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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