NBAA 2013 is the can’t-miss business aviation event of the year with key operators and industry leaders meeting in Las Vegas to conduct business, taking buying decisions and setting the stage for business aviation activity for the future

In 2012, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), the premier business aviation association in the US, ran a catchy media blitz of its campaign ‘No Plane No Gain’, accentuated during the 65th annual convention at Orlando. The campaign has been a runaway hit, so has been the NBAA convention, which is ranked sixth amongst the largest trade shows in the US. It is getting bigger and better. In 2012, the show closed with 25,150 people in attendance, a number comparable to the final attendee total of 26,077 in 2011 and 24,206 in 2010. Back in Las Vegas, Nevada, from October 22 to 24, the 66th annual meeting and convention promises to chart new paths in an increasingly competitive global economy which certainly is impacting business aviation. The 2012 show drew attendees from all 50 states of the US and 87 countries. “By every measure, the 2012 show was a solid success,” announced NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen.

2013 is going to be bigger, but we don’t know as yet what is going to grab eyeballs. Certainly on the horizon is a ‘new bird’ from the nests of Dassault Falcon. The industry is abuzz with Falcon 5X which the airframer is keeping it close to its chest.

NBAA 2013 is the can’t-miss business aviation event of the year with key operators and industry leaders meeting in Las Vegas to conduct business, taking buying decisions and setting the stage for business aviation activity for the future.

To help negotiate the difficult times in a globally depressed economic scenario, the opening session will have presentations by the former US Treasury Secretary John Snow; Missouri congressman, outspoken general aviation (GA) advocate and House GA Caucus co-chair Sam Graves and Michael Huerta, administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), among others.

Ed Bolen said: “What’s most encouraging for our industry is that support among the business aviation community for this event has been sustained, even through the turbulent economic climate we’ve seen in recent years.”

Static Display at Henderson Airport

NBAA 2013 will have an extensive outdoor static display of aircraft located at nearby Henderson Executive Airport. The show will feature more than 1,000 exhibits displayed across one million square feet of floor space, as well as two static displays of aircraft. The show also features more than 100 education sessions covering topics of interest to all attendees, from those considering the use of an airplane to support their business needs, to those who have long used an airplane to help their businesses succeed. Dozens of maintenance and operations sessions will be offered by the exhibiting original equipment manufacturers.

In addition to the expansive outdoor static display of aircraft at Henderson Executive Airport (HND), NBAA will also offer, for the first time at an NBAA Convention, an indoor static display of aircraft on the main exhibit floor inside the Las Vegas Convention Center. Linda Peters, NBAA Vice President Exhibits, said the new indoor static display of aircraft provides attendees the valuable opportunity to examine between 10 and 15 light business airplanes and helicopters, just steps away from the show’s other indoor exhibits.

While the convention’s indoor static display of aircraft will feature lighter aircraft, including piston singles, light turboprops and helicopters, Peters noted that convention attendees will still have access to the show’s traditional outdoor, airportbased static display of aircraft, which showcases a diverse variety of about 100 business aircraft, ranging from smaller types up through intercontinental business jets.

New Falcon to be Unleashed

Five decades ago, Dassault conceived and launched the Mystère-Falcon 20, its first true purpose-built business jet. Twenty different models have followed in the years since, each with the same sleek lines, smooth handling and peerless reliability and efficiency inherent in the first Falcon.

At NBAA 2013, Dassault Falcon promises to showcase a new jet, besides having on static display the 900LX, 2000S and the fly-by-wire 7X. On the opening day of the convention, Dassault will take the wraps off its much anticipated Falcon 5X. According to information available, the jet will have twin Snecma Silvercrests, the same engine that will power the upcoming Cessna Citation Longitude.

The aircraft will be flown using fly-by-wire controls that are now standard on all Falcon aircraft and will come with winglets as standard fit. Dassault has been tight-lipped about the project but sources indicate that the first flight will be in 2014 and entry into service in 2016.

Today, over 2,250 Falcons have been delivered to 82 countries around the world and the Falcon fleet has surpassed 16.2 million hours of flight time—testimony to the reputation for quality and performance that the Falcon family has acquired within the aviation community.

Embraer’s Legacy 500 to Make US Debut

The Brazilian aerospace major Embraer is bringing Legacy 650, Phenom 100, Phenom 300 and Lineage 1000. At the static display, Embraer will be displaying its fly-by-wire Legacy 500 in its first public US debut, along with a mock-up of the Legacy 450. Robb Report has named Phenom 100 and 300 as ‘Best of the Best’ in their categories. In July this year, Embraer delivered the 400th Phenom to a German firm, thus crossing a new milestone.

Gulfstream Lines Up

Gulfstream Aerospace is bringing the G650, G550, G450, G280 and G150. Gulfstream which designs, develops, manufactures, markets, services and supports the world’s most technologically advanced business jets, has manufactured over 2,100 aircraft since 1958.

Cessna Showcases the Newest

Cessna will once again have a first class, interactive display, providing a perfect opportunity to showcase its Citation Service Centres within the indoor exhibit and the newest additions to its product line, the M2, Sovereign, CX, CJ4 and Caravan EX at the outdoor static display area.

Beechcraft

Beechcraft will field two new King Air 350i, a King Air 250 and 90GTx, the piston-powered Baron and Bonanza and the T-6C military trainer, AT-6 light attack airplane and a special-mission King Air 350ER. A highlight of the show will be an insight into Beechcraft’s roots which will be through the beautiful Staggerwing biplane.

Bombardier

Bombardier’s static display will feature a mock-up of the Challenger 350, as well as a Challenger 300 and 605, the new Learjet 75 and a Global 6000. Bombardier is also celebrating the 50th year of the first flight of Learjet 23. So also is Pratt & Whitney Canada celebrating the 50th anniversary of the iconic PT6 engine.

Others

Elliott Aviation, which recently announced a retrofit programme to install Garmin’s G5000 flight deck in the Beechjet, will have a G5000 demo system at its booth. Elliott will also demo its new Honeywell Primus Epic CDS/R Phase V software and NZ-2010 FMS upgrade for the Hawker 800 series, which will allow pilots to shoot Waas LPV approaches.

Quite a few new jets feature Garmin’s G3000 and G5000 flight decks, and some will be viewable at the Henderson Executive Airport static display or in the exhibit hall, including the Learjet 75, HondaJet and Cessna Citation X, Sovereign and M2. The Rockwell Collins Pro-Line Fusion flight deck is well represented, and too is Gulfstream’s G280, Bombardier’s Global 6000 and Embraer’s Legacy 500.

Host of Isues to be Discused

A host of issues have been put on the agenda to be discussed by the industry, ranging from shortage of pilots and other business aviation professionals, professionalism to airmanship skills to the talent pipeline and more. The session on shortage of talent will be hosted by experts from Aviation Personnel International, Flight Safety Foundation, Kansas State University and Boeing Business Jets.

The important topics include business jet performance in a session titled Transport Aircraft Performance Planning presented by the FAA’s Coby Johnson and Chris Jones; Automation Airmanship in the 21st Century; Operating and Doing Business in China, Understanding Fans, Aviation Apps for Tablets and Smart-phones and Business Aviation Pilot Training Toolkits–New Resources for an Ongoing Challenge.