IBAC continues to expand its industry partner membership with programme leaders 4Air, Daher and Metrojet. Renewing business aviation operators are DuPont De Nemours, and GCI Communications.

Director general Kurt Edwards says: “We are excited to have these leading companies in the business aviation sector join the IBAC family and participate in our global efforts to promote business aviation growth, safety and sustainability. Our member associations and industry partners provide leadership in building through IBAC, a global venue for advocacy and thought leadership to engage stakeholders important to our industry's growth. The entire IBAC team looks forward to working with these new industry partners.”

To date, the industry partner programme features 11 companies from seven countries and four continents. This expanding international base includes leading OEMs, service providers and operators joining this year from France, Hong Kong, Switzerland, UAE, UK and the US to unite with existing members from Canada and the US. Other programme leaders include Bombardier, CAE, Corporate Jet Investor, Jet Aviation, MedAire and UAS International Trip Support.

4Air helps operators offset their emissions, use SAF and drive technological change through four simple yet comprehensive ratings. In addition, it alleviates regulatory reporting burdens for operators by managing, tracing and documenting the use of SAF or providing turnkey reporting services for emission trading schemes (ETS) and other regulatory obligations.

“We are honoured to partner with IBAC on its mission to support international business aviation and provide value to the members through our expertise in environmental sustainability solutions,” says president Kennedy Ricci. “The rapidly evolving sustainability space is quickly creating new requirements and changing the standard operating needs of many entities; we are keen to collaborate with the international aviation community on meeting those needs and demonstrating how aviation can lead the way towards a sustainable industry.”

Daher has focused on innovation since 1863. In addition to designing and developing solutions for aeronautical, industrial and logistics customers and partners, it produces the all-terrain, multi-purpose Kodiak and the highly efficient TBM. A combined total of more than 1,480 TBMs and Kodiaks have been delivered from Daher's final assembly lines in the US and Europe around the globe.

“Daher is fully committed to promoting safety and sustainability in business aviation, bringing our expertise in aircraft design, engineering and certification, along with a focus on applying powerful digital tools to enhance pilot skills and improve operational efficiency,” says Nicolas Chabbert, senior vice president of Daher's aircraft division. “We look forward to being an active partner of IBAC as we share common long-term goals for the industry's growth.”

Joining as an operator affiliate, Metrojet pioneered business aviation services in Hong Kong and provides all-inclusive aircraft management, maintenance, charter, sales and aviation consultancy services and has a regional presence with a satellite maintenance base in the Philippines. Metrojet maintains IS-BAO Stage III certification.

COO Dave Yip says: “Metrojet was the first Asia-based business jet operator to develop its own safety management system, and achieved the initial IS-BAO certification in 2011 and has been Stage III since 2016. We are very pleased to collaborate with IBAC to help shape international business aviation industry standards and specifically be one of the forefront pioneers to address business jet environmental and sustainability issues in the Asia Pacific region."

Corporate aviation operators Dupont De Nemours and GCI Communications have endorsed IBAC for many years and recently renewed their support. As leaders in the business aviation community, both operators are active NBAA Leadership Council members and advocates for the industry.

Dupont director of aviation Elizabeth Dornak says: "Supporting the critical work of IBAC is one of the most important financial contributions we make as a flight department. The representation and insight of the activities at ICAO brings real value to our organisation."

“GCI is the largest telecommunication provider in Alaska, and we know first hand how vital air transportation is for Alaskans,” adds GCI CEO Ron Duncan. “Many remote Alaska communities are only accessible by plane for much of the year and rely on air transportation for commerce, public safety and health care. GCI is pleased to continue to support the great work of the International Business Aviation Council and its efforts to promote aviation growth, sustainability and, most important, safety in the US and around the globe.”

The IBAC industry partner programme is open to business aviation manufacturers and service providers. As industry partners, delegates have the unique opportunity to assist IBAC in shaping standards before they are adopted and applied as regulations by civil aviation authorities in their sovereign countries. In addition, there are opportunities for industry partners to work closely with the 15 IBAC member associations, participate in an IBAC advisory committee and be recognised for leadership and commitment to the global business aviation community.