Today marks the 50th year that NBAA has held the International Operators Conference (IOC). “It’s about where we are today and where we’re going to be tomorrow,” NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen said this morning at the opening session of IOC 2023.

“NBAA exists to foster an environment to allow business aviation to thrive in the U.S. and around the world," he added. "And the airplanes, they don’t know national boundaries, they just know to fly. It’s for us to figure out how to let that inherent strength of the aircraft be able to operate in a very complex world. The way we do it is by sharing our knowledge, sharing our passion. Fifty years of IOC, 50 years of coming together, 50 years of depending on people. The NBAA staff, the volunteers, our members, and our board all collectively recognize the responsibility we have to foster an environment that allows business aviation to thrive.”

This year’s IOC features sessions ranging from dealing with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to mission planning, regional reviews, safety management systems, oceanic operations, deep water ditching, sustainability, and security.

Today's opening session included a keynote by Hillwood Aviation president and CEO Matt Byrd, who is also an NBAA board member. He recounted his experiences flying for the U.S. Air Force and as a pilot on the Thunderbirds demonstration team.