Oscar Garcia was the Chairman of the MIU Events VLJ Latin America
and Caribbean Conference held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on December
10-11, 2007. Oscar led a prominent group of delegates, panelists
and VLJ/Air Taxi industry experts in Latin America and the Caribbean
in discussions and industry projections. Oscar also made a presentation
on the operating costs of VLJ’s taking into consideration controlled
and uncontrolled variables (such as fuel, ATC, infrastructure, etc)
and gave attendees useful tips on operational control planning and
budgeting. Oscar led a workshop with industry leader including Embraer
executives to discuss the merits of one vs. two engines and one
vs. two pilots. The following comments were published on MIU event’s
website. For further information and a photo gallery, please click
here
.
Conference chairman, Oscar Garcia, provides his thoughts on the
first VLJ - LAC event:
“The VLJ Latin America/Caribbean Conference was one of the most
interactive and results driven Conferences I have Chaired. The Conference
yielded initiatives that could be instrumental in creating a favorable
framework facilitating brisk growth of the Air Taxi and VLJ industry
sectors in the region such as; a regional committee to embrace the
region’s business aircraft association discussed and promoted between
the Air Taxi Association and the Brazilian ABAG and exploring the
design features of a “Taxi Cab Cooperative Style” pilot network
system in all Brazilian airports to reduce costs and increase flexibility
of new operators by the Brazilian Institute for Strategic Studies
in Transportation (CEPTA).
I was impressed to hear lively discussions between the attendees
and insurance/legal/compliance panelists about very forward looking
safety and operational methods such as Flight Operations Quality
Assurance (FOQA) and their impact in insurance and financing costs.
Latin American attendees were well versed and briefed on the Cape
Town convention and the most up to date aircraft financing tools.
Regulators and associations explored ways to inform and educate
both governments and the public about “Business Aircraft used as
Tools and not as Toys”
Panel discussions yielded estimates for around 750 VLJ’s to be delivered
in the region between 2008-2017 and the interactive workshop discussed
in detail the pros and cons of single engine and single pilot VLJ
Air Taxi operations. It was exciting to see Embraer executives engaged
in new technologies and safety discussions with the ATXA, US and
Latin American operators."
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