Soon, another notable addition will be unveiled around a 45-minute drive or 15-minute helicopter ride from The Strip—the Las Vegas Executive Airport and Spaceport. 

Rob Lauer, a private pilot and real estate developer, outlined plans for the project, which will have an emphasis toward both GA and commercial space operations. 

• READ MORE: FAA Greenlights New Las Vegas Area Airport

“It’s a great addition to the systems in place, which we’ve seen during recent events how busy the airports here were,” Lauer said. “There is a video from the Super Bowl of 60 large aircraft who couldn’t fly in [to existing airports]. Vegas is like nowhere else on earth when it comes to events. We are the leader in the world in entertainment, gaming, tourism, and conventions. People come here for the experience, and we are going to offer an experience with fly-in convention opportunities with our own casino-hotel on site in three to four years, maybe less.” 

The concept of Las Vegas Executive Airport and Spaceport was first envisioned several years ago. Soon after coming up with the idea, Lauer purchased a 240-acre piece of land. 

The airport recently received approvals from the FAA for its submitted 7480-1 form for notice of construction, and the county, key steps toward becoming an operational facility. 

“We own the name Las Vegas Executive Airport, which is the official name, and the plan is really simple,” Lauer said. “To start, we are building a 5,000-foot-long runway and are talking with companies about coming in to operate an FBO, a jet fuel farm, and an MRO facility. In addition to that, we plan to have 40 large 20,000-square-foot hangars with 2,000-square-foot offices for lease.”

While the airport is farther from Las Vegas than several other airports in the area, its remoteness has benefits that the other options do not. 

• READ MORE: Utah Bluff of Juniper and Sagebrush Turned Into Backcountry Destination

“One of the things that came out of our airspace analysis, which was performed by Air Force Brigadier General Robert Novotny (the former commander of the 57th Air Wing at Nellis Air Force Base) is that we are right outside the Class Bravo airspace in open VFR airspace.” Lauer said. “This will make it far more affordable and efficient for aircraft to fly in and out. What our argument was, is that another airport outside the Class Bravo airspace adds to the capacity of the Clark County Airport system.”

The big focus at present is to create the runway and get Las Vegas Executive Airport ready to accept its first visiting aircraft. The runway is currently set to be 4,000 feet long but being at an elevation of 3,700 feet msl, Lauer advised that they are working to add thresholds and extend the landing distance available to 5,000 feet. 

“We are looking at the end of the year to start construction,” he said. “The good news is that it’s a 1 percent grade, so it’s only going to take us a month to grade. It will take a month to pave the runway and taxiways, so we could realistically have our runway up and running by the end of the year. Then maybe a few months after that, pending county approval, we can start building the FBO, hangars, and other infrastructure.”

One of the key aspects planned for the airport is the fly-in hotel, casino, and convention center. One of the planned recurring events on site will be the Las Vegas Air Races. The 2024 event is planned at another airport in the area that is to be announced, but future events are expected to be on site and will take place immediately following the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition. 

Lauer’s vision extends beyond the property being a place for GA traffic, including both drone and spacecraft operations. The spaceport will be the first of its kind. 

• READ MORE: Las Vegas Spaceport to Host Air Racing Event in October 2024 

“There are technically 16 other certified spaceports in the country,” he said. “All of the others are owned by governments (county, state, or federal). Ours is the first private airport and spaceport in the United States. Space companies are a huge part of our project to build a space economy here in Las Vegas. That’s our focus and we hope to bring space planes from all different manufacturers in and operate them from our facility. So, you’ll be able to fly in and do space training activities.”

In July, spaceport leaders officially partnered with the Nevada UAS Test Site Operator UNR Research and Innovation Nevada Center for Applied Research to establish a cutting-edge drone test site on the spaceport’s grounds. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) demonstrates the commitment of the site’s leadership towards investing in the future of aviation.

• READ MORE: New Turf for Blue Cedar Landing

“Nevada must seize the opportunity to cultivate a thriving economy rooted in cutting-edge technology,” Lauer said. “The Las Vegas Spaceport is attracting forward-thinking businesses aligned with our mission to foster a new industry in southern Nevada. We eagerly anticipate collaborating with the Nevada Center for Applied Research to establish a premier drone test site that will serve as a beacon of innovation.”

