AsBAA Philippines Chapter Chairman announces plans for 2020
At the close of 2019, AsBAA’s former Philippine Chapter Chair, Benjamin “Jay” Lopez handed over leadership to Fernando “Nando” Gaspar. In January 2020, the new chair announced his plans to take the Chapter forward in 2020.
“As the new head of AsBAA Philippine Chapter, we wish to approach this evolving phase in its leadership by ensuring continuity of the tremendous work the former President, Jay Lopez, has accomplished and how this will be carried over to my term. We will align our goals locally to that of AsBAA’s regional targets. We will continue to promote SMS programs for Business Aviation using IS-BAO as a set of standards for, not only business aviation in the Philippines, but for the Philippine Aviation industry. If done properly, we can confidently look to the Philippines as a source of SMS advice or as a conduit for IS-BAO. In line with this, we will continue to work with Philippine Regulators in pushing IS-BAO as a potential alternative means of compliance for Business Aviation as the current one is an airline based standard. Change requires cooperation, commitment, and investment.
The message is simple – Accidents still happen but if we promote SMS from a bottom up approach, this reduces not only accidents but regulatory costs as well. A safety focused business culture is a commitment that must go beyond regulatory requirements. There is also a need to recognize Business Aviation as a niche sector contributing to the aviation industry and to the country’s economy in general.
Lastly, there has also been a rising standard for FBO’s in the region which is another advocacy by AsBAA and IBAC. We will begin efforts to promote the International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling or (IS-BAH) as safety in the air starts on the ground.
For the past three years, chapter meetings were well attended by stakeholders. Currently there are seven members in the Philippines, and we hope to grow these numbers in the coming years.
Finally, I would like to finish by saying that AsBAA Philippines is here to support all our members, current and future, in striving to make our industry safer and better in every way. Our phone is always on, our door always open, we stand ready to help our members and the wider business aviation community.”
Fernando L. Gaspar
President, Falconer Aircraft Management Inc., Chairman, Philippines Chapter, AsBAA.
