NBAA, AOPA Will Begin Co-Hosting Light Business Airplane Conferences

Contacts: Dan Hubbard, (202) 783-9360, dhubbard@nbaa.org
Chris Dancy, AOPA, (301) 695-2159, Chris.Dancy@AOPA.org

Orlando, FL, October 21, 2009 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) today announced that the two organizations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to co-host Light Business Airplane (LBA) Conferences beginning in 2010.

The MOU formalizes the relationship between the two associations for coordinating and collaborating on the presentation of an LBA Conference, to be held in conjunction with each of the two organizations’ major annual events.

“NBAA and AOPA have a long history of working together, a strong overlap of interests and an ongoing commitment to serve those in the industry,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “This agreement to jointly host these events specifically for light business airplane operators will greatly enhance the value NBAA and AOPA are able to provide to this important industry segment.”

AOPA Executive Vice President for Communications Karen Gebhart agreed, adding: “Each of our organizations will bring their best educational and other offerings to these events. And because our two associations often have major events on opposite sides of the country each year, we’ll be able to make the Light Business Airplane Conferences more accessible to everyone.”

The first 2010 LBA Conference will take place in conjunction with NBAA’s 63rd Annual Meeting & Convention in Atlanta, GA, from October 19 to 21, 2010. That event would be followed by an LBA Conference held as part of the 2010 AOPA Aviation Summit in Long Beach, CA, from November 11 to 13, 2010.

Following on the successful inaugural Light Business Airplane Conference held as part of NBAA’s 62nd Annual Meeting & Convention this year, the 2010 events will continue to feature education sessions designed by and for those using light business airplanes, and presented in an interactive peer-to-peer format, as well as a static display of light business airplanes.

The MOU announcement was made today on the exhibit floor of the NBAA 62nd Annual Meeting & Convention. Download a high-resolution photo of the announcement, showing NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen and AOPA Executive Vice President for Communications Karen Gebhart (4.20 MB, JPG).

Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful. The Association represents more than 8,000 companies and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention, the world’s largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at www.nbaa.org.

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With more than 415,000 members, AOPA is the world’s largest civil aviation association. Some 70 percent of all U.S. pilots are members of the association, which is dedicated to protecting the interests of general aviation.