The post New GA Airport Near Las Vegas Has Its Eye on Space appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The Orlando, Florida-headquartered company said it is supporting government and law enforcement agencies, nonprofit organizations, and corporate groups in their efforts to detect, track, and curb human trafficking. The announcement coincides with the annual increase in public awareness of private aviation that occurs as people travel to Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday in Las Vegas in personal, corporate, and charter aircraft.

“Signature is the largest network of private aviation terminals in the world, which gives us a unique opportunity to help combat human trafficking,” said Tony Lefebvre, CEO of Signature. “The International Organization for Migration has stated that nearly 80 percent of international human trafficking journeys cross through official border control points, including airports. That makes this an incredibly important and relevant issue for us, and one where we have the ability to make a tangible difference.”

The company said its collaboration efforts include signing the U.S. Department of Transportation’s pledge for Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking, a program under which transport organizations work to increase awareness and educate their employees about the pervasive crime. Signature also joined the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Blue Lightning Initiative for training aviation personnel to identify possible traffickers and their victims.

Signature became a corporate sponsor of nonprofit Covenant House, which provides support for young people facing crises including the effects of human trafficking. The company is also sponsoring the Freedom Aviation Network, a nonprofit that provides air transportation for survivors of human trafficking. The group has made 85 flights and transported more than 100 passengers since 2022.

Signature is also partnering with the American Association of Airport Executives to develop training programs to address human trafficking tailored to those working in general and business aviation.

“Private aviation operators are on the frontlines of the fight to end human trafficking,” said Michael Camal, senior engagement manager with the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking. “We are grateful that Signature is leveraging its vast resources and global workforce to combat this heinous crime.”

The post Signature Aviation Joins Support Groups, Government Agencies, and Law Enforcement to Combat Human Trafficking appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

A Pennsylvania man faces felony federal charges and up to four years in prison after flying a drone over the Baltimore Ravens’ M&T Bank Stadium during the American Football Conference (AFC) Championship game between the Ravens and Chiefs on January 28, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. The pilot violated a temporary flight restriction (TFR) that is standard for all league regular season and playoff games.

“Illegally operating drones poses a significant security risk that will lead to federal charges,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron. “Temporary flight restrictions are always in place during large sporting events.”

The incursion, which briefly stopped play, was the latest in a string of incidents involving drones over American professional sports stadiums. In fact, M&T Bank Stadium encountered a similar situation in October that prompted an FAA investigation. Stadium officials also reportedly intercepted five drones during a November contest between the Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals.

In the wake of the disruptions, the FAA last week designated Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas—the venue for Super Bowl LVIII—as a “no drone zone” on the day of the big game, as well as during the week leading up to it.

The Incident

According to federal prosecutors, Matthew Hebert, 44, flew a DJI drone from about one mile outside M&T Bank Stadium into the venue during the first quarter of the AFC Championship matchup. 

The small, buzzing aircraft was “deemed a serious enough threat” to halt play, prompting an “administrative timeout.” That procedure became standard following a 2022 incident at the Bengals’ Paul Brown Stadium (now Paycor Stadium). Now, NFL Security pauses games and clears the field whenever a rogue drone is detected.

The FAA had placed a TFR around M&T Bank Stadium, prohibiting drone flights within 3 nm of the venue, including one hour before and after gameplay. The protocol is standard for all regular and postseason NFL, MLB, NASCAR, and NCAA Division I contests.

Maryland State Police tracked the drone to its landing site, where they deployed troopers and found Hebert. The pilot told authorities he had purchased the drone—which was unregistered—in 2021. Hebert also did not possess a remote pilot certificate, which is required by the FAA to operate most drones under 55 pounds (with exceptions for recreational flyers).

Hebert used his DJI account, which is supposed to inform users of TFRs, to operate the drone. As he had done on previous occasions, he relied exclusively on the account to tell him where flights were permitted. The application noted no restrictions, so Hebert assumed it was safe to fly.

Allegedly, Hebert flew the drone above 320 feet for about two minutes, taking six photos of himself and the stadium and possibly a video. The penalties for knowingly operating an unregistered drone and for knowingly serving as an airman without an airman’s certificate—the charges Hebert faces—total three years in federal prison. The pilot also faces a maximum of one year for willful violation of U.S. National Defense Airspace.

The Maryland Attorney’s Office noted, however, that actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum.

“Operating a drone requires users to act responsibly and educate themselves on when and how to use them safely,” said R. Joseph Rothrock, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office. “The FBI would like to remind the public of the potential dangers of operating a drone in violation of federal laws and regulations.  The reckless operation of a UAS in the vicinity of a large crowd can be dangerous to the public, as well as interfere with other law enforcement and security operations.”

A federal district court judge will determine Hebert’s sentence. His initial appearance and arraignment will be scheduled this month.

Sounding the Alarm

The rising number of drone incursions has worried players, coaches, league officials, aviators, and even members of Congress. Only a handful of these have occurred during actual gameplay, and none have resulted in injury, despite a few close calls. But the aircraft in the past have dropped items such as leaflets into stadiums, raising alarm bells about what else they could deploy.

“We’re concerned about somebody who would use [drones] in a nefarious way and drop a grenade that would do considerable damage and possibly kill individuals,” Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.), chair of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, told NBC News in October.

Cathay Lanier, NFL chief of security and the former chief of police for Washington, D.C., from 2007 to 2016, said drone incursions over NFL stadiums nearly doubled between the 2021 and 2022 seasons, from about 1,300 to 2,500.

One incident even took place at a previous Super Bowl. During the winner-take-all game between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams in 2019, an FBI team spotted a drone moments before a fleet of Air Force F-16s were set to perform a flyover of Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. In the nick of time, the agency managed to tell the pilots to fly at a higher altitude. Had it not, the results could have been catastrophic.

According to counter-drone firm Dedrone, major sporting events in 2023 saw 4,000 illegal drone violations across 60 stadiums, a 20 percent increase year over year. Las Vegas, where the Chiefs and 49ers will square off on Sunday, uses the company’s DedroneCityWide, which covers critical areas of the city such as stadiums, airports, and the Las Vegas Strip. The city began using the software in the wake of the 2017 Mandalay Bay mass shooting.

“We realized that we had to analyze all potential threat vectors to our city, including drones,” said the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. “Ahead of Super Bowl LVIII, our collaboration with external security and public safety groups, both public and private, is essential to providing a safe environment to attendees, players, staff, and the citizens of Clark County.”

However, counter-drone measures in the past have proven ineffective against rogue aircraft. Following 9/11, the FAA created a TFR for stadiums and other large venues prohibiting drones that fly at or below 3,000 feet agl within 3 nm of any stadium that seats 30,000 or more.

But by and large, stadiums lack the infrastructure to enforce these rules. Only a handful of venues—including M&T Bank Stadium—have any form of aerial security. Yet the Ravens’ home field has seen at least three drone incursions in the past five months.

When a drone does enter the airspace, stadiums have little recourse. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are the only U.S. agencies authorized to bring down rogue drones. But out of about 121,000 requests for FBI and DHS counter-drone support to stadiums since 2018, only 77 have been approved, according to Lanier.

“[Drones] enter that restricted airspace, they are violating the law,” Lanier said in an interview with NBC News. “All we’re asking for is the ability to take control of that drone and move it out of our airspace.”

Ben Wenger, chief revenue officer of Dedrone, added: “The federal government clearly understands the threat posed by drones, or the FAA wouldn’t have put these TFRs in place ahead of the game. Although not every drone flight we recorded was nefarious in origin, some of them were—and those are the kinds of flights that can stop games or ruin concerts and other events being held at stadiums.”

To address the issue, Peters and Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) introduced Senate legislation that would extend drone takedown authority to state and local law enforcement. The proposal has received bipartisan support and endorsements from the NFL, NCAA, MLB, and NASCAR. But unless it becomes law, stadium officials will remain stuck with little recourse.

“Without a change in federal law, mass gatherings will remain at risk from malicious and unauthorized drone operations,” the NFL said in a statement to FLYING. “For more than a year, we have been calling for passage of the bipartisan Safeguarding the Homeland from the Threats Posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act, which would empower state and local law enforcement to safely mitigate drones like the two that disrupted the game in Baltimore. It’s time for Congress to act.”

Supervising the Super Bowl

Given the growing number of incursions, the FAA felt the need to emphasize the TFR in place before and during Super Bowl LVIII.

At 11:00 a.m. PST on Sunday, drones will be prohibited from flying within 2 nm of Allegiant Stadium up to 2,000 feet agl. Between 2:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., the restrictions will expand to a 30 nm radius and 18,000 feet in agl. At various times between Monday and Friday, drone flight will also be restricted within 1 nm of Allegiant, the Resorts World area, and Wynn Casino.

The “inner ring” within 10 nm of the stadium will be accessible only to approved law enforcement or military aircraft, as well as certain regularly scheduled commercial passenger and cargo carriers. Other operations, such as flight training, survey operations, and ultralight flight, are unauthorized for the entire TFR.

Drone pilots—just like traditional ones—who enter the Super Bowl TFR without permission could face criminal prosecution or fines in excess of $30k, or their drone may be confiscated. Additional details on the TFR can be found here. The FAA has also released guidance for non-drone pilots, including GA pilots specifically.

“We continue to see considerable efforts made to crack down on illegal drone incursions at big events, and the arrest of the drone pilot following the AFC Championship game is a good example of how serious law enforcement takes these incidents,” said Mary-Lou Smulders, chief marketing officer and head of government affairs at Dedrone. “It is safe to say that counter-drone measures will be a significant part of security efforts both at the Super Bowl and the surrounding events taking place all week long.”

The trend of drone incursions could continue beyond Super Bowl LVIII, however. According to the FAA, there were 860,000 registered drones in the U.S. in 2022—a number the regulator predicted could surpass 2.6 million by 2025. Pilots, meanwhile, are reporting more unauthorized drone sightings than ever before.

Officials are also wary of rogue drones at airports, which occasionally have led to mass flight delays or cancellations. Increasingly, the aircraft have been reported to smuggle contraband or weapons into prisons or across the U.S. southern border.

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The post Could One Pilot’s Mistake Deter Rogue Drones at the Super Bowl? appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The Super Bowl procedures and restrictions will affect pilots flying near Las Vegas on February 7-12, with the game itself set for February 11 beginning at 3:30 p.m. PST. The FAA says it will be releasing a notice to air missions (NOTAM) for the event later this month covering “procedures for the game and specific arrival and departure route requirements.” In addition, the agency has set up a webpage dedicated to providing GA pilots with relevant information on Las Vegas-area airports and airspace leading up to the NFL championship game at Allegiant Stadium.

During the February 7-12 time frame, special air traffic procedures are expected to be in effect for Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport (KLAS), North Las Vegas Airport (KVGT), Henderson Executive Airport (KHND), and Boulder City Municipal Airport (KBVU). Parking reservation programs will also be in effect for those airports from February 7-13. The FAA recommended that pilots flying in for the game familiarize themselves with the Vegas-area airports via the agency’s From the Flight Deck video series.

A temporary flight restriction (TFR) for the Super Bowl itself is expected to be active on February 11 from approximately 2:30-8:30 p.m. PST, though that is subject to change. The FAA says the TFR will be centered on Allegiant Stadium with a 10 nm inner core and 30 nm outer ring. The agency noted that it will not affect regularly scheduled commercial flights out of KLAS.

• READ MORE: NFL, Congress Wary of Rising Drone Incursions During Games

The FAA emphasized that Super Bowl LVIII, a designated National Security Special Event, is a “No Drone Zone,” with restrictions in place for uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS/drones). 

The post FAA Offers Heads-Up for GA Pilots Flying Near Super Bowl LVIII appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, in order to address the increase in passenger air travel the science and technology directorate (S&T) is focusing on sustainable changes to systems to increase screening efficiency, and one means of doing that is the “Screening at Speed Program”, which allows TSA PreCheck passengers to complete the screening process with minimal to no assistance from Transportation Security Officers.

“Like self-ordering kiosks at fast food and sit-down restaurants, self-service screening allows passengers in the Trusted Traveler Program to complete the security screening process on their own,” said Screening at Speed Program manager Dr. John Fortune. “Travelers will use passenger and carry-on screening systems at individual consoles or screening lanes themselves, reducing the number of pat-downs and bag inspections [transportation security officers (TSOs)] need to perform and freeing their time to be reallocated to the busier aspects of screening operations. The feedback we’ve already received during testing from both mock passengers and TSOs has been incredibly positive.”

The Screening at Speed team and the TSA laboratory are experimenting with different methods to increase security effectiveness, reduce checkpoint wait times, and minimize passenger and TSO contact, “reducing the number of bags TSOs have to pick up and move around and allowing passengers to proceed at their own pace,” according to Fortune.

The Hardware

In late 2021, S&T awarded four contracts to three companies: Micro-X of Federal Way, Washington; Vanderlande Industries Inc. of Marietta, Georgia; and Voxel Radar of San Francisco. The concepts proposed ranged from pod-based designs with screening consoles like self-checkout stations to wall-mounted panels.

Micro-X is developing a pod-based design for passengers consisting of a compact carry-on screening system and a flat-panel passenger screening capability. The system provides feedback to the passenger if additional screening is needed, and the company is developing a small computed tomography (CT) X-ray system for a compact carry-on and personal item self-screening solution.

Voxel Radar is developing in-motion panel sensors to line walls or curved surfaces, which it says will allow passengers to be screened in near real time.

Vanderlande’s prototype, the PAX MX2, combines the company’s automated screening lane carry-on bag conveyance system with new and existing transportation security equipment to create four integrated stations for one checkpoint lane. Each station includes a video monitor with multistep instructions and a help button that connects to a live TSO for assistance as needed, along with automated entry and exit doors. If a passenger doesn’t pass initial screening due to an item left in their pocket or similar issue, the entry door reopens so passengers can remove items before being rescreened. The passenger needs to pass screening before the exit door opens allowing them to leave.

Homeland Security notes these systems are being tested at various facilities around the United States, including Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) and Atlantic City International Airport (KACY) in New Jersey.

However, the big test will be in Las Vegas next month as the city will host the Consumer Electronics Show and many of the visitors to the convention are expected to pass through KLAS.

The post TSA to Test Self-Serve Security Screenings appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

“We are working with CAE to be where our customers need us to be, providing them with our latest technological updates and best-in-class support. Embraer and CAE are long-term partners to provide exceptional services to the market,” said Carlos Naufel, president and CEO of Embraer services and support. 

Said Alexandre Prevost, CAE’s division president, business aviation and helicopter training: “The two new simulators will double our Phenom 300 training capacity in Las Vegas and London and allow ECTS to train more pilots at a critical time. Over the next 10 years, CAE forecasts a need for 32,000 business aviation pilots, and we are working with our partners at Embraer to ensure Phenom 300 customers have the highly qualified pilots they need to keep them flying.”

• READ MORE: Embraer Unveils Autothrottle for Phenom 300E

In a NBAA-BACE preview briefing with FLYING earlier in October, Embraer vice president of customer support Marsha Woelber put the addition into the context of the overall service program, which includes five owned service centers and more than 60 authorized service centers around the world, in addition to its training partners. “In the past few years, our fleet has grown a lot,” Woelber said. “There have been a lot of secondary market transactions…and overall a lot of attrition in our flight departments that has created a significant increase in demand for pilot slots.”

“Earlier this year, we opened a Phenom simulator facility in Las Vegas, that was in April,” said Woelber, who noted that the sim installed this spring was the seventh one on line in the partnership, and the coming installations in February (London) and in Q3 2024 in Las Vegas represent the eighth and ninth units, respectively.

The post CAE Doubles Capacity for Embraer Phenom 300E Training with Sims in London, Las Vegas appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

New business aircraft operators account for 500 of the sales from 2024 to 2033, increasing fleet
utilization by about 6 percent. Nineteen percent of existing business jet operators say that they will replace or add aircraft in their fleets in the next five years, accounting for more than 4,000 new aircraft deliveries.This is almost three times the replacement rate operators planned from 2010 to 2020. The purchasing expectation expectation also is 2 points higher than in 2022, reflecting operators’ optimism about the state of the industry and world economy. Almost two-thirds of respondents say they will fly as much in 2024 as they did in 2023. Twenty-nine percent say they will fly more hours next year. The overall size of the fleet will grow by 3 percent, according to Honeywell.

During the next five years, 64 percent of new aircraft will be delivered to North American customers, 14 percent to European operators and 11 percent to Asia-Pacific. Deliveries to the Middle East and Africa increase to 6 percent, but Latin America declines to 5 percent of global deliveries.

Jimenez-Serrano says that while fractional aircraft operators are not part of the survey, inputs from Part 91K operators, among other sources, help bolster the accuracy of the forecast. Sample size this year was a scant 100 operators, down from more than 1,500 in previous years. However, the Honeywell data closely parallels the projections of Rolland Vincent Associates of Plano, Texas, long considered one of the most credible market research firms in the business aviation industry. Jimenez-Serrano concedes that sampling error could approach +/-5 percent with only 100 respondents.

Working Through Backlogs, Supply Chain Recovery

The next three years will witness a strong surge in deliveries, as the supply chain fully recovers from the COVID slump and OEMs work off order backlogs. OEMs missed 350 deliveries from 2020 to 2022 because of COVID-induced supply chain snags. Deliveries plateau somewhat in 2028 and 2029 before slowly increasing to 930 deliveries in 2022. Jimenez-Serrano notes that total estimated deliveries during the next decade will be the highest in nearly a decade.

Midsize and super-midsize aircraft deliveries should increase about 15 percent in 2024. Long term, large cabin and ultra-long range aircraft deliveries, while only representing about 10 percent of the total, account for 69 percent of the sales revenues during the next five years. Jimenez-Serrano notes that Gulfstream’s GVII series, G400, G500 and G600, plus the Dassault Falcon 6X in the large cabin class, along with the Bombardier Global 7500/8000, Dassault Falcon 10X, and Gulfstream G700/G800, are well positioned to capitalize on this surge.

Honeywell’s Take on Sustainability

Sustainability increasingly is on the minds of business aircraft operators, with two-thirds of respondents saying they plan to embrace or increase efforts to reduce emissions. Current steps include flying fewer missions and using the airlines in lieu of their own business jets. Only 12 percent presently use biojet. Longer term, 39 percent say they plan to use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and another 28 percent will buy carbon offset credits.

But, jet fuel suppliers have been slow to increase production of SAF to meet a sharp increase in demand from both business aircraft operators and the airlines. The civil jet industry consumes nearly 100-billion gallons per year and SAF production amounts to only 100-million gallons. David Shilliday, vice president and general manager of Honeywell Power Systems, believes that the industry can boost output to 10-billion gallons per year by 2030, using existing refineries and feed stocks. If the industry is going to make the transition to 100 percent SAF by 2050, Shilliday believes that major U.S. federal government investment will be needed to help jet fuel suppliers achieve that goal. Without government aid, it’s unlikely that large scale increases in feedstock supply, SAF production and cost-per-gallon affordability can be achieved.

The post Honeywell Releases 2023 Business Aviation Market Forecast appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

First—we can all be glad we’re headed back to Vegas.

In 2019, when the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) last held its Business Aviation Convention and Expo (BACE), the optimistic mood and clear, warm weather belied the storms that lay ahead in 2020 for the aviation industry—and the world.

Between keynotes, education sessions, owner-pilot forums, new products, and networking opportunities, it can be hard to focus on the best path to take at a comprehensive—and extensive—event such as NBAA-BACE.

But we can help you avoid FOMO with these tips.

Before You Go

1. Take a look at the NBAA app and browse the sessions and forums for the days you plan to attend. Sometimes it helps to search by speaker to find those thought leaders you follow or want to learn more from.

2. Pack clothes that help you put your best foot forward—and make sure that outfit includes comfortable shoes. And though the Las Vegas Convention Center is air-con’ed to the hilt, the desert lies just outside and at the aircraft display at the Henderson Executive Airport. Think warm days and cool nights.

3. Budget time in your schedule to meet up with people you encounter at the show. Breaks for food and refreshments will also keep you energized.

Day One Highlights (Tuesday)

1. The association always attracts interesting influencers and personalities to its events—and 2021 offers several treats. The first of those is opening keynote speaker Rob Riggle at 8:30 am Tuesday,. He’s joined by Steve Dickson, FAA administrator, Martine Rothblatt, chairperson & CEO of United Technologies, and Teddy Tzanetos, project lead on NASA’s Mars Ingenuity Helicopter. That’s a starry lineup!

2. The 2021 Business Aviation Sustainability Summit kicks off at noon on Tuesday, providing a critical platform for this segment of the aviation industry to address policymakers, leaders, and key stakeholders toward reducing aviation emissions and stimulating other initiatives.

3. The YoPro Networking Reception at 5:30 pm brings together young professionals in a promising session to share ideas, make connections, and help us move the needle into the future.

Day Two Highlights (Wednesday)

1. Lindsay Vonn, Olympic alpine skier joins Dr. Sian Proctor, astronaut and geoscientist in Wednesday’s keynote session, starting at 9:30 am. Proctor was the mission pilot for Inspiration4—and Vonn has continued to inspire with a bestselling book and 2019 documentary on her storied career and amazing comebacks.

2. A focus on advanced air mobility courses though Wednesday afternoon, with sessions on the future of UAS, the regulatory environment needed to enable AAM, and maintaining secure operations in the decades to come.

3. Aviation loves to give back—and that’s the focus of the Corporate Angel Network Fund reception at 5:30 pm on day two. The event raises critical monies for CAN, which transports cancer patients to treatment centers around the U.S. through its network of corporate flight departments and donors.

Day Three Highlights (Thursday)

1. If you haven’t made it out to KHND, Thursday morning is your chance, and you’ll be able to browse a wide range of the latest models—and pick the next one for your fleet or your company’s flight department. Check out the Owner/Single-Pilot Pavilion to network with peers if your operations lie within this segment.

2. NBAA hosts Collegiate Connect Day on Thursday morning from 9 to 11:30, with students and faculty invited to attend the conference and sessions focused on workforce development and community engagement. Guest speakers U.S. House Representative Dina Titus (D-1-NV) and U.S. House Representative Sam Graves (R-6-MO) will kick off the event.

3. NBAA hosts its National Safety Forum on Thursday morning as well, bringing together air safety inspectors from the National Transportation Safety Board, and sessions on professionalism, safety leadership, and a panel discussion on hot topics.

How to Go

You can still register for NBAA-BACE, which runs from October 12 to 14 in Las Vegas, Nevada, at this link.

The post Going to NBAA 2021? Here’s What You Should Do appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) will require attendees at this year’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19.

“For decades, the aviation industry has brought people together and transported them forward safely and responsibly,” NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen said in a statement. “We are leveraging that approach to aviation safety to guide us with regard to NBAA-BACE.

“We are taking guidance from health and safety experts and adopting trade show best practices. Including a vaccine requirement in the comprehensive safety protocols for the show will create the most interactive environment possible for buying, selling, networking and learning.”

Other trade shows and events in the Las Vegas area have implemented the same policy, including:

• Las Vegas Raiders games
• CES (formerly known as Consumer Electronics Show)
• The National Association of Broadcasters annual show
• The Global Gaming Expo (G2E)

Other Safety Measures

Mask wearing will be optional at the convention, but will be required in certain circumstances, including shuttle bus travel out to the Henderson Executive Airport (KHND), where the NBAA-BACE static display will be staged.

Hand sanitizer stations will be available throughout the LVCC including:

• Meeting room corridors
• Exhibit areas
• Food and beverage areas

Occupancy at food and beverage areas will be limited to allow social distancing.

The post NBAA To Require COVID-19 Vaccination At Las Vegas Convention appeared first on FLYING Magazine.