Message from President, BAOA

Dear Members,

I am pleased to share insights from the recently concluded BizAvIndia 2024 held in Hyderabad on January 17th. The event attracted global participation from both general and business aviation professionals. Our discussions on the future of the business aviation industry in India were incredibly encouraging, with senior officials from ministries and regulatory authorities pledging their full support to cultivate an ecosystem that fosters optimal industry growth.

During the event, OEMs and dynamic young entrepreneurs delivered insightful presentations on future prospects and new developments, culminating in an engaging brainstorming session. We anticipate hosting another conference focused on safety later this year.

BAOA actively addressed concerns regarding additional restrictions on business aviation operations in Mumbai. Our persistent efforts with the ministry resulted in the withdrawal of these restrictions last month. We are diligently working towards ensuring equitable availability of airport infrastructure at the upcoming Navi Mumbai airport.

Regular quarterly meetings with DGCA to address regulatory matters, in accordance with the ministry’s directives, have commenced. The last meeting took place in December 2023, and we are scheduled for the next in March 2024. Members’ continued valuable inputs are crucial for making these sessions meaningful and collaborative. Our goal is to progress steadily towards streamlined regulations for business aviation, aligning with the best global practices.

BAOA is actively collaborating with the civil aviation ministry to advocate for zero import duty on NSOP, aligning with standard to be followed for all types of commercial air transport operations. Concurrently, we have taken up the issue of differential GST rates on pilgrim shuttles in Uttarakhand, and we remain optimistic about positive outcomes from these ongoing efforts.

Addressing the lingering concern of itemized Ground Handling charges for small aircraft, discussions were held during the December 2023 meeting, chaired by Minister of Civil Aviation. We expect AAI to soon publish itemised Ground Handling charges for aircraft below 5,700 kgs on its website.

The business aviation industry is poised for significant growth in the coming years, driven by high GDP growth. It is incumbent upon all of us to contribute our best efforts through well-informed and researched suggestions and proposals. Let’s seize this opportunity and collectively ensure the robust development of the general and business aviation industry in our nation.

Jai Hind!