The NBAA 15th Annual Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference was the Association's best attended Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference ever, with more than 1,450 Attendees and a record 238 Exhibitors, according to the organization. The conference was held January 12 to 14 in Savannah (GA), in conjunction with four Schedulers Professional Development Program (SPDP) Courses on January 10 and 11. A total of 85 individuals participated in the SPDP Courses, which focused on issues such as basic scheduling, international travel, aircraft capacity utilization and strategic planning.

The NBAA 15th Annual Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference was organized and hosted by the NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Committee, led by Chair Kellie Rittenhouse of Pentastar Aviation. Highlights of the Conference included the following Opening General Session speakers:

Shelley A. Longmuir, NBAA president and CEO, who characterized NBAA's Schedulers & Dispatchers Committee as "one of NBAA's most exciting and active Standing Committees."

Edsel B Ford II, great grandson of Henry Ford and owner of Pentastar Aviation, who spoke on behalf of the many customers using business aircraft. He thanked all schedulers and dispatchers in general for saving him countless hours and providing valued customer satisfaction.

Ron Mumm, director of flight operations for Bell South Corporation and former commander of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, who spoke as an enthusiastic supporter of business aviation schedulers and dispatchers. He characterized the group as having "a passion for performance."

Each Opening General Session speaker acknowledged the significant role the scheduler and dispatcher plays on the flight department operations team. Also in attendance at the Conference were NBAA Chairman of the Board Donald E. Baldwin of The Whitewind Company, Vice Chairman Kenneth E. Emerick of GM Worldwide Travel Services, and all five of NBAA's Regional Representatives: John Balsiger, Daniel Burkhart, Harry Houckes, Dean Saucier and Paul H. Smith.

With training as its primary focus, the Conference offered workshop and breakout-session topics on a broad range of issues, including communication skills, flight planning and following, international operations, FAA systems training, leadership, shuttle operations, FBOs, aviation accounting, marketing strategies, customs, and ramp and hangar safety. The Conference also offered many networking opportunities, including lunches, regional group activities and an evening event at the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum.

During the Conference, the Committee awarded the NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Scholarship, worth a total of $30,000, to eight individuals seeking to advance their professional development as business aviation schedulers and dispatchers. NBAA created the Schedulers & Dispatchers Scholarship fund in conjunction with six corporate sponsors: ExxonMobil Avitat, Signature Flight Support, Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc., ChevronTexaco, Atlantic Aviation and Air BP Aviation Services.

FMI: www.nbaa.org