Well-Attended 2018 Maintenance Conference Provides Business, Education Opportunities
/The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) this week concluded its annual Maintenance Conference, a successful show that offered attendees unparalleled access to aviation maintenance professional development and business opportunities.
More than 900 attendees participated in this year’s conference, which featured more than 180 exhibit booths at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
“The strong reception to this year’s conference demonstrates once again that this is the must-attend event for business aviation maintenance professionals” said NBAA Vice President of Operational Excellence and Professional Development Mike Nichols, CAM. “From the world-class educational content to invaluable interactions with peers and vendors, there’s simply no better opportunity to stay on top of business aviation maintenance developments.”
Astronaut Mike Mullane, who flew three missions aboard Space Shuttles Discovery and Atlantis, welcomed attendees on Tuesday, May 1, with a rousing speech about the importance of professionalism and teamwork in meeting safety objectives. He provided safety lessons based on his experiences in the Air Force and NASA, urging attendees to think of safety as an ongoing objective that must be invested in every day.
On Wednesday, May 2, Satcom Direct’s Rob Hill provided a timely overview of cybersecurity threats facing business aviation, as well as strategies operators can use to ensure their digital assets are kept secure from unwanted eyes.
Along with more than 25 education sessions, the conference featured an expanded array of breakout sessions, with topics ranging from small flight department asset management to technical presentations on specific aircraft/engine types, that allow for more detailed discussion.
“Between the expert presenters and detailed, relevant content, this year’s education opportunities provided excellent value to attendees and their organizations,” said Eli Cotti, CAM, NBAA’s director, technical operations. “The expanded roster of breakout sessions allowed attendees to dive deep into the topics that are most important to their day-to-day operations.”
The Maintenance Conference also highlighted efforts to support the next generation of business aviation maintenance professionals. This year’s 35 recipients of NBAA’s Maintenance Technical Reward and Career Scholarships (TRACS) were announced at the event, along with the two winners of the Hank Hilsmann Memorial Scholarship.
Learn more about the recipients of the 2018 Maintenance TRACS Scholarships.
Learn more about the recipients of the 2018 Hank Hilsmann Memorial Scholarships.
At the conclusion of the show, NBAA announced that the 2019 Maintenance Conference will be held from May 7-9, 2019, in Fort Worth, TX. For the first time, the show will be hosted in conjunction with NBAA’s Flight Attendants/Flight Technicians Conference.
“We’re confident that holding these two outstanding events together will provide increased value to both exhibitors and attendees, who will enjoy an even broader range of education and networking opportunities,” said Nichols.