Pacific NW Bizav Ass’n Safety Day Highlights Value of Regional Group, NBAA Coordination

April 6, 2026

Over 100 business aviation professionals attended the Pacific Northwest Business Aviation Association’s (PNBAA’s) April 2 Safety & Security Day, under the fitting theme: “From Hangar to Horizon: Lead Safe, Stay Safe.”

The highly successful event underscored the critical role regional aviation groups play in safety, advocacy and workforce development – and the ways NBAA provides unique value in supporting the groups’ work on a host of local and national industry priorities.

For example, regarding safety, the PNBAA event served as an opportunity for NBAA to highlight several new, authoritative NBAA safety resources available to industry, which were offered onsite in printed form, and in downloadable form, through QR codes listed on an event handout. Those resources included:

• NBAA’s Business Aviation Insider: Spotlight on Safety, a forensic, expert analysis of 15 real-world accidents over five years, with clear, practical lessons for pilots and operators.
• NBAA’s Business Aviation Accident and Incident Analysis, an interactive, member-exclusive platform providing detailed, curated data from the FAA and NTSB on turbine business aircraft accidents. It features interactive charts, heatmaps, and trend analysis for jets, turboprops, and helicopters to support safety benchmarking.
• A full lineup of Safety Training Videos available through a designated playlist on NBAA’s YouTube channel, with practical safety training and insights in a digital format. Subscribe to NBAA’s YouTube channel.
• The Airplane Standard Operating Procedures Manual, developed by NBAA’s Domestic Operations Committee, CAE and FlightSafety International, with input from operators, manufacturers and training leaders to standardize procedures and reduce risk.

The day’s programming lineup included a session specifically to unpack the Airplane Standard Operating Procedures Manual, led by Tim Schoenauer, vice president of global civil training solutions and a member of NBAA’s Domestic Operations Committee.

PNBAA’s April 2, 2026, Safety & Security Day

NBAA Regional Director Phil Derner visited with attendees to reinforce the value of regional events like PNBAA’s Safety & Security Day and learn more about their needs for national advocacy.

“It is important for members to engage on a regional level when these events occur. When we step outside our organizations, we can learn from others. It’s an opportunity to advance and grow,” said Derner. “NBAA attends these local events for the opportunity to talk to members about their priorities for the industry and how the association can meet their needs.”

Derner encouraged regional groups that don’t currently host local safety days and other events to reach out to NBAA to learn more about bringing these local events to their members. NBAA’s Regional Directors provide guidance and resources for local and regional groups.

“PNBAA is a role model for other regional groups to follow, with strong advocacy, safety and workforce development activities,” Derner said.

The event also offered a venue to highlight other ways NBAA and regional groups can be mutually supportive through strategic collaboration. For example, lunch speakers Alan Burnett with CenterPoint Aviation Law PLLC and Mike Ennis of Ennis Public Affairs shared an update on the recent repeal of an unduly burdensome tax on most general aviation aircraft in Washington state.

PNBAA and NBAA galvanized a broad coalition of stakeholders – including other allied associations, local business owners and representatives from across the business aviation community – to make their united voice heard about how the originally planned tax would harm businesses and communities in the state.

The PNBAA day also served as a moment to consider developments on the sector’s policy agenda in Washington, DC. NBAA Senior Vice President Safety, Security, Sustainability and International Affairs Doug Carr provided a State of the Industry discussion, sharing updates on the historic work among government and industry leaders to build a brand-new air traffic control system, and how business aviation is informing and helping guide that effort.

“Today’s business aviation professionals have a unique opportunity to help shape government priorities through our leadership and innovation, especially as we embrace advancements like the new air traffic control system,” said Carr. “As the Department of Transportation and FAA work toward a new, modernized ATC system, it’s crucial that members of NBAA and local and regional groups make their voices heard.”