EBACE 2016: EBAA Chairman Baviera Honored

The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) and National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) presented EBAA Chairman Rodolfo Baviera the prestigious European Business Aviation Award at this year’s European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE2016), underway now, from May 24 to 26 at the Palexpo center and Geneva international Airport in Geneva, Switzerland.

“It is no exaggeration to say that our chairman, Rodolfo, is one of the giants of this industry, and it has been a privilege and an honor to work alongside him for several years now,” said Brian Humphries, EBAA president. “This award is just a very modest token of our deep appreciation for his constant guidance and support.”

“EBAA wouldn’t be where it is today without him, that’s certain, and this award is long overdue,” said EBAA CEO Fabio Gamba.

“Rodolfo has been a steady hand as EBAA chairman, and he has been a tireless advocate for the business aviation community,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “His tenure has been characterized by the growth of EBACE, which is today recognized as Europe’s leading business aviation event. We thank him for his leadership, and for the many contributions to the industry he has made, not only in his role as EBAA chair, but throughout his professional career.”

Baviera was elected EBAA chairman in 2004, having served on the group’s Board of Governors since 1998. Baviera’s career in the aviation industry began when he earned a degree in political sciences at “La Sapienza” University of Rome, for which he produced a thesis paper, entitled, “A politic for the European Aeronautical Industry.”

In 1985, he created Geneva-based Bizjet SA, a company that specialized in selling pre-owned business aircraft. That same year, he became CEO of Europavia Italia SRL, an international aircraft trading company. Baviera added chairman and CEO of Eurofly Services SpA to his responsibilities in 1993, and a year later, extended his commitment to Europavia Italia SRL to include its chairmanship. Aircraft operator Eliario Italia SpA designated him chairman in 1999.

In 1998, he was appointed chairman of the Italian Business Aviation Association (IBAA), where he served until 2004; during that time, IBAA also joined the International Business Aviation Council.

Baviera was a member of the board of Aeroporti de Roma SpA between 2005 and 2006. Since 2007, Baviera has acted as chairman of Bizjet Aircraft & Helicopters Management, and executive aircraft management Srl.

Jointly hosted by NBAA and EBAA, EBACE serves as Europe’s premier showcase for business aviation, while also providing an important venue to continue the vital dialogue between regulatory authorities, business leaders and other stakeholders.

EBACE2016 features about 60 business aircraft on static display. In addition, the convention draws a variety of manufacturers, aircraft completion specialists, sales and financing professionals and service and maintenance providers.

In addition to serving as a key industry trade event, EBACE2016 also includes a full roster of education sessions that address the latest topics of concern to business aircraft operators, including discussions about initiatives to reduce the industry's global carbon emissions, and the use of satellite-based technologies to make business aviation safer and more efficient.