Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

At last year’s NBAA show, whatever good news could be unearthed about business aviation was dampened by the dismal impact of the government sequestration, effects of which are still evident. While the political machinations emanating from Washington, D.C., this year seem to have abated somewhat, there is still a threat of a government shutdown, but so far, at least, there have been no big eruptions of user fee proposals to mar this year’s show. Attacks on business aviation seem to have abated, too, perhaps because the government has more important items on its agenda. Meanwhile, there are signs that some significant announcements are percolating in preparation for when NBAA’s Business Aviation Convention &amp; Exhibition opens in Orlando on October 21.


The usual cast of characters will be on hand in Orlando, including the famously welcoming crew at Showalter Flying Service hosting the static display at Orlando Executive Airport. This year the award for the largest display goes to the National Aircraft Resale Association (NARA), which for the first time has reserved its own static display space for members to show their aircraft inventory. The NARA static area encompasses 110,000 sq ft of ramp space at Orlando Executive Airport and will feature 20 aircraft offered by NARA-certified brokers/dealers Aerolineas Ejecutivas, Dallas Jet International, Eagle Aviation, Eagle Creek Aviation Services, Elliott Aviation, Embraer Executive Jets, Front Range Aviation, Global Wings, Jack Prewitt &amp; Associates, Jetcraft, Jeteffect, Mente Group and Tempus Aircraft.


“We are happy to be working closely with NBAA to make this happen and excited about the visibility this space will provide NARA and its members,” said NARA board member Sabrina Prewitt (with Jack Prewitt &amp; Associates). “The NARA campus will allow us to welcome aircraft buyers into one place where they can meet with many of our certified NARA brokers and dealers and tour the 20 aircraft they have for sale. Visitors can also learn more about our association and about all the NARA Products and Services members who support the organization.”


Static display host Showalter Flying Service is expecting about 100 aircraft this year, and all the available space was sold out by mid-August. A welcome new feature this year will be a mobile cellphone relay tower providing broadband Internet and cell service to the entire display area, eliminating cables that previously had to be strung about the ramp.


Once again, NBAA is hosting an indoor light business airplane and helicopter static display at the Orange County Convention Center, in the North Exhibit area, Hall B.


Learning Opportunities


Those planning an earlier arrival to Orlando might consider a refresher course, NBAA’s Tax, Regulatory &amp; Risk Management conference, scheduled for October 19 and 20 at the convention center. Conference attendees will begin with an interactive panel discussion covering FARs, federal income tax issues and implementing documentation strategies, then select from eight breakout sessions on personal use of business aircraft, audit planning, federal excise taxes, leasing and financing.


There are plenty of other learning opportunities in the days before the show, with NBAA Professional Development Program classes, an Inspection Authorization renewal course, committee meetings and NBAA’s Single-pilot Safety Standdown, which offers pilots opportunities to help each other in a peer-to-peer information-sharing session.


There will also be manufacturer maintenance and operations sessions and opportunities to interact with regulatory officials. Some of the latter sessions should generate keen interest from operators, including the NBAA Security &amp; Customs Update; Streamlining LOAs; A Conversation with the FAA’s Top Safety Leaders; and Part 135 Compliance Hot Topics.


Two sessions at the show will focus on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to brief attendees about upcoming regulations governing UAS operations and their potential effects on the business aviation industry. The first session will focus on the future of UAS in the NAS, as well as technological, regulatory and privacy issues. The second will focus on opportunities for business aviation.


Awards Galore


It wouldn’t be an NBAA show without the traditional awards ceremonies, scheduled during the awards luncheon on October 21.


This year’s recipient of the prestigious Meritorious Service Award is legendary test pilot and airshow performer Bob Hoover. “He has been an inspiration to multiple generations of pilots, including business aviators, and has been an active participant in NBAA’s convention for many years,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen.


Bill de Decker is the recipient of the John P. “Jack” Doswell Award, honoring his many years of service to business aviation. An aerospace engineer and design engineer on the Apollo 11 moon-landing program, de Decker is chairman of the board of aviation research firm Conklin &amp; de Decker, which he founded in 1989 with the late Alan Conklin. “As the leader of a company that pioneered the development of objective aircraft cost and operating data, he has performed an invaluable service to the industry which has contributed to advancing the professional and efficient management of business aircraft,” said Bolen.


The penultimate event at the NBAA Convention is the annual NBAA/CAN Soirée, and this year “An Evening With Angels” will be held at the Hyatt Regency Orlando on October 22. Benefiting the Corporate Angel Network, the event includes a private concert by Three Dog Night and live and silent auctions. One of the auction highlights is a six-day tournament-week package for four people at the 2014 Honda Classic at Florida’s PGA National Resort &amp; Spa, valued at more than $50,000 and donated by Honda Aircraft.

Orlando Rolling Out the Red Carpet for NBAA 2014

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