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light business airplane session at both AOPA Summit and the NBAA annual meeting and convention. One of our focuses is on single- pilot operations. For a second year, Cessna will sponsor the Single-Pilot Safety Standdown. In addition, we will have a number of educational programs that are geared for entrepreneurs and operators who are using their general aviation airplanes for business purposes. We are making sure all our educational
sessions are built around that model – not an exception to the rule. They are our target audience.
T&T: What kinds of topics will be hot this year for the smaller operator?
Bolen: There’s always a strong interest in tax issues and safety issues as well as new and emerging technology. For example, using the iPad in the cockpit is a session we will be introducing this year.
T&T: What can attendees expect to see and hear at this year’s convention?
Bolen: This is our first time back west of the Mississippi River since 2004, so it will be good to be in a western location. From our perspective it’s been too long, and we are happy to be back. We have worked very hard with the folks in Las Vegas, both the city and convention center, to have a static display area in the parking lot. It will be exciting to have some airplanes right there next to the exhibit hall.
The hallmark of the NBAA convention is the educational sessions. We have some exciting speakers for opening general session: FAA Admin Randy Babbitt, plus an operator of a well-known company that uses general aviation aircraft to compete effectively on a world stage. We will be giving out our key awards including our humanitarian award and our meritorious service award.
T&T: I noticed that the three- day convention will take place on a Monday-through-Wednesday schedule instead of Tuesday through Thursday. Was there any particular reason for this change?
Bolen: This is not the first time we’ve done a Monday-Tuesday- Wednesday show, although we typically have done Tuesday through Thursday. These were dates that were available to us, and we were anxious to have a western location. We are excited about it and are working hard to make sure people recognize that it is Monday through Wednesday. We are confident that it will work well.
T&T: The exhibits are always a big attraction. How are plans for the exhibits shaping up?
Bolen: We are expecting both the number of exhibitors and square footage to be up over last year. Response seems to be strong and there’s a lot of enthusiasm. Just like last year, all of the major OEM•s will have exhibits at both the convention center and the static display. T&T
SEPTEMBER 2011
34 • TWIN & TURBINE