Chad is the editor of AINalerts, AIN's daily business aviation newsletter, and is also the news editor at AIN Media Group.&nbsp;He has been writing about aviation, with an emphasis on business aviation, since 1994. Chad started his writing career at The Avion,&nbsp;the&nbsp;student newspaper at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, serving as editor-in-chief before graduating with a bachelor's in aeronautical science. After a stint as managing editor at Professional Pilot&nbsp;magazine, he joined&nbsp;AIN in late 1998. Chad holds a commercial pilot certificated with instrument and multi-engine ratings, and he also is a CFI/CFII. He lives and works from his home in Venice, Florida.

Online Editor

Chad Trautvetter

This year’s NBAA Convention–to be held October 10 to 12 in Las Vegas–will have not one but two static display areas, marking a first in the 64-year history of the event. The new outdoor static display area will be “just a few steps away from the convention center,” said NBAA vice president of exhibits Linda Peters.
The traditional static display will be located at Henderson Executive Airport, which is about 15 miles from the Las Vegas Convention Center. Las Vegas McCarran Airport is much closer–about four miles from the convention hall–but cannot accommodate the static display because of space and operational limitations.
So NBAA is adding a display area adjacent to the convention exhibit hall that is convenient enough “to walk directly from the indoor exhibits to view the actual airplanes,” Peters said. Between 15 and 20 aircraft will be able to fit into the new space, which will be set up in the convention center’s Silver parking lot. “These will be real airplanes–no mockups, no tented displays, no chalets,” she noted. “Most will have wingspans of less than 50 feet, which is the size that can be towed from McCarran International Airport.”
NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen told AIN that he is “delighted” that the Las Vegas Convention Center has made space available for the outdoor display. “The static display at NBAA’s conventions is the largest of its kind, allowing show attendees to make side-by-side comparisons of every type of business airplane,” he said. “The aircraft in this new space will augment those included in the full static display at Henderson Airport, as well as the aircraft mockups available for viewing in the convention center, and we know attendees will value each of these offerings as part of their convention experience.”
According to Peters, as of mid-March four manufacturers and one modification company had signed up for the new display area, with eight of the aircraft display slots now taken. These companies include Piper Aircraft, which opted for four display slots, as well as Pilatus Aircraft, Piaggio Aero, Robinson Helicopter and Sierra Industries. Peters added that several manufacturers still plan to display aircraft inside the convention hall, meaning the new display area so far isn’t diverting planned indoor aircraft exhibits outside. o

NBAA doubles down for convention static display in Vegas

Chad TrautvetterThis year’s NBAA Convention–to be held October 10 to 12 in Las Vegas–will have not one but two static display areas, marking

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