The European Business Aviation Association has established a focus group to look specifically at finance and leasing issues, and this met for the first time in March under newly appointed chair Aoife O'Sullivan of Gates and Partners.

The group will focus on dealing with the challenge of reduced financing options as it explores and identifies new means of finance. It will also promote solutions at a European level that aim to reduce risks from a financier's perspective.

The group brings together operators, manufacturers, financiers and insurers to review and assess aircraft finance in business aviation. "We know aviation, it's what we do day in and day out, so we really are in a strong position to provide this kind of educational platform," says O'Sullivan. "Combined with EBAA's associate member advisory committee finance and leasing group, we are able to encourage and provide excellent opportunities to collate and then disseminate valuable information to an even wider audience," she continues.

O'Sullivan will be speaking at the EBAA safety workshop, and the transactions conference both to be held on May 13 during EBACE.