The British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) reports that its annual conference held at Sopwell House, St Albans, on March 7 was the most successful ever, with almost 200 key individuals in the business and general aviation sector taking part.

The theme of the event was 'A Strategy for Business and General Aviation' and key speakers, including CAA chairman Sir Roy McNulty, UK Department for Transportation's director of aviation David McMillian, and Patrick Goudou, EASA executive director, gave their thoughts on the current issues facing aviation.

Sir Roy McNulty and Patrick Goudou emphasised the need for the CAA and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to work together to ensure the most efficient and highest standards of regulation in Europe. Goudou noted that EASA and the CAA were "like two pillars" driving safety standards in Europe and beyond.

Sir Roy spoke of the desire of the CAA to offer EASA all possible assistance, support and co-operation and noted that the CAA was committed to the EASA system.

Other speakers covered issues on security, the development of the very light jet (VLJ) segment and the need to mobilise the entire sector to ensure the skills requirements of the business and general aviation industry of the future are met.

George Davis, founder of Next, Per Una and George at Asda, spoke of the importance of business aviation and GA to his life: "I would go as far as saying that business and general aviation has played an immensely important part in my life and without it, it would have been impossible to have built George and now Per Una to the size they are today," he said.