NBAA’s 2023 edition of BACE provided numerous bright spots—including that more than one-third of the visitors were first-time attendees and that 10 associations came together to roll out a critical new advocacy program, Climbing Fast, Ed Bolen, president and CEO of the association reported today. But it also provided an opportunity for the industry to collectively confront some of the headwinds that are facing the industry, including supply chain, economy uncertainties, and workforce, he added during a webinar that NBAA held providing retrospectives on this year’s BACE.

Bolen said that NBAA was still mulling the numbers from the convention but was encouraged that every year since 2020, the attendance has exceeded the prior year. The number of first-time attendees, meanwhile, suggests the stickiness of the influx of new buyers.

During the webinar, NBAA received feedback from those watching about the fact that most of the major manufacturers moved their displays only to the static site and then required appointments for aircraft viewing. This restricted access to the aircraft, commenters noted, who expressed a desire to see more in the convention halls. Bolen responded that this is all feedback that would be discussed during the association’s Advisory Council meeting.

But, alongside the conventional exhibitors, NBAA saw growth in a new breed of showcases surrounding emerging technologies.

“Every trade show seems to take on its own personality, and the energy and the electricity seemed to be strong,” Bolen said. “That was true both at the aircraft display and throughout the Convention Center. Out at the aircraft display, we had for the first time a demonstration flight by an AAM [advanced air mobility] company—Volocopter was demonstrating flights, Blade was running helicopters between the convention center and the static display, and [advanced aircraft] were on the aircraft display on the show floor.”

One of the most significant things, Bolen added, was that the aviation community came together at the convention to promote the new advocacy campaign, to make sure “that the world knows that business aviation is on a mission to net zero.”

Meanwhile, Pete Bunce, president and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, praised the stepped-up security efforts at the show, saying, “[It] made me feel very confident that we weren't going have a bunch of these eco-crazies disrupting the convention.”

He also was pleased that most of the top brass of the regulators, particularly at the FAA, were there to hear the concerns of the manufacturers, particularly surrounding the certification delays. Bunce said one of the single biggest issues concerning them is that FAA officials are largely working remotely. This is delaying action and limiting the transfer of knowledge as the workforce turns over.

He further praised the collective advocacy and warned that while complaints are made about the increased cost of sustainable aviation fuel, “we need to work this problem. Obviously, no one wants to pay more for fuel, but the fact is that unless we do this, our survival is at stake.”

Commercial airlines are quickly moving toward this, and the industry is seeing substantial pressure in Europe.

“This image of corporate aviation is under attack, right and left,” Bunce said, but added, “We have a capability to lead in this arena.” This is why the associations are working together on initiatives such as Climbing Fast.

Meanwhile, Wayne Starling, the executive director of the International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA), was encouraged that some 91 percent of its membership was represented at NBAA-BACE this year—and 95 percent of its dealers. Since more than half do not have their own booth presence, IADA expanded its show-floor area to enable members to meet with their customers and colleagues. Starling noted that this site was expanded this year to some 100 seats and “all day Tuesday you had to wait [to] get a seat in it.”

Starling added, “It really brings value and gives people the opportunity to meet, socialize, and have client meetings.”

He further expressed optimism that the fourth quarter for the preowned market was shaping up strongly, despite fears of a fall off, and pricing—which had been predicted to fall—has only eased a little on some models while holding steady on others.