Page 6 - Nov 2015 Volume 9, Number 11

The National Business and service firms to maintain andAviation Association’sannual convention and exhibition returned to Las Vegas, Nevada in November, a site that’s always a popular diversion for business aircraft operators. Held later than usual, just a week before Thanksgiving, the show was preceded by cold temperatures and blustery 60-knot wind gusts that thankfully moderated as the week went on.NBAA 2016 was a strong, healthy event for the bizav industry, despite sagging new aircraft sales activity. Support for the fleet requires MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul)refurbish legacy business airplanes to the latest standards, and these always account for a substantial number of exhibitors. Space in the cavernous Las Vegas Convention Center was taken up by 1,100 exhibits; some, like Gulfstream, Hondajet and Jetex, occupied huge volume with impressive structures, while others plied the crowd with showgirls, fast cars, personalities and sports stars. William Shatner, aka Captain James T. Kirk, arrived on the show’s opening day in a Bombardier Global, promoting Bombardier’s WAVE Wi-Fi system with Honeywell and Inmarsat technology.NBAA ConventionBy LeRoy Cook4 • TWIN & TURBINE JANUARY 2016