Tepid Days, Cold Nights in Savannah ...

... but all was hot on the trade show floor and in assorted conference rooms at this year’s NBAA 19th Annual Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference. As a steady stream of freighters and tankers meandered through downtown up the Savannah River – the city on one side, the convention center on the other – some 2,618 delegates touched base; sold their services, their locations; and learned about the business. Schedulers and dispatchers from Part 91 corporates and Part 135 charters are the core audience, and the target of FBOs and airports who seek their business. But first they have to have you on their radar screen – the reason so many airports and FBOs exhibit. Many say this is their number one marketing effort to the corporate arena each year. Every year bigger, larger; yet they’re still able to maintain the intimacy of a conference -- not ‘NBAA II’. It works, via the likes of staffer Sandy Wirtz and an always-energetic NBAA team. This is also a conference steeped in volunteerism; it is argued that in the early years it was the effort of volunteers that kept it off life support. This year’s effort was led by committee chair Jenny Showalter (the pride you feel is like that with one of your own as you hear Bob and Kim talk about their daughter’s active role). Virgin Charter made a splash ... no Sir Richard. They gave away a safari. Cool idea; not sure, however, where in the world I would feel safe on safari in 2008. Popular, quite. Despite the economic news of late, the mood at Schedulers was upbeat. The fuel folks and FBOs, for the most part, say January was static. There’s uncertainty in the air, but no quantifiable justification for it. Apparently, the question to ask is: Is the business world tentative, awaiting more bad news; or are we just experiencing the election year blues? Finally, a planning calendar item: 20th Annual NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers; January 13-16; Long Beach, CA. If you operate an airport-based business or airport that wants to be top of mind with business aviation, joining the 391 exhibitors from Savannah is a good start. Thanks for reading. jfi