The NBAA’s 2013 Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA2013) concluded Thursday, marking three days filled with robust exhibitor & attendee participation, a number of news-making announcements from products & services providers, & other thrilling show features. “Any way you look at it, this year’s show was a success,” asserted NBAA President & CEO Ed Bolen. “The energy & enthusiasm among exhibitors & attendees has demonstrated once again the amazing value the industry continues to place on this event as a premier national & international business aviation venue.”
NBAA2013, which took place from Oct. 22 to 24, featured a packed show floor, with about 1,100 exhibitors displaying the latest products & services in two exhibit halls. A sold-out static display of aircraft at Henderson Executive Airport featured 83 fixed-wing aircraft of all types & sizes, while an all-new indoor static display of aircraft at the Las Vegas NV Convention Center featured 12 more light business airplanes & helicopters.
The show closed with 25,425 people in attendance, which included representation from all 50 U.S. states & more than 90 countries around the world. Read more about the NBAA Convention’s continuing role as an international business aviation event.
Bolen noted that, in addition to being a success by the numbers, other aspects of the show pointed to its strength & value, in addition to a full Opening General Session on the show’s 1st day, which included remarks from leaders in Congress, the Administration & business. At the session, NBAA presented the Al Ueltschi Award for Humanitarian Leadership to actor & accomplished pilot Harrison Ford for his use of general aviation aircraft to assist those in need. However, FAA administrator Michael Huerta, who was to have been the keynote speaker, cancelled at the last minute citing pressing business in Washington re-opening the agency after the partial government shutdown.
The second-day General Session began with a lively discourse among general aviation association leaders, continued with a presentation of the Combs-Gates Award from the National Aviation Hall of Fame & concluded with a roundtable gathering of aviation legends & pioneers honoring astronaut Gene Cernan, the “last guy on the moon,” & recipient of NBAA’s 2013 Meritorious Service to Aviation Award.
New resources produced by the No Plane No Gain advocacy campaign, in addition to a publication featuring 10 highly regarded CEOs with 10 universally recognized companies, who highlight 10 outstanding reasons for using business aviation, were introduced.
During the show, NBAA crossed the 10,000-Membership mark for the 1st time in the Association’s history – a key indicator of NBAA’s value to industry, according to Bolen.
A full roster of education sessions was held throughout the week, many of which focused on emerging trends, in addition to advanced in-cockpit display & information technologies, the continued proliferation of iPads in aircraft cockpits, & the latest information for companies using aircraft to access international markets in an increasingly global business environment.
The Careers in Business Aviation Day, held Oct. 24, provided a wealth of information about the many opportunities throughout the industry to Las Vegas-area middle school, high school & college students. The day opened with an inspirational session featuring former NASA astronaut Bonnie J. Dunbar, who logged more than 50 days in orbit over five space shuttle flights, & Barrington Irving, the youngest pilot to fly solo around the world.
A favorable benefit event raised $440,000 in support of the Corporate Angel Network’s mission to provide life-saving flights to take cancer patients to treatment centers aboard business aircraft.
“The business aviation community’s resilience & the resourcefulness was as much on display this year as ever,” Bolen said. “We are delighted by the excitement in that surrounded this year’s Convention, & we are already looking forward to next year’s show in Orlando, FL, from Oct. 21 to 23, 2014,” Bolen concluded.
FMI: www.nbaa.org
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