NBAA Modifies SDC Plans, Cancels IOC and Business Aircraft Finance Conference
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) announced the decision to conclude its Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference (SDC) at close of business today, and cancel two upcoming events: the 2020 International Operators Conference (IOC2020), and the 2020 Business Aircraft Finance, Registration & Legal Conference.
NBAA noted that, in its decision-making regarding the three events, the association’s highest priority remains the health and well-being of participants, amidst a fluid situation surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, which has prompted a series of continually evolving announcements from government and medical authorities, and is impacting travel planning and other decisions.
Activities related to SDC will conclude at close of business today – all educational programming scheduled for Friday, March 13, will be canceled. NBAA is exploring options for providing some amount of the educational content through a virtual platform, with details to be provided at a future date.
IOC2020, scheduled for March 16-19 in Charlotte, NC, has been canceled; the association is exploring options for allowing participants to attend a virtual version of the event in April, with further details in that regard to be provided shortly. The Business Aircraft Finance, Registration & Legal Conference, scheduled
for March 22-24 in Amelia Island, FL., is likewise canceled.
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said, “As with all NBAA events, we view our participants as partners whose health, safety and security is always our foremost concern, and that is the guiding principle behind our decision on these three events.”
Bolen added that as the situation unfolds, NBAA has remained informed by guidance from several authorities, including the World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and prevention, and other public health and aviation-safety experts.
“We will keep members and partners apprised with regard to how this challenging and continually evolving situation impacts upcoming events,” Bolen concluded. NBAA is working with its Board of Directors in this regard; events between now and July 1, 2020, are under evaluation, and information will be coming out shortly. Continually updated information regarding the status of NBAA events in light of COVID-19 is available at nbaa.org/coronavirus.
