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.