More Than 1900 Attendees Gather For The Event

Special to ANN by Drew Steketee from Teterboro (KTEB)

NBAA hit one out of the park in its third of four planned regional forums for 2010, this one for the New York-area bizav community.

Preregistration predicted 1600 attendees for the June 10 event at Teterboro, the busy GA hub west of New York City, and the early buzz at KTEB predicted operational issues and parking problems. But when more than 1900 showed up, they were handled deftly despite using remote parking and two separate shuttle runs to reach the event.

A mid-ramp hangar accommodated more than 80 commercial exhibitors, along with tables for the buffet lunch and a presentation area which was packed by 0930 to hear NBAA president Ed Bolen. The crowd was all ears on association strategies to combat bizav's renewed "Fat Cat" image. Still, despite NBAA's long list of Congressional and PR efforts and its Arnold Palmer advertising campaign, some asked that more be done.

Ed Bolen Addresses Attendees

Other speakers discussed communicating the flight department's strategic value to management. The afternoon covered future aircraft resale values. Former NTSB board member Bob Francis then offered a tutorial on the accident investigation process.

Outside, more than 30 aircraft were on display amidst the courtyard-like Jet Aviation hangars and ramp. As NBAA's Bolen jumped into a Cirrus for his early afternoon flight back to work in D.C., he could look back on an impressive static ramp and busy exhibit hangar suggesting a bizav comeback.

Ramp at Teterboro During NBAA Event

The event eclipsed NBAA's previous record of 1300 attendees at a New York-area Forum.  NBAA's final 2010 Regional Forum is scheduled for Chicago August 18.

FMI: www.nbaa.org