BASE EFFECT

There is a growing need for FBOs to drive growth of business and private aviation in India. As business aviation expands in India, Fixed-Base Operators (FBOs) are emerging as vital infrastructure, promising faster operations and a premium experience for private jet users, highlights ATUL CHANDRA

- ATUL CHANDRA

With the growth of business aviation in the country, there is a need for a growing number of Fixed-Base Operators (FBO), which are essentially a private terminal located inside an airport and caters to all the needs of private aircraft owners/ operators and passengers. An FBO is a private facility within an airport that cater to the needs of private fliers and is separated from commercial aircraft terminals. In fact, FBOs are critical for a seamless private aircraft experience and are key to the growth of the business aviation market in India.

An FBO promises a faster turnaround of business jets and chartered planes as they no longer have to compete for taxi slots with the commercial airlines at an airport. While FBO infrastructure is expensive to create, maintain and operate, it can aid in driving further growth of private and general aviation in the country by growing connectivity, specialised tourism travel, aiding businesses with industrial trips, facilitating medical evacuations, etc. As per the U.S. National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), there are about 3,000 fixed-base operators providing services to the business aviation industry at airports nationwide in the USA. Importantly, according to the NBAA, Business aviation is an essential tool to companies and organisations of all kinds and sizes, including universities, nonprofits, hospitals and farms. Firefighters, law enforcement and government agencies use these aircraft every day. Only 3% of U.S. business aircraft are flown by Fortune 500 companies. The NBAA goes on to add that almost half of business aviation missions are to destinations with infrequent or no scheduled airline services, while more than a third are to destinations that have never had commercial air services.

First FBO