MEDