Economy Leads To Lower Exhibit Fees, One Less Day

Blame it on the economy. The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)  announced Friday its inaugural Light Business Airplane Conference (LBA2009) has been changed from a three-day conference to a two-day conference that will take place in San Diego, CA, on Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14, 2009. 

Additionally, NBAA will limit sizes for indoor exhibits to a maximum of 20 ft.-by-20 ft. The Association will also adjust pricing for Attendees and indoor Exhibitors. Attendance fees will be reduced by 50 percent, and indoor exhibit fees will be reduced by 20 percent.        

"As the economy has constricted dramatically since LBA was conceived, the challenges confronting the entrepreneurs and pilots who own and operate light business airplanes have increased," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. "To address this situation, NBAA is adjusting LBA2009 to ensure that the conference offers exceptional educational content while also remaining manageable and affordable. This is about tightly focusing an inaugural conference for a very important segment of the business aviation community so that it provides real and tangible value in a very challenging economy."

According to Bolen, a hallmark of NBAA conferences is the learning opportunities that provide participants with practical information that can be used to minimize costs, enhance safety, promote efficiency and increase operational awareness. For the past several months, NBAA has been working directly with owners and operators of high-performance pistons, turboprops and jets that can be flown single-pilot to develop a highly informative conference that is directly targeted to their specific operations. Attendees will gain valuable information on how they can best use their airplane to them succeed in business.  

Included among the highlights planned for LBA2009 are: a Single-Pilot Safety Standdown, sponsored by the Cessna Aircraft Company; more than 40 education sessions, ranging from tax and regulatory topics to enhancing the efficiency of aircraft operations and maintenance.

The Opening General Session will feature presentations from pilot and Forbes magazine publisher Rich Karlgaard and pilot/surgeon and Flying magazine contributor Dr. Dick Karl. Well-known aviation figures, including John and Martha King, will be giving presentations as well.

Bolen noted that some of the adjustments that NBAA is making to LBA2009 are informed by the Association's experiences in introducing and growing its other forums and conferences, such as the International Operators Conference and the Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference. 

NBAA recognizes that a number of events have been planned in conjunction with LBA2009, including a Pilatus PC-12 Regional Operators Conference, Honeywell’s TPE331 Turboprop Engine Operators Conference, a meeting of the Young Presidents Organization’s Pilots Network and a meeting of a newly-formed group called the Citation Jet Pilots. NBAA has worked closely with the organizers of each of these events to ensure they will be successful and well-coordinated within the new schedule and format for LBA2009.

"Business airplanes are tools that provide the flexibility necessary to adapt and thrive in rapidly changing environment," said Bolen. "Similarly, NBAA is adapting its Light Business Airplane Conference so that all participants will find it to be of great value."

FMI: www.nbaa.org