Should be an Interesting NBAA This Year ...

… as the business aviation segment heads to Las Vegas next week, one has to wonder how the industry is going to present itself. We’re still recovering from the devastation of 2008; still attempting to deflect the onslaughts from the man who accesses the No. 1 corporate aircraft in the world – Air Force One. And of course there’s the global economic crisis, fuel volatility, Washington politics, etc. Thing is, my sense is that this is going to be a good NBAA. A rebound of sorts. The sense here is that the industry wants to push on … push on beyond the malaise. NBAA is trying out a mini-static display at the convention center. I suspect it will be a hit. The big OEMs will be more prominent on the trade show floor, following an almost shocking pullback in 2010. Yet, it’s not expected that there will be an onslaught of new business aircraft models introduced as in some years past. Officially it’s the ‘64th Annual Meeting and Convention’ for the National Business Aviation Association. According to the NBAA website, some 30-plus airports and/or economic development agencies and over 100 FBOs and aviation service companies will be exhibiting. Among the celebs expected to be on hand are FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt; astronaut Gene Cernan; NTSB chair Deborah A. P. Hersman; and actor Harrison Ford. Legendary fixed base operator Clay Lacy will be awarded NBAA’s highest service award. At the very least, Las Vegas has proved a popular venue for the NBAA convention, as it often does for other shows. And this event is a clear barometer of how the business aviation segment is faring. Thanks for reading. jfi