Please join Richard Mumford in raising money for BACA’s charity, fly2help, by registering to bike the lake at Geneva

BACA fixes spotlight on member events

Like the first flakes of winter snow, a small flurry of words from the British prime minister gave us all a moment of excitement on 2 March. In a speech about Brexit she actually mentioned aviation. As we all rushed to the attic to fetch the balloons and bunting, it appeared from press reports that she had indicated that we were to stay within EASA. Sadly, she did no such thing.

A few days later at the BBGA annual conference on Thursday, 8 March, three officials from the UK CAA and the Department of Transport gamely volunteered to sit on a panel to discuss the latest position. In short, there isn't one; nothing seems to have changed. Under the lively and witty moder-ation of editor and co-founder of Corporate Jet Investor magazine Alasdair Whyte, the panellists attempted to find something new to say, but ultimately it was Groundhog Day.

Of course, the BBGA, the CAA and a collection of the finest aviation minds in the country have been working tirelessly to plan and model the range of potential outcomes. But for the sake of us all, we really cannot continue to be in limbo any longer.

There are lots of events on the BACA horizon. We have a training day on 3 May focusing on General Data Protection Regulation, the new credit card rules, contract and payment security and doing business in the US. Then, on 25 April, it is our Spring Luncheon for which tickets are now on sale. At EBACE we are once again hosting our popular drinks event at Mr Pickwick on 29 May, and I encourage all members, and potential members, to pay us a visit at booth J30.

On the subject of EBACE … our chosen charity this year is fly2help, which does amazing work in providing flight experiences to people who are suffering, and also in helping young people discover careers in aviation. Our training day on 3 May is at the RAF Club, and we are holding it there because that evening it is hosting the fly2help gala dinner. Also, with the kind support of PrivateFly and TAG Aviation, we are organising a cycle ride round Lake Geneva immediately prior to EBACE to raise funds for the charity. To enter visit www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/78BWGYW. The event takes place over two days and the total distance is just shy of 200km. I encourage all our members (and anyone else) to sign up, or at least to help contribute to the fund-raising efforts. I'm making this my 'Chairman's Challenge' for 2018 so I look forward to seeing you all at the start (and hopefully the finish).

Richard Mumford, chairman, BACA