NBAA2011 Deemed an 'Outstanding Success'
Held last week in Las Vegas, NV, the NBAA 64th Annual Meeting & Convention (NBAA2011) brought "real value to the business aviation community, even in these challenging economic times," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen, who thanked Exhibitors and Attendees for what he called "a highly successful show." As measures of success, Bolen noted that the show closed with 26,077 people in attendance, a 7 percent jump in attendance over that for last year's event, and the number of Exhibitors at the Las Vegas Convention Center was 1,106, a 2 percent increase over last year's Exhibitor count of 1,086. Further, a total of 101 aircraft were displayed this year, including 85 at the sold-out Static Display of Aircraft at Henderson Executive Airport (HND). View full show details and highlights, including articles, videos, photos and more, at the NBAA2011 Online News Bureau.

Convention Videos Deliver a Central Message: 'No Plane, No Gain'
Like every NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention, the event in Las Vegas last week provided a number of opportunities for highlighting the importance of business aviation, which is the central focus of the No Plane, No Gain advocacy campaign, sponsored by NBAA and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. As just one example, NBAA2011 featured several hugely popular videos – the show kicked off with a video titled "We Are Business Aviation," which underscores the industry's value to citizens, companies and communities. A separate video, honoring doctor and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist for his flights to provide life-saving surgeries around the globe, highlighted the use of business aviation for humanitarian missions. Yet another video, honoring industry legend Clay Lacy, underscored the innovators included in the business aviation community. These and other videos are available on NBAA's YouTube channel and also in the video section of the NBAA2011 Online News Bureau.

FAA Provides More Time to Comply With PIC Proficiency Check Changes
On August 31, the FAA published a final rule that modifies Part 61.58 of the Federal Aviation Regulations to require recurrent pilot-in-command (PIC) proficiency checks in all turbojet-powered aircraft, including those that can be operated by a single pilot. At the request of NBAA and other stakeholders, the FAA recently issued a technical correction extending the effective date of the rule to October 31, 2012, for pilots not currently subject to the proficiency check requirements. This will allow pilots now covered by the rule time to complete PIC proficiency checks within their normal annual training cycle. NBAA also posed a number of questions to the FAA regarding the practical application of the new rule, and the agency has indicated that additional guidance will be forthcoming. Learn more about the FAA final rule.

LightSquared Goes on Offense Against GPS Manufacturers
Faced with increasing scrutiny of its claims about the impact of its technology, telecommunications provider LightSquared has gone on the offensive against the GPS industry. In an October 3 letter to Julius Genachowski, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, LightSquared executive Jeffrey Carlisle asserts his company has the law on its side in stating the burden falls on GPS manufacturers to shield their devices from interference from LightSquared's proposed 4G broadband network. Get the latest in the LightSquared controversy.

At NBAA2011, TSA Gives Inside Look at Major Security Initiatives
It's not everyday that business aviation professionals have the opportunity to talk face-to-face with officials at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), but one well-attended session at NBAA2011 last week provided just that chance. Available for questions at the session were two TSA officials with responsibility for both policy and industry engagement, who offered Attendees "real insight into the interactions we have with TSA on a daily basis and the real-time operational mission profile we have," said Doug Carr, NBAA vice president for safety, security & regulation. Learn more about the TSA session.

New Reimbursement Resource for LBA Owner-Pilots
Owner-pilots of light business airplanes (LBAs) know better than anyone how much time their aircraft has saved them, how much utility the aircraft has provided them, and how important a role their aircraft is for conducting efficient and profitable business. The ability to visit multiple locations or clients in one day, or fly directly to a customer or plant in a community not served by the air carriers, gives any businessperson an important advantage in today's competitive environment. NBAA recently released a new reimbursement resource for owner-pilots, which was handed out at the LBA Conference sessions at NBAA2011 last week. Learn more about the new LBA resource.

Ohio, Birthplace of Aviation, Declares GA Appreciation Month
In a recent proclamation, Ohio Governor John R. Kasich and Lt. Governor Mary Taylor recognized October as General Aviation Appreciation Month in the Buckeye State. "We commend all general aviation professionals for providing important assistance to local law enforcement and medical professionals, making Ohio a safer place to live," the state executives wrote in the proclamation. The proclamation is just the latest official recognition of the value of business flying in Ohio, the birthplace of aviation. Read more of the state's proclamation.

Managing the Transition to Glass Cockpits
With more and more conversion options coming to market, it's likely that many business aircraft will eventually see their analog panels replaced with glass cockpit avionics. While the data they portray is the same, glass cockpits are different in nearly every other way: how they work, what drives them, how they share software and display failure modes, and, most significantly, how they actually look. Because of the differences, safety authorities and avionics makers agree that no pilot should fly a new (or new-to-them) glass cockpit without first training to proficiency and system knowledge. The glass transition is the subject of a recent Business Aviation Insider online extra. Learn more about the new avionics.

Confronting a Myriad of Issues, EBAA Opts for Team Leadership
As NBAA Members confront a number of contentious issues here at home, EBAA members are facing similarly difficult issues in Europe. Now, the European Business Aviation Association has taken on a new leadership strategy, designed to highlight the abilities and relationships that the organization's new CEO, Fabio Gamba, brings to the group. In this week's edition of the NBAA Flight Plan podcast, Gamba lays out his plans for the organization. Read more and listen to the podcast.

Analysts: China Poised to Become World's Largest Aircraft Market
"The giant has awakened." That was the opening statement at a press conference held at NBAA2011 by two representatives from the China Business Aviation Group (CBAG), which hopes to speed progress in opening the Chinese skies to new business aircraft in the very near future. Opportunities and challenges facing business aviation in China was a topic covered at NBAA2011 last week both by the press conference and by an education session. Access an NBAA podcast and article to learn more about how China is poised to grow.

New York Airspace Redesign Takes Effect Oct. 20
The New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia 2A airspace redesign will be implemented this Thursday, October 20. Significant changes to the airspace will occur. The primary changes will be the addition of a west gate departure fix located just north of the current ELIOT fix to be named NEWEL and a new routing for Dulles International Airport (IAD) arrivals from the north via the HYPER STAR. The ELIOT departure fix will be moved slightly and be renamed ZIMMZ. Questions about the changes can be directed to NBAA GA Desk's Dean Snell at dsnell@nbaa.org. Get more details on the New York airspace redesign.

New Instrument Procedures Implemented at Henderson
NBAA's Bob Lamond, director, air traffic services & infrastructure, tells how the Association and the Las Vegas Airspace Users Council worked tirelessly with area air traffic control stakeholders to make arriving and departing Henderson Executive Airport (HND) easier and safer, just in time for last week's NBAA Convention in Las Vegas. Listen to this and other NBAA Flight Plan podcasts released during Convention week.

Who Exhibited at NBAA2011? Companies Just Like Yours
Each year, NBAA's Convention provides one of the most efficient ways for companies to make the most of their marketing dollars in a challenging economic climate. Exhibitors meet face-to-face with colleagues and customers to cultivate existing relationships and build new ones – all in one place, saving them time and money. In several Exhibitor profiles from last week's Convention, representatives of NBAA Member Companies explained in their own words why NBAA2011 remained a must-have on their calendar this year. Review the NBAA2011 Exhibitor profiles.

Access More Than 50 Convention Presentations Online
More than 50 presentations from NBAA2011 are now available to the public online via the Online News Bureau web site. Download presentation files from a wide range of sessions, including flight department e-training and e-recordkeeping, global business aviation issues, tips on buying a business aircraft, best practices in corporate shuttle operations, NextGen equipage, supplemental lift and more. Review the NBAA2011 Presentations page.