AfBAA Growing, Expanding Reach under New Leadership

The African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) has doubled its membership and checked off key goals a year after the organization underwent a leadership change. Membership has increased to 55, including the return of many former members, and the association has formed new committees and reinforced its safety efforts, as well as its global outreach.

This follows the leadership realignment a year ago, when AfBAA named Krimson Aviation founder, chairman, and CEO Dawit Lemma as the chair and 30-year industry veteran Craig Middleton as vice chair. At the time, the association outlined an ambitious plan to renew the association’s mission, vision, and goals, working with 40 different civil aviation authorities across the continent and representing a diverse range of operations and membership.

Among its efforts over the past year were the formation of a new unmanned aerial systems committee to prepare for the emerging sector and an operators committee to grow its membership base. In addition, the organization has boosted its safety and training committee to support its mission to raise standards across Africa.

Further, AfBAA has established and strengthened ties with regional and international bodies, including participating in a critical meeting with the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) focused on creating and sharing aviation data. As a result of the meeting, AFCAC will represent business aviation interests before national civil aviation authorities and external agencies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization.

“This was a breakthrough discussion, and we are delighted that the AFCAC can better support us in conversations with government and regulatory bodies. This cooperation will benefit all African aviation stakeholders, not just the individual organizations,” Lemma said.

In addition, AfBAA signed memoranda of understanding with the Commercial Aviation Association of South Africa and the Airlines Association of South Africa to enable each organization to support the other on regional and national issues.

“Communication between the associations is essential for us all to build knowledge, intelligence, and understanding,” Lemma said. “As well as the agreements with African bodies, we are working with the National Business Aviation Association and the International Business Aviation Council to encourage members to adopt the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) and the International Standard for Business Aircraft Handlers (IS-BAH).”

AfBAA further organized a dedicated pavilion at the Aviation Africa Summit & Exhibition in Kigali, Rwanda, in September to showcase its members and increase their exposure. The association is working on the same for the summit in Nairobi, Kenya, in four months, increasing its presence there.

“Our board strategy is based on five key pillars and aims to generate momentum, raise visibility, and support credibility by acting as a single voice with regulators, industry, and international organizations,” Lemma said. “We are streamlining governance and operations; expanding the aircraft segments that can join; and increasing the association's visibility outside of Africa. We have also improved our internal and external communications, with regular press coverage and a flow of feedback from our members that helps us to understand and support their needs.”

AfBAA vice chair Middleton added, “AfBAA acts as a bridge, adapting global frameworks to local conditions for effective implementation, which will boost the sector’s safety, efficiency, and growth across the continent.”