Under Richard Mumford’s chairmanship BACA – the Air Charter Association is to become a limited company

Spring is in the air

It feels as though each time I write this column I am excited by developments both at BACA and for the future. It is no different now. I cannot recall when we have had so many new applications for membership from all over the globe; so many enquiries for sponsorship opportunities at our events; or so much general goodwill and support from our members and the market generally.

Our spring luncheon on 26 April will be preceded by an inaugural evening in partnership with the Royal Aeronautical Society. As ever, the luncheon promises to be a serious networking event where we will have around 300 attendees sharing their thoughts and experiences over a glass or two of mineral water.

We are exhibiting again at EBACE this year, and I recently attended the associate members' advisory council convention of EBAA to discuss issues relevant to the UK market and our European cousins. This was followed by EBAA's 40th anniversary dinner and I congratulate it on a fantastic vintage and for organising a special evening to celebrate. We will look to build on our cooperation with EBAA in the future.

At EBACE, we are holding a drinks event on Monday, 22 May starting at 1800 hours at Mr Pickwick's Pub. We have some great sponsors this year and anticipate the event being a wonderful opportunity for our members and friends to network together after a tough day's negotiating at the show. We are really excited about EBACE and I shall look forward to welcoming all of our members there. We will based at booth F35 in the exhibition hall, so please stop by and say hello. A number of members of the BACA council will be present.

Similarly, preparations for ACE17 are forging ahead and in particular we are looking to develop the conference programme for the day. The conference will offer tailored sessions for senior management in the morning, flowing through to more operational training in the afternoon. This will enable our members to really benefit from attending. Opportunities to exhibit and to sponsor some aspects of the day remain, and I encourage anyone with an interest to get signed up soon because sales are already racing ahead of previous years.

We held our AGM in February, at which the association's members voted in favour of our plan to change BACA's structure to that of a company limited by guarantee. This should be in place in the next few months and will make us fit for purpose to build on our work in developing our value to members.

As you can see, it's going to be a busy year and I haven't even looked further ahead to NBAA and the autumn awards lunch. However, I look forward to catching up with BACA members, and potential members, at one or more of these events.

Richard Mumford, chairman, BACA