The Irish Business & General Aviation Association's (IBGAA) debut conference on 17 November, 2022 is putting sustainability, and the value of business aviation to tourism and Ireland's economy, high on its agenda at the Adare Manor, Limerick venue. Adare Manor has just been voted the No 1 Resort in the World at the 2022 Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards and will be the venue of the 2027 Ryder Cup.

Minister of State at the Department of Transport Hildegarde Naughton will formally open the event and make an opening address to the expected 150 delegates.

Keynote speaker Charles Etter, staff scientist and technical fellow of premier sponsor Gulfstream Aerospace, will advocate the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as an important and easy step to help business aviation meet its carbon reduction targets. This conference is an excellent platform on which to underline that SAF has the same characteristics, and is just as safe, as traditional Jet-A fuel.

Etter will also lead a panel of experts that will address cost, supply demand and government mandates and what the business aviation sector has to do on the education of SAF. Panelists include Alder Fuels president and CEO Bryan Sherbacow; Jet Aviation senior vice president group marketing Elouisa Dalli; Farnborough airport group corporate responsibility manager Mark Sanderson; Rolls-Royce senior vice president strategy and future programmes Frank Moesta; Mace Aero CEO and founder Chris Mace; and Air Company co-founder and CTO Dr Stafford Sheehan.

Ali Ahmed Alnaqbi, IBAC chair and founding executive chairman of the Middle East Business Aviation Association and EBAA COO Robert Baltus will highlight trends and challenges in the sector as demand for business aviation continues to rise.

In a packed programme other highlights include:

- The advantages of setting up an aviation business in Ireland, with speakers from The Irish Aviation Authority and ACASS president Graham Williamson. ARGUS International president Mike McCready will address international traffic, with a specific Ireland focus.

- Lauding Ireland's convenience as a stop over and for business aviation and GA: IBGAA chair and XJet founder Josh Stewart will address US Customs & Immigration pre-clearance for GA with a Q and A session with area port director for Ireland Jennifer Schroeder-Fawcett; Universal Aviation general manager Liam Murphy; and IBGAA executive director Joe Buckley.

- Connectivity technology and satellite communications will be addressed by Honeywell regional connectivity sales manager for business aviation and UAM satcom, UK and Europe Chris Bigalow and Satcom Direct regional director Anna Montanuy Sellart.

- Navigating Aircraft Transactions in Corporate Aviation will be tackled by Air Law Firm partner and BBGAA chair Aoife O'Sullivan on an experienced panel that includes Jetcraft sales director Sean O'Leary; Global Jet Capital VP sales, UK, Middle East and India Simon Davies; and Martyn Fiddler Aviation legal director Heather Gordon. The Five-Year Pre-Owned Business Aviation Market Forecast will be presented by Jetcraft sales manager Colin Dunne.

Private Jet Card Comparisons founder and editor-in-chief Doug Gollan will chair a panel on Ireland's ultraluxe tourism potential along with Dromoland Castle managing director Mark Nolan; Ashford Castle Hotel & Lodge director of sales and marketing Paula M Carroll MBS; and Miriam Kennedy, head of the wild Atlantic Way at Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland.

There will be updates from business aviation friendly airports Shannon and Weston airport, IBGAA's newest member, moderated by Josh Stewart.

IBGAA's first conference will also propose a new Business Aviation National Development Plan for Ireland that will be presented to the Irish Government with key recommendations on sustainability.

The event will conclude with a gala dinner held in Adare Manor's ballroom.

“We are absolutely delighted with the support we have received for our first conference since announcing it back in May, during EBACE,” says Stewart. “Bringing together tourism entities and business aviation professionals will make for a highly educational and interesting conference, and terrific networking, as we tackle issues like sustainability, fostering growth and Ireland's pivotal role together.”

ARGUS International has formed a new and budding partnership with the IBGAA, and its president Mike McCready says:

“Being part of IBGAA is critical in making sure ARGUS can further provide support to global aviation. Ireland has always played a key role in global aviation logistics, safety and certification. We look forward to being a key partner and working together to support aviation in Ireland and all IBGAA members."

As well as taking part in the conference programme, ARGUS will be providing IBGAA with global flight data and analysis. Data covering all business aviation airports in Ireland, including Belfast, Dublin and Shannon, will be available from 17 November on the IBGAA website.

"The IBGAA is proud to announce a partnership with ARGUS International. Working together to promote business aviation in Ireland, ARGUS will be providing our association and our membership with in depth analytics to help drive growth for our industry and provide greater transparency and visibility," says Stewart.