Page 18 - Twin and Turbine December 16

NBAA-BACE
2016 Wrap-Up
Signs of the general aviation recession were hidden by optimism at the 2016 National Business Aviation Association’s convention, held in Orlando, Florida in early November. The NBAA show has been internationalized with the added “BACE” (business aviation convention & exposition) appellation, making it officially the NBAA BACE. As the worth of business flying spreads around the globe, sparked by North America’s example of bizav, the European EBACE, Latin American LABACE and other such shows have continued NBAA’s targeted convention and trade show model. As the U.S.’s 6th largest trade show, the annual NBAA meeting alternates between the venues of Orlando and Las Vegas.
Orlando’s weather couldn’t have been better this year, after Hurricane Matthew blew past just a month or so earlier. A total of 129 aircraft were on static display for the show; nine were towed the ten miles from Orlando International airport in the dead of night so they could be exhibited in the Orange County
Convention Center, along with six helicopters, and the rest were crowded onto the Atlantic Aviation ramp at Orlando Executive airport. Over 1,100 exhibitor spaces were packed into the OCCC’s main hall.
“At the convention center and the airport alike, exhibitors and attendees have told us that this year’s NBAA-BACE was a resounding success,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen, following the show. “The activity level was high and the enthusiasm was strong. Equally important, the show provided a reminder of the industry’s size and significance in the U.S. and around the world.”
Notable Speakers
As always, NBAA offered educational and safety-oriented seminars throughout the show, along with general sessions featuring notable speakers and presentations. Day One’s opening session had remarks from Congressman Sam Graves, leader of the General Aviation Caucus, followed by
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske, relating how cooperative efforts of business aviation and CBP had eased many travel requirements. Among other CBP accomplishments, there are now 15 pre-clear locations, such as Shannon, Ireland, that allow aircraft to clear customs before entering the U.S., and a procedural change so that CBP no longer requires APUs to be shut down while an aircraft is being processed for entry.
By LeRoy Cook
16 • TWIN & TURBINE
DECEMBER 2016