Two-Day Event Aims To Address Expectations... AND Realities

Even though the National Business Aviation Association's annual conference comes to an end Wednesday in Orlando, that doesn't mean the state has seen its last event related to business aircraft for the year. Next month, operators and interested customers will gather in Miami to brainstorm on ways to spur on the very-light jet industry, and the growth of business aviation in general, throughout Latin America.

The second annual Very Light Jets - Latin America and the Caribbean conference runs November 10-11. The conference aims to answer fundamental questions about the industry, and to address expectations of segment growth in the region.

MIU Events -- organizers of this conference, as well as others promoting aviation events and training seminars -- notes there are more business jets and turboprops in Brazil than in any other single country outside the United States and Canada. As a region, Latin America and the Caribbean also operate more turboprops than either Europe or Asia.

"With Very Light Jet (VLJ) manufacturers forecasting more than 60% of their sales outside the US, Latin America and the Caribbean offers an enticing market," organizers note. "With a poor road network and few railways, the Latin American region has long been a place where private aircraft have been an essential tool for business.

"As the Latin American economies gain momentum and the boom in agriculture generates business in areas far removed from the big industrial centers, demand for aircraft is growing at a phenomenal pace. Conservative estimates predict the market for private jets in the region will grow at 10%pa for the next five years. As the existing fleet of twins and turboprops comes up for renewal or replacement the VLJ is going to look increasingly attractive to owner/operators and owner/pilots."

While it's fair to say the conference aims to promote the use of VLJs throughout the region, organizers aren't casting a blind eye towards the very real concerns about the emerging industry.

"Will the new VLJs now being delivered prove as sturdy and reliable as turbo props and twins and will the VLJ offer the operators the distances needed for this market?" MIU asks. "Will the necessary aviation infrastructure be in place and will the OEMs have a sufficiently expansive servicing capability for this established but rugged market?"

It's the role of the conference to answer those questions... and to provide a flight path through the various regulations, funding options, FBO, MRO, operating costs and pilot training issues that are likely to have a direct impact on the success of the VLJ in this market.

Aero-News will be on site throughout the event... providing our readers, viewers and listeners access to what promises to be an interesting meeting. Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks.

FMI: www.miuevents.com