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NBAA 2013 convention a resounding success

“Any way you look at it, this year’s show was a success,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “The energy and enthusiasm among exhibitors and attendees has demonstrated once again the tremendous value the industry continues to place on this event as a premier national and 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 and services in two exhibit halls. A sold-out static display of aircraft at Henderson Executive Airport featured 83 fixed-wing aircraft of all types and sizes, while an all-new indoor static display of aircraft at the Las Vegas Convention Center featured 12 more light business airplanes and helicopters.

The show closed with 25,425 people in attendance, which included representation from all 50 U.S. states and 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 and value, including:

A full Opening General Session on the show’s first day, which included remarks from leaders in Congress, the Administration and business. At the session, NBAA presented the Al Ueltschi Award for Humanitarian Leadership to actor and accomplished pilot Harrison Ford for his use of general aviation aircraft to help those in need.

A second-day General Session that 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 and concluded with a roundtable gathering of aviation legends and pioneers honoring astronaut Gene Cernan, the “last man on the moon,” and recipient of NBAA’s 2013 Meritorious Service to Aviation Award.

The introduction of new resources produced by the No Plane No Gain advocacy campaign, including a publication featuring 10 highly regarded CEOs with 10 universally recognized companies, who highlight 10 outstanding reasons for using business aviation.

The fact that, during the show, NBAA crossed the 10,000-Membership mark for the first time in the Association’s history – a key indicator of NBAA’s value to industry.

A full roster of education sessions held throughout the week, many of which focused on emerging trends, including advanced in-cockpit display and information technologies, the continued proliferation of iPads in aircraft cockpits, and the latest information for companies using aircraft to access international markets in an increasingly global business environment.

A Careers in Business Aviation Day, held Oct. 24, which provided a wealth of information about the many opportunities throughout the industry to Las Vegas-area middle school, high school and 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, and Barrington Irving, the youngest pilot to fly solo around the world.

A successful benefit event that 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 and the resourcefulness was as much on display this year as ever,” Bolen said. “We are delighted by the excitement that surrounded this year’s Convention, and we are already looking forward to next year’s show in Orlando, FL, from Oct. 21 to 23, 2014,” Bolen concluded.