Oscar Garcia was the Chairman of the MIU Events VLJ Latin America and Caribbean Conference held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Oscar Garcia was the Chairman of the MIU Events VLJ Latin America and Caribbean Conference held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on December 10-11, 2007. Oscar led a prominent group of delegates, panelists and VLJ/Air Taxi industry experts in Latin America and the Caribbean in discussions and industry projections. Oscar also made a presentation on the operating costs of VLJ’s taking into consideration controlled and uncontrolled variables (such as fuel, ATC, infrastructure, etc) and gave attendees useful tips on operational control planning and budgeting. Oscar led a workshop with industry leader including Embraer executives to discuss the merits of one vs. two engines and one vs. two pilots. The following comments were published on MIU event’s website. For further information and a photo gallery, please click here . Conference chairman, Oscar Garcia, provides his thoughts on the first VLJ - LAC event: “The VLJ Latin America/Caribbean Conference was one of the most interactive and results driven Conferences I have Chaired. The Conference yielded initiatives that could be instrumental in creating a favorable framework facilitating brisk growth of the Air Taxi and VLJ industry sectors in the region such as; a regional committee to embrace the region’s business aircraft association discussed and promoted between the Air Taxi Association and the Brazilian ABAG and exploring the design features of a “Taxi Cab Cooperative Style” pilot network system in all Brazilian airports to reduce costs and increase flexibility of new operators by the Brazilian Institute for Strategic Studies in Transportation (CEPTA). I was impressed to hear lively discussions between the attendees and insurance/legal/compliance panelists about very forward looking safety and operational methods such as Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) and their impact in insurance and financing costs. Latin American attendees were well versed and briefed on the Cape Town convention and the most up to date aircraft financing tools. Regulators and associations explored ways to inform and educate both governments and the public about “Business Aircraft used as Tools and not as Toys” Panel discussions yielded estimates for around 750 VLJ’s to be delivered in the region between 2008-2017 and the interactive workshop discussed in detail the pros and cons of single engine and single pilot VLJ Air Taxi operations. It was exciting to see Embraer executives engaged in new technologies and safety discussions with the ATXA, US and Latin American operators."

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