA’s Vice President for Safety & Regulation, agreed, and noted the importance of the timing for the event, stating: “Every sector of business aviation recognizes the future growth potential growth that Asia has – from the operators, to the manufacturers, to the suppliers. It makes sense for NBAA and our safety partners to get in early to begin highlighting business aviation’s safety record, so that when operations do start increasing, we’ve got a good track record that we can build on with future regulators and state safety officials.”
At the seminar, which was attended by more than 120 Asian officials and aviation safety experts, Liao said that the remarkable safety record of business aviation was the result of three critical elements: state safety regulations, the safety culture of the business operating the aircraft, and advancements in aircraft manufacturing and certification. He asked Asian rulemakers for reasonable standards that recognize business aviation’s need to be flexible, and for minimal “prescriptive regulatory oversight.”
“Business aviation’s safety record is no accident,” said Liao. “It comes from decades of experience and practice, utilizing the best processes and procedures and continually focusing on self –improvement. If business aviation is safe in perception and in fact, businesses, communities and states will all benefit.”
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.