As the 64th NBAA Convention closed yesterday, association president and CEO Ed Bolen deemed it a “highly successful” show. “What we are seeing is that the show is providing real value to the business aviation community, even in these challenging economic times,” he said. “The convention continues to be a must-attend event for anyone whose passion or profession involves business aviation.” According to NBAA, the three-day show in Las Vegas drew 26,077 attendees, 7 percent more than last year’s convention; 1,106 exhibitors, a 2-percent increase from a year ago; and 101 aircraft on display, including 85 at the sold-out static display at Henderson Executive Airport, five inside the Las Vegas Convention Center and 11 at the first-ever outdoor static display adjacent to the convention center. Notably, international registration was up more than 23 percent from last year, with nearly 4,000 representatives from 88 different countries present at NBAA 2011. “By every key measure, this year’s convention met or exceeded NBAA’s expectations,” Bolen concluded. “Equally important, the level of enthusiasm we’ve seen from show participants tells us that their expectations were met or exceeded as well.”