Aviation industry en route for Bermuda conference

HAMILTON, Bermuda, Oct. 07, 2016 -- Close to 100 delegates are set to attend a major aviation event in Bermuda next week, bringing together air-finance and aircraft registration experts from Europe, the US, the Caribbean and Bermuda.

The sixth annual Offshore Aircraft Registration Summit, hosted by aviation summit organiser AeroPodium, takes place at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club next Monday and Tuesday, October 10–11. Premier Michael Dunkley will officially open the event that will also include lunchtime remarks from Transport Minister Michael Fahy, and a keynote speech from Thomas Dunstan, Director General of the newly-formed quango, Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA).

“The BDA is extremely happy to host this conference in Bermuda,” said BDA Business Development Manager Kevin Richards. “Thanks to AeroPodium, we’ll be able to showcase the leading role our jurisdiction has played in this industry. We’re looking forward to meeting partners from other offshore centres to discuss pertinent issues and share best practices.”

The conference follows the official October 1 transition of the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) to the semi-autonomous BCAA. Added Richards: “We look forward to highlighting the new BCAA, and using this event as a springboard for future growth for Bermuda’s aviation sector.”

The AeroPodium conference is the first industry event focused on aircraft registration to be held in Bermuda; in 2010, the island hosted another aviation forum, the Airports Council International World Assembly, for 400-plus attendees at the Fairmont Southampton.

“Bermuda will be on the aviation world stage next week—this is a great opportunity for our jurisdiction to present itself as a key centre for the aviation industry,” said the BCAA’s Dunstan. “The timing is perfect, and this will be our first official event as the Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority. The conference will allow us to launch our new brand and celebrate this new chapter in the history of Bermuda’s civil aviation.”

Bermuda has the largest offshore aircraft register in the world and “we are continually working to innovate and improve our service offering to the international community,” said Dunstan.

Industry sessions will highlight topics ranging from market dynamics and risk management for the industry, to the Cape Town Convention and Protocol—a treaty to reduce cost and facilitate financial transactions for aviation clients. Bermuda passed legislation just this summer to adopt the agreement that will be extended by Britain later this year.

Other speakers at the conference include Captain Len Cormier, Safety Oversight Advisor for the BCAA; Martin Amick, CEO of Longtail Aviation; Llewellyn Boyer-Cartwright, Partner, Callenders & Co, Bahamas; Glenn Kelly, Head of Airworthiness Division, DCA Aruba; Stephan Krainer, General Manager, Primus, Austria; Yves Lavigne, President, World Assets Transition (WAT), France; Robert Ricketts, Partner, Holland & Knight, London; Lincoln D. Gomez, Attorney-at-law, Gomez & Bikker, Aruba; Alexandria Colindres, Director of Business Development, Registry of Aruba; David M. Hernandez, Shareholder, Vedder Price, Washington DC; and Jay Faria, President and Commercial Director, Airtrade Aviation, Wilmington, DL.

The agenda also includes a Monday evening networking reception at Government House.

“The 6th Annual Offshore Aircraft Registration Summit will be a unique networking event for high-level debate and information,” said AeroPodium CEO and founder Panagiotis Panagopoulos, who manages annual events in London, Switzerland, Malta, South America, the Baltic, and the Middle East. “It is also the 120th international project of AeroPodium. Bermuda is the ideal location for this year’s conference, and more international delegates than in the previous years are expected to attend.”

To register for the summit, go to http://www.aeropodium.com/oar.html

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