Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

The newly established Business Aviation Asia Forum &amp; Expo (BAAFEx) is shaping up to serve the expanding business and general aviation markets in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region, according to Experia Events managing director Leck Chet Lam.&nbsp;Experia <a href="https://live.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2024-10-18/asia-pacific-region-gets-its-own-business-aviation-show">launched BAAFEx in October</a> and plans to hold the show at Singapore’s Changi Exhibition Centre March 4 to 6, 2025, alternating years with the Singapore Airshow.
There are many reasons to add a new show to the busy business aviation events calendar, Leck explained. “One is the thriving and growing business aviation market in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region. It’s growing fast. After Covid, economies started to recover and grow, and we thought this was the most opportune time to start up a business aviation show [for this region].”
The last dedicated Asian business aviation show was the Asian Business Aviation Convention and Exposition (ABACE) in 2019 in Shanghai. The event—co-organized by the U.S. National Business Aviation Association and Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA)—succumbed to Covid and never resumed after the pandemic ended.
“The whole community has been looking for a business aviation show in Asia-Pacific,” Lack said. “We’ve been talking to OEMs, fleet operators, service providers, FBOs, and MROs, and all have&nbsp; been excited [about BAAFEx].”
Although there are other locations in the region that could host a dedicated business aviation show, “Singapore is an ideal location,” Leck said. “If you look at the growing Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific market, Singapore is strategically located, with proximity and connectivity to the marketplace.”
The country also has Seletar Airport, a dedicated business aviation facility. “Singapore has more business jets than any other country in Southeast Asia,” he said. “Put it all together and Singapore is ideal.”
Experia expects the first BAAFEx to attract 50 to 70 exhibitors and about a dozen aircraft on static display. A conference program will offer additional attractions and Experia is partnering with AsBAA to curate the event’s conference content.&nbsp;
“Experia has a long-standing reputation of putting on shows,” Leck said. “Singapore’s welcome business climate and ability to attract trade visitors from neighboring countries “creates a networking opportunity for exhibitors. That’s the value-add that we can bring.”
AIN Media Group is an official BAAFEx media partner and will cover news from the event. The March monthly edition will have bonus distribution in Singapore for the show.

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