March 2, 2026
With a powerful focus on safety, security, global navigation, mental wellness and career fulfillment, NBAA kicked off its 2026 International Operators Conference (IOC2026) March 1, as business aviation professionals and thought leaders from around the world gathered in San Diego, CA, offering unapparelled networking opportunities and a lineup of marquee industry authorities sharing their expertise.
In an industry facing headwinds from workforce availability, personnel and data security, GPS interference and a rapidly shifting geopolitical environment, the conference theme – “Surfin’ IOC: Inspire, Optimize and Connect” – focused on finding new solutions through shared ideas, collaboration and networking.
“In this business, no one person has the answer to every question, but if you do have an operational question, there is someone here at this conference who can answer it,” said NBAA International Operators Committee Chair Paul Scurio. “Our attendees here have access to a wonderful networking opportunity where they can each share valuable guidance that will help the industry as a whole. My hope is that everyone takes at least one thing back home to their flight operations that will make us all safer and more effective.”
“Keeping pace with the rate of change across all aspects of international operations is becoming more and more challenging across the industry,” said Laura Everington, NBAA director, flight operations and regulations, and NBAA International Operators Committee staff liaison. “The expert panels at this conference are intentionally timely. Topics have been curated to align with essential issues that are top-of-mind in today’s environment.”
The Day One Keynote speaker, veteran pilot and master certified flight instructor Neil Singer, delivered an in-depth examination of lessons learned from a 2009 aircraft accident involving a Piaggio P.180 Avanti during an attempted emergency landing on Greenland’s ice cap.
Singer used the accident as a case study in how a series of errors can compound over time until recovery is no longer possible. Walking attendees through the sequence of events, he highlighted the root causes behind key decision-making failures and the mindset shifts that could have altered the outcome.
“There are things that we all can take away from this accident,” Singer said. “There are things we can learn, things we can train, things we can practice, things we can put into our discipline. Study ATC and operational considerations if you’re operating outside your local comfort zone. Know the lay of the land when you’re far from home.”
Singer’s keynote was among more than two dozen conference sessions that take a deep dive into mission-critical issues for international operators, including strategies to enhance safety during flights across vast, airport-sparce oceanic routes as well as keeping crews and passengers safe from security risks on the ground.
For example, GPS spoofing and jamming and cybersecurity continue to be a serious industry concern, and expert panelists will present updates and answer questions on this increasing global threat.
IOC attendees also had an opportunity to engage directly with FAA officials onsite and hear from industry experts during a session on U.S. Customs and Border Protection policies and procedures.
Additional sessions during the conference will focus on optimizing business aircraft flights in far-flung regions such as Africa, South America, Europe and the Middle East, amid a constantly shifting geopolitical landscape.
View the full conference program schedule.
Learn more about the 2026 NBAA International Operators Conference.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.