AsBAA Signs MOU with Subic Bay International Airport at ABACE2018
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The Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA), Asia’s non-profit association for Business and General Aviation (BA/GA) announced at ABACE2018 a new MOU signing with Subic Bay International Airport to develop its infrastructure with a view to advancing BA/GA in the Philippines.
The Philippine Chapter launched in September 2017 and is the newest addition to ASBAA’s regional committees. The Chapter began 2018 by leading a delegation of its members on a site visit and investment trip to Manila, Clark and Subic Airports to meetings with regulators, airport operators, and aviation stakeholders. The visit was arranged to provide the attendees a well-rounded view of the opportunities and challenges of operating in the country.
In addition to the activity at SBIA, the Chapter has been promoting safety best practices in the country with an AsBAA Aviation Safety Day and Pilot’s Day being planned to take place in August 2018. AsBAA’s student and careers chapter will soon be rolled out to the region. An official mascot for young and aspiring aviators has been identified in the person of an 8-year-old boy named, “Mio”. He will help to inspire more young Filipinos into exploring eventual careers in aviation.
At ABACE, representatives of the Philippine government will be on-hand to present investment opportunities in Subic, Clark and the surrounding areas. Leading the delegation is Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Chairperson and Administrator Wilma “Amy” Eisma and Bases Conversion and Development Authority, SVP Business Development and Operations Joshua Bingcang. Amy said, “We see great opportunity for Business and General Aviation in the Philippines. The first challenge will be to overcome the issues caused by overcrowding and to enhance infrastructure to allow the industry to thrive, create jobs and drive investment into Manila. We look forward to working with AsBAA on these exciting developments”.
The SBIA agreement is now the second MOU that the association has signed in 2018 to develop airport infrastructure in Southeast Asia. The first relates to a cooperation between AsBAA and Malaysia Airports (MAHB) to advise the Malaysian Government on the Subang Regeneration Project, City Airport Development and other initiatives in the economic free zone. Under this agreement, AsBAA has been asked to deliver intelligence to the Board of MAHB, the Civil Aviation Authority Malaysia (CAAM) and the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) in late April. This will form the basis of future airport infrastructure development plans. Further news on this will follow in early May.