NBAA-BACE: "Boundless enthusiasm and opportunities"

The National Business Aviation Association concluded an electrifying week at its 2024 Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), bringing together the industry’s top names, latest innovations and biggest news, ushering in the next era of aviation.

“Business aviation is transforming with new technologies and bold ideas,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “NBAA-BACE celebrated all our industry is today, and how we are shaping the future.”

Headline-making moments defined the show from the very start. At the opening keynote, FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker unveiled a long-awaited regulatory framework for electric air taxis and other advanced air mobility (AAM) operations. Immediately after the keynote, Whitaker signed the SFAR (Special Federal Aviation Regulation) surrounded by the CEOs and leaders of top AAM companies.

Along with the FAA’s historic news, NBAA-BACE hosted a slate of major announcements, including Bombardier’s planned production of the all-new Global Express 8000 and Textron Aviation’s unveiling of its new line Gen3 of Cessna Citation M2, CJ3 and CJ4 aircraft. The upgraded CJ4 is equipped with the Garmin G3000 PRIME all-touchscreen flight deck, released in time for the show.

At the convention, Wheels Up touted a $300m fleet modernization with acquisitions of Embraer Phenom 300 and Bombardier Challenger 300/350 jets.

The exhibit hall was packed with more than 800 of the industry’s leading companies showcasing the latest aircraft, avionics and propulsion technologies. Bombardier displayed its prototype small-scale demonstrator aircraft, the EcoJet, which uses revolutionary blended wing body designs and other technologies that could reduce business jet emissions by 50%. A record 450 volunteers joined the 10th annual YoPro Networking Reception & Helpy Hour - nearly double previous years’ participation.

The show featured pioneers, industry leaders and policymakers alike.

Acclaimed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson thrilled a standing-room-only audience in a discussion with pilot, Olympian and Joby Aviation executive Bonny Simi. Business aviation visionaries Laurent and Pierre Beaudoin were honored with NBAA’s Meritorious Service to Aviation Award for championing new markets, safety and sustainability at Bombardier for more than 60 years.

The show provided a unique platform for the industry to meet face-to-face with top regulators from the FAA and Transportation Security Administration at NBAA-BACE’s always-popular Meet the Regulators session.

Safety, the industry’s core value, took center stage, with important sessions led by Dr. Susan Northrup, US federal air surgeon at the FAA, and National Transportation Safety Board Member Todd Inman. The two were among the many prominent officials part of the show’s National Safety Forum, Single-Pilot Safety Standdown and Small Operators Symposium.

The show’s all-new Flight Deck on the exhibit floor drew packed crowds to hear from the industry’s top aircraft brokers, market experts and entrepreneurs on the most timely issues, such as artificial intelligence in business aviation, security in a flight tracking age and trends propelling aircraft sales and deliveries.

The full diversity of business aircraft was on display at Henderson Executive Airport (HND) – from piston-engine airplanes, to long-range, large-cabin business jets, to helicopters. An all-new lineup of McLaren supercars showcased the latest engineering and design, on the ground and in the air.

“This NBAA-BACE offered a thrilling look at where our industry is headed,” Bolen concluded. “It was an incredible week where history was made and amazing technologies showcased an industry coming together to reach new heights.”

NBAA-BACE will return to Las Vegas next year from October 14th-16th, 2025.

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 31st October 2024 | Issue #770