First-Ever Small Operator Symposium to Debut at NBAA-BACE

Aug. 28, 2018

The inaugural Small Operator Symposium will debut on Oct. 15, prior to the opening of the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), to specifically address issues facing operators with two airplanes or less.

Subcommittee member Devin Howes, with Baldwin Aviation Safety & Compliance, led the organization of the interactive symposium, said NBAA Manager of Operations Brian Koester. “In each session, speakers will devote half their time to presentation and the other half to interacting with the audience,” he added. “We want attendees to interact with other operators, so they can learn from each other.”

The symposium’s sessions will present information on areas specific to those issues faced by small flight departments. In the “Do You Like My Hat” session, the discussion will focus on the many roles played by someone managing a small flight department. The “Scaling the SMS Mountain” session will look at where small flight departments can learn how to properly address safety issues on a practical basis, and how a safety management system can help an operation of any size.

“While NBAA considers a ‘small operator’ to be two airplanes or less, it doesn’t matter if those are two piston planes or large-cabin jets,” Koester said. “We welcome any operator who considers themselves to be a small operator to attend this new symposium. About 80 percent of our operating members are small flight departments, so we are excited to provide this critical information to such a wide segment of the NBAA operating membership.”

The Small Operator Symposium runs from 2-5:30 p.m. at the Orange County Convention Center. Learn more about the symposium.