…to describe activity in the business aviation marketplace at this year’s National Business Aviation Association convention. August and September, it seems, offered an uptick. Such is the description of a senior Signature Flight Support official.Â
‘Uptick’ is one of the better offerings. One vendor, a former fixed base operator who sold out on the high tide and who has been coming to NBAA since 1976, calls this year’s show of shows ‘sedate’. Another long-timer who has been to some 35 NBAAs calls it ‘unspectacular’. My perspective, having attended NBAA since 1985, is that it is subdued, cautious, and not very well attended.Â
The word is that some 20,000-plus have registered for this event, which would be about one-third less than the past several years. Those 20,000 weren’t here today – perhaps tomorrow, and day number two is always the most vibrant.Â
If you have ever been to an NBAA convention, picture this: You can stand in the middle of the show floor and see the ends (walls) of the show. In years past, unheard of; not so in 2009. It’s a fact. No one I spoke to today recalls ever being able to do that (except perhaps for the 1976 guy).Â
Yet, the mood is fairly positive. The industry does seem to be, based on conversations, coming around, albeit slowly. FBOs have been slammed; corporate aviation has been slammed; but there is a mood out there of moving on. It’s encouraging.Â
Coming into this year’s event, most everyone expected to see a down-sized convention. After all, most of Washington, D.C. wants to paint the industry as the bad guys, and they’ve had their effect. The association itself seems to be in denial of this fact, trying to paint a pretty picture. But there is no painting necessary … the industry has been hit hard but is determined to come back.Â
And that is why we all love this biz … eh?Â
Thanks for reading. jfi