Shannon Airport is on track to create an aviation center of excellence–to include a broadened business aviation role–at the Irish field, speakers said yesterday at the second annual Irish Business Aviation Convention. The two-day event concludes today.

In a keynote presentation, Ireland Transport Minister Leo Varadkar said, “The aviation industry presents enormous opportunities for Shannon, and for Ireland, in terms of job creation and economic growth. As we face a crucial period for Shannon’s future, the airport’s long-standing expertise in aviation gives it a vital head start.”

Shannon airport director Mary Considine said that the conference was a timely opportunity to showcase Shannon’s potential. “Shannon already has an excellent international reputation for delivering top-quality service to operators of business jets,” she said. “Last year we had more than 4,500 business jet movements there, a slight increase from 2010. Our plan is to build on this and broaden Shannon’s role as a potential business aviation hub.”

The event also highlighted some advantages of delivering, registering and leasing aircraft through an Irish structure and provided insights into planning investments and achieving economical tax solutions. Additionally, there were sessions on business aviation economics, outlook for OEMs, interior refurbishment, EU-ETS, pilot training and safety issues and challenges facing operators.