AfBAA

Gavin Kiggen
AfBAA Board Member

Gavin Kiggen is a highly experienced industry professional with over 34 years’ experience in all facets of Aviation. 

After completing his Military Service, Gavin started his aviation career at South African Airways in 1989 where he studied as an Aircraft Engineer. After qualifying and spending a few years honing his skills, he realised aviation still had more to offer and so he continued his studies to become a Flight Engineer in 1998 where he operated aircraft such as Boeing 747’s and Boeing 727’s worldwide for almost a decade whilst pursuing his pilot’s licence. Gavin flew for many of South Africa’s major commercial airlines such as British Airways/Comair, Safair and Nationwide Airlines between 1999 and 2008. It was at Nationwide Airlines where Gavin gave instruction and redirected his career into Flight Operations and where his true passion was realised.

In 2008 Gavin joined ExecuJet’s Flight Operations Department as Aviation Services Manager and in 2009 became Flight Operations Manager. His wealth of knowledge allowed him to refine the processes and procedures in terms of the regulations and implemented a full aircraft dispatch procedure, a first for General Aviation in South Africa.

Within this role, Gavin’s primary focus was overseeing the safe and effective operation of ExecuJet South Africa’s extensive fleet of business jet aircraft. In addition, and thanks to his broad knowledge base, Gavin proactively got involved with supporting and growing ExecuJet’s FBO, Charter and Managed Aircraft business through diligent and at times, out of the box thinking.

Gavin’s inputs in Operations were solidified through his eagerness to nurture international relationships only made possible through his extensive travels.  This ultimately led him into speaking twice at NBAA International Operators Conference, sharing his and ExecuJet’s experiences on several topics, a highlight being South Africa’s 2010 World Cup and ExecuJet’s memorable contribution in almost exclusively supporting Business Jets from around the world, thanks to Gavin’s FBO Team and fellow colleagues.

Gavin is on the Board of Directors for the African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) as well as  Commercial Aviation Association Southern Africa (CAASA) and is also involved with many facets of local commercial aviation associations.

In 2014 Gavin was promoted to Flight Operations Director – Africa and shortly thereafter Director of Aviation for Africa.

In November 2017 Gavin was promoted to Vice President Africa, a role that he holds with pride and fulfils to the best of his abilities every day.

Gavin is a very proud Father of three beautiful children – Ross (22), Taryn (19) and Kate (5), with whom he has an extremely close bond.

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