By ACANA chairman Richard Zaher, founder and CEO, Paramount Business Jets

ACANA is charting new routes ahead in 2016

With springtime's warmer weather on the horizon, the Air Charter Association of North America (ACANA) is working to build an organisation that not only represents the collective regulatory and commercial interests of aircraft operators and charter brokers, but one that is also engaged with our members, regulatory agencies, and our industry.

That's a tall order, but as the recently-elected chairman of ACANA, I'm proud to note some of the progress already made this year towards making those goals a reality. ACANA is readying the launch of a new website that will not only present a new image for our association, but also will provide a more professional and useful resource for our members. The new site also clearly outlines ACANA's mission to present a strong, clear, and unified voice on behalf of our industry for matters of air charter regulation and best practices.

ACANA is also working to broaden its engagement with US aviation authorities over regulatory matters, including the Department of Transportation's 2013 notice of proposed rule making that seeks greater disclosure by air charter brokers to the passengers for whom they arrange travel, and improved oversight and enforcement of our industry.

These matters speak directly to a need for greater transparency in the air charter market, which is not only a clearly-defined best practice for ACANA as an organisation, but also for each of our individual member companies, my own business included.

ACANA is also monitoring the debate now underway in the US Congress over funding re-authorisation for the FAA. This includes proposals to privatise oversight of the nation's air traffic control network, a move that, if enacted, could have harsh ramifications for our industry. We are currently exploring options to effectively present our membership's position on these, and other concerns, at the national level.

Just as we are building bridges with regulators, we are also working to improve the level of discourse between charter brokers and operators, so that these relationships may also grow and strengthen throughout our industry. And ACANA is also developing mutually-beneficial relationships with other national and international aviation associations, adding our members' voices to further strengthen the industry's position on key matters affecting the global aviation community.

ACANA is working to showcase the very best of the private air charter industry. These are brave new routes for our organisation, and I look forward to meeting the challenges ahead.