IBAE 2010 - Indian Business Aviation ready for take off
Transport analysts and consultants have predicted that India will see a wholesale movement of passengers from rail to low cost air carriers as the Indian economy gathers pace. It has been described by some as the biggest potential shift in transportation habits in history with between 350- 400 million Indian nationals expected to be airborne annually by 2020.
Inevitably this will put a strain on the existing aviation infrastructure in India and as a result the high end business user and high net worth individual will seek to find faster and more efficient time saving solutions, which avoids the delays familiar to the traditional hubs.
The obvious solution for these individuals is to utilise private or business jets or air charter/taxi services. There are additional options such as fractional ownership or bizjet time share.
It is anticipated that one new aircraft will be added to the business fleet in India, every three days. There is interest in the air taxi model, utilising efficient and relatively inexpensive light jets and there is considerable scope for helicopters and seaplanes for the tourist sector.
The Indian government has also stated that it intends to upgrade or bring back into use some 300 airfields to help meet demand for general aviation and there are clear advantages in separating commercial and business traffic.
At last years International Air Taxi Convention in Fort Lauderdale no less than 18 supply and service providers for the air taxi sector declared they had in place, or were planning, facilities in India.
Additionally, a variety of international infrastructure funds and developer groups are interested in consolidating their interests with regard to developing airfields around India.
IBAE - setting the agenda for Indian Business Aviation
Despite the global economic slowdown, India remains one of the few major emerging economies that will see GDP growth over the next few years.
It is currently estimated that less than 1 million Indian nationals control assets worth over $100 billion. This in a country with a population of 1 billion. The number of high net worth individuals in India is growing faster than any other region in the world. Not surprisingly, these new entrepreneurs are in a hurry, and what better way to get around the famously congested airports of India, than with their very own aircraft or to utilise business and air taxi charters.
However, owning and operating any form of general aviation aircraft in India is not without its drawbacks. MRO facilities in India are not well established and much of the infrastructure required for an expanding business fleet is yet to be fully established. Also space at airports can be hard to come by and the mix of Commercial and GA traffic is not always harmonious.
Additionally, permit approval and funding options for business aircraft can involve a labyrinth of complex and tortuous red tape which, in effect, acts as a brake on operator activities. What are the creative financial tools for business and air taxi operators, what are the legal implications of running an air charter operation and how will operators expand and sustain their operations through the current global turmoil?
It will be the role of the Indian Business Aviation Expo (IBAE) 2010, to address these issues and to set the agenda for the emerging business and general aviation sector in India. The event will bring together funding agencies, bankers, leasing companies, insurance experts, safety agencies, administrators, relevant government representatives and policymakers, entrepreneurs, regulatory authorities, ATC, OEMs, MROs, FBOs, representative bodies, pilot organisations, planners, airport authorities, supply and service sector providers, IT specialists, equipment specialists, VLJ Operators, charter operators, helicopter operators, safety specialists, consultants, the media and all professional organisations with a vested interest in the safe and efficient development of business aviation in India.
The event, the first dedicated business aviation event, is run in association with Exhibitions India Group and will feature an exhibition over two days run concurrently with a conference tailored to the needs of the Indian business aviation market. The event will take place in Delhi, the administrative capital of India, and will bring together high level business and general aviation specialists, from around the world, who will apply their knowledge and expertise to this vast and vibrant market.
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