Then and Now: Light Business Airplane Conference

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Dec 22nd 2008 at 3:02PM

Originally The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) was planning a three-day conference to bring together the entrepreneurs and pilots who own and operate light business airplanes. But the climate for small aviation is in a much different state than it was when the conference was originally conceived. The NBAA announced at the end of last week that the first Light Business Airplane Conference will be cut down to two days instead of three in San Diego on Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14, 2009. The size of the indoor exhibits has been limited to a maximum of 20 ft.-by-20 ft. Attendance fees will also be reduced by 50 percent, and indoor exhibit fees will be reduced by 20 percent. As Aero-News reports the Opening General Session will feature presentations from pilot and Forbes magazine publisher Rich Karlgaard and pilot/surgeon and Flying magazine contributor Dr. Dick Karl. The future of light business airplanes will likely eventually bounce back but for now the scaled back conference reflect the current industry which is experiencing doldrums as air taxi services close up shop and makers of the aircraft cut back production.

Tags: conference, light business airplanes, LightBusinessAirplanes, planes, then and now, ThenAndNow