Page 6 - Elite AirMail Fall 2021

INDUSTRY NEWS
Private aviation has experienced a COVID-fueled boom in the last year and a half, but many industry members still seem unwilling to travel to large-scale trade shows.
NBAA 2021: ATTENDENCE DOWN, OPTIMISM UP
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) at- tracted fewer attendees to its NBAA Business Aviation Con- vention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) this year than it has in the recent past, but event organizers said the industry is poised for growth, innovation and greater sustainability.
“Being together at NBAA-BACE was truly exhilarating, from the packed exhibit floor to the stunning aircraft dis- play,” NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said.
In 2019, NBAA-BACE drew an estimated 23,000 at- tendees. Although the association did not release this year’s attendence numbers, multiple observers on the floor agreed crowds were significantly smaller than in previous years.
Still, private aviation has seen a post-COVID boom, and NBAA’s show, held from Oct. 12 to 14 in Las Vegas, high- lighted the industry’s many new opportunities, products, partners and possibilities. Multiple aircraft manufacturers showcased new and upgraded aircraft at Henderson Execu- tive Airport and in the Las Vegas Convention Center’s West Hall during the three-day event. New flight planning soft- ware, winglets and hydrogen and electric aircraft concepts were also unveiled. The show featured keynote addresses
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from industry pioneer Martine Rothblatt, Olympic cham- pion Lindsey Vonn and astronaut Dr. Sian Proctor, the first Black woman to pilot a spacecraft.
NBAA-BACE featured discussions about the future of advanced air mobility (AAM), and former FAA Administra- tor Michael Huerta moderated a forum on the government’s role in facilitating AAM operations. According to organiz- ers, sustainability was a central theme at the conference, one of the world’s largest carbon-neutral aviation events. Nearly 100 event exhibitors signed a Green Pledge to reduce their carbon footprint, NBAA said. Fuelers and operators spoke about business aviation’s leadership in maturing the global market for sustainable aviation fuel, and each outbound air- craft from Henderson Executive used sustainable fuel.
During the show, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson said the agency is focused on supporting new business aviation technologies and initiatives to reduce carbon emissions. The night before the convention, multiple business aviation ex- ecutives said they were unified in renewing the Business Aviation Commitment on Climate Change, which aims to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.