UAS recently marked its 21st anniversary, a terrific milestone for our organization; but we are not alone in celebrating historic years in 2021. This is also the year that the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) is marking 15 years in operation and the Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZA) celebrates its 25th year. This makes me reflect on the importance of these pillars of the aviation community, both in the Middle East and beyond.
MEBAA has been central to business aviation’s advances in this region since its establishment 15 years ago. Since then, it has grown to embrace 270 member companies across the Middle East. Its tireless advocacy and representation of the industry’s interests and benefits have contributed hugely to its success over the years. I’m extremely proud to be a board member because I can put my passion and expertise to good use by serving the industry as a whole.
DAFZA has been home to UAS’ Middle East headquarters for over 20 years and – as home to more than 1,800 companies – it is one of the fastest-growing free zones in the region. DAFZA has been a great support to organizations during the unprecedented challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Its leadership and pragmatic optimism were just what was needed at a difficult time. In 2020, it launched 22 initiatives to accelerate economic recovery from the pandemic as well as make great efforts to improve its sustainability by significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions, power consumption, and water consumption. A wonderful achievement in far from ideal times.
There is no doubt that unity is critical to longevity, survival, and success in any industry. This is as important as definite leadership and practical support. Being part of a community of organizations that share similar values and objectives for the future of their sector is critical to paving the way to a better, stronger future.
(Pictured are Mohammed Al Husary, UAS Executive President, Ali Alnaqbi, Founding & Executive Chairman of MEBAA, and Omar Hosari, UAS CEO.)
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Mitch Launius
Instructor Pilot for 30 West IP
Mitch is the CEO of 30 West IP where he is also an instructor providing pilot training on international procedures. With an illustrious career of over 34 years in the cockpit, Mitch has acquired over 13,000 hours of flight time flying worldwide, with over 9,000 hours of this in Challenger and Gulfstream aircraft. He is an experienced safety officer and was also an IS-BAO project manager for a fortune 500 flight department. He has presented on Safety and Operations topics at the NBAA International Operators Conference and the Canadian Business Aviation Association Convention and is currently on the NBAA International Operators Committee and serves as the North Atlantic Regional Lead. Mitch is also a member of an FAA working group on General Aviation International Authorizations and Tabletop Exercises (GIATE). He was recently selected to represent IBAC as a member of the ICAO Personal Training and Licensing Panel (PTLP) and was also recently named as a 2020 recipient of the NBAA Tony Kern Professionalism in Aviation Award for his contribution to the business aviation community.
Henry ‘Duke’ LeDuc
Director Of Operations, Americas, UAS International Trip Support
Duke has been a dearly respected member of UAS Americas team and the UAS global family for more than five years. A safety-oriented, FAA-licensed aircraft dispatcher, he oversees all of the operations of the elite UAS Operations Team. With twenty-five years of experience in aviation overall with more than fifteen years of experience in international flight planning and VVIP trip coordination, he is responsible for the development of the dispatch training program and involved in the strategic development of UAS Americas. With a myriad of rich aviation experience behind him, he has extensive experience in worldwide operations with both corporate and charter environments, including seven years as Operations/Dispatch Manager in an industry-leading, Fortune 500, IS-BAO Stage III Certified corporate flight department. Duke is frequently asked shares his knowledge at major industry events and is currently serving on the NBAA’s International Operators Conference (IOC) Planning Committee.
Dudley King
President and Founder, FlightBridge
Dudley is the Founder and President of FlightBridge, which he established in 2011 and has been focused on technology solutions for the private aviation industry since 2006. Since he graduated from Dartmouth in 1988, he has worked with an array of companies listed anywhere from VentureWire to the Fortune 100. A rare blend of executive, entrepreneur, and consultant, Dudley’s executive roles have included acting CIO positions for several companies and tech advisory services to CEOs trying to rebuild their technology organizations or looking for an external, professional point of view. Highly skilled at deeply understanding his customer’s business challenges and drawing from a long and varied experience in information technology services, Dudley excels at designing technology solutions to solve their problems.
Dr. Paulo Alves
Global Medical Director, Aviation Health, Medaire
Paulo has extensive experience in medical advisory in the aviation industry. As a cardiologist, he provides technical guidance and analysis for MedAire’s MedLink medical advisory service and is MedAire’s liaison with civil aviation regulators and industry associations. Paulo worked with Varig Brazilian Airlines for 23 years, 10 of which were spent as General Medical Manager. A member of the MedAire Medical Advisory Board, Paulo is also President of the Ibero-American Aerospace Medical Association, a member of the International Academy of Aerospace Medicine, a member of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Safety Committee, a Fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA), and a Fellow of the Civil Aviation Medical Association. Throughout his illustrious career, Paulo has held industry leadership roles including Chairperson of the AsMA’s Air Transport Medicine Committee, President of the Airlines Medical Directors Association, President of the Brazilian Society of Aerospace Medicine and was a member of the IATA Medical Advisory Group from 2002 to 2006.
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