BBGA Celebrates 50 Years at Annual Conference and AGM in London
/The British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) will host its annual conference and AGM on March 12 in London. This dynamic sector has grown and evolved significantly over 50 years since BBGA was established, originally as the General Aviation Manufacturers’ and Traders’ Association (GAMTA) by Danny Forman. It previously hosted its own general aviation show—the Cranfield General Aviation Show—in a decade-long collaboration with Flight International.
Celebrating 30 years: Luxaviation UK (London Executive Aviation) is one BBGA member company marking a big anniversary this year. LEA was co-founded by Patrick Margetson-Rushmore (left) and George Galanopoulos in 1996 at Stapleford Airport, Essex.
This once small-scale industry, characterized by small airfields, piston-engine air taxis, and the British-built BAE HS.125 "Instant Airliner," has transformed into a sector defined by flagship private terminals hosting near-supersonic, long-range business jets, dedicated MROs, the adoption of SAF, and the operation of the world’s first fully certified electric aircraft (Pipistrel Velis) at pilot training schools. Principal cities, including London, are now featured on the future departure boards for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) OEMs. Appropriately, this year’s conference theme is "Reflections and Future Aspirations."
The event will celebrate business and on-demand aviation as an enabler, highlight industry heroes, address the future workforce, and emphasize the importance of fostering close relationships with regulators—exploring what they expect from BBGA members and vice versa—as the association enters its sixth decade.
This Hawker Siddeley / BAE HS.125, seen here at London Biggin Hill Airport was built in 1978. Part of the one time BAE corporate jet family designed in Hatfield, Herts, it was originally developed by de Havilland and produced by Hawker Siddeley. Photo credit: Dave Haines
A panel session moderated by Paul Eden, Editor of EVA International, will focus on the vital role of emergency services. Panelists include Lisa Humphries, Business Development Director at Gama Aviation; Dr. Lee Moody, Deputy Medical Director at MedAire; Charlotte Young, COO of children’s charity Lia’s Wings; and Gareth Evans, Aeromedical Services Director at 24/7 Aviation.
The conference will also examine regional connectivity at a time when domestic air services and scheduled operators are declining. In January, established business aviation operator Air Charter Scotland pivoted to take on the Wick-Aberdeen PSO route, initially using the King Air 200 and later the Jetstream J32. Could this signal the beginning of broader collaboration between regional and business aviation sectors?
Pioneering electric: A Saxon Air all-electric Pipistrel Velis SW121A Explorer at Norwich Airport. Saxon Air Flight Training Centre is a low-emission flight training center, dedicated to promoting sustainability and accessibility within aviation. It reports a surge in training demand with the Pipistrel Explorer.
The role of future flight AAM aircraft in the ecosystem will be addressed during the "Permits, Planes, and PSOs" session. Speakers include UK CAA Head of Licensing David Kendrick, Aurigny CCO Philip Saunders, Jonathan Hinkles, MD of Skybus, and Tomislav Lang, CEO of FlyVINI, which has revitalized abandoned air services in Germany. Joining them to discuss future flight and AAM lift is Jeremy Hartley, CEO of BEAT Aviation.
The session "Are We Prepared for AAM and Future Flight Training?" will feature British Army Lieutenant Colonels Richard Evans and Paul Isitt, who will evaluate managing military and civil license pathways for engineering. They will be joined by Carl Christian, Airworthiness Manager at the UK CAA, and Dave Edwards, Chief Executive of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Eric Schouten, CEO of Dyami Security Intelligence, will discuss assessing and managing security risks in conversation with James Hardie of Course Correction.
Mark "Billy" Billingham MBE QCB, Chief Instructor from Channel 4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins, will deliver a motivational speech on how a Special Forces mindset can empower business aviation leaders. A decorated military leader with nearly 30 years of service, Billingham transitioned to providing high-level private security for celebrities and will share lessons on resilience, leadership, and elite performance.
UK Civil Aviation Authority Chair Sir Stephen Hillier will provide an update on the regulatory landscape, focusing on safety and innovation accomplishments.
"Our 50th anniversary is not just a celebration of the past, but a launchpad for the next half-century of innovation," commented Aoife O’Sullivan, BBGA Chair. "From creating pathways for retiring military engineers and actively supporting the next generation to providing vital special mission solutions and supporting regional connectivity, business aviation is a broad church. As we will hear at the conference, our role as the voice of business and general aviation in the UK is becoming even more important."
