The EBAA airports committee met for the first time after a break of a few too many years in September, 2000. I was delighted to take on the challenge of chairing what is a very important area of interest for EBAA members and business aviation users in Europe in general.

The group is small but evolving and includes Steve Fry of Shell Aircraft, Robert Whitehead Jet Aviation Business Jets Zurich, Lawrie Walford from Multi service and Dorin Ivascu Romanian Air Services.

The issue of access is obviously a key one and is the focus of much attention within the EBAA. The aim of our group is that we should focus on the issues that determine an airports selection by a user and the level of service and support available when they arrive.

The level of support available to business aviation aircraft is variable throughout Europe and one of our goals is to set a minimum standard that should be achieved for a handler to be designated as an EBAA approved handler. Much good work has already taken place and the EBAA handling code of practice has been in place for a number of years. Our plan is now to develop this further into a robust and practical template

that will cover all areas of ground handling operations.

As a group we are also very keen that the EBAA evolve an information database that allows members to offer opinions on airports and handlers and share this in an informal but informative way. The NBAA offers a similar solution and it is popular and much used by their membership.

The airports committee is also interested in researching the practicality of evolving a training program for business aviation personnel who are not involved on the flying side. This could include basic introduction training, basic weather and flight planning training through to ATC and airport operations. As professionalism and technological leaps take place onboard the aircraft, we must ensure that the personnel working in the business aviation airport environment are equally skilled and capable.

Lawrie Walford, EBAA airports committee