FAA’s Nolen, EASA’s Ky to Speak at NBAA-BACE Opening Day Keynote

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today announced Billy Nolen, acting administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Patrick Ky, executive director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), will kick off the 2022 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) at the show’s opening day keynote event, Oct. 18 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL.

NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen will join Nolen and Ky to discuss the priorities in business aviation, including safety, security, sustainability, innovation and workforce development.

Billy Nolen, Acting FAA Administrator
Nolen was named acting FAA administrator in March of this year. He joined the agency in January 2022 as associate administrator for aviation safety.

Nolen is a former commercial airline captain and has held several industry safety roles, including as senior vice president for safety, security and operations at Airlines for America and executive manager for group safety and health at Qantas Airways.

Prior to coming to the FAA, Nolan served as vice president for safety, security and quality for Canada’s WestJet Airlines. He also led the Aviation Safety Action Program at American Airlines.

Nolen also is a U.S. Army veteran fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter pilot. He holds a Bachelor of Science in professional aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, as well as specialized aviation safety management certificates from the University of Southern California, U.S. Army Safety Center and the U.S. Navy Postgraduate School.

Patrick Ky, EASA Executive Director
Ky has served as EASA executive director since Sept. 1, 2013. His mission has been to establish and maintain a robust and safe European aviation system for the travelling public. Ky has 30 years of experience in Civil Aviation.

Before joining EASA, he was in charge of SESAR, the single European sky digitalisation programme. He also held various positions in the French Civil Aviation Authority, EUROCONTROL and the European Commission.

A graduate of Ecole Polytechnique and the Civil Aviation Engineering School in France, he holds postgraduate degrees in economics from the University of Toulouse and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Taking place Oct. 18-20 at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center and nearby Orlando Executive Airport (ORL), NBAA-BACE will explore future-forward technologies and innovative perspectives, while also showcasing the very latest business aviation aircraft, products and services. Learn more about NBAA-BACE.