It was a famous Chinese philosopher who once said:
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
Many people involved with MEBAA will recognise that the saying applies very much to what we are trying to do.
MEBAA was formed three years ago through recognition that the business aviation industry operating throughout the Middle East and North Africa region needed to speak with a single voice.
The industry is relatively small when compared to the airline industry in our region – but as you will read in this Review and elsewhere, it is an industry that is growing in its importance in the region.
Business aviation is an essential tool for economic development and wealth-generation through productivity enhancement of all resources inclusive of time that go as inputs to any enterprise. Sadly, it is often misunderstood. This incorrect perception is derived mostly from the cost angle alone, condemning it as an expensive adjunct that can easily be dispensed with. However, if one views it as an essential business management tool for timely decision making and as a part of organisational assets to run a business, all these unfounded doubts will be erased from the public mind. After all, no sensible person would expect their firemen and other emergency services personnel to use public transport when time is of the essence.
Also, business aviation as an industry is a great generator of jobs and revenue but more importantly business aviation is used by the community of people that themselves make wealth for countries and
organisations.
It is said that business jets are the first to arrive in areas of the world that will see the next spate of industrial growth and economic development. They are followed by the airline premium classes and then finally the airlines in greater numbers.
A single owner or charter company can never make the impact with a government that the ambassadors for our industry would like. That is why we need an organisation like MEBAA.
The organisation is strictly non-profit. It is there to serve the members and sometimes the development is not as quick as some members might like. But it is important to note that we are making immense progress.
We are strong members of the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) and work closely with our peer organisations like the NBAA (National Business Aviation Association) in the United States and EBAA (European Business Aviation Association) in Europe.
[Read more ...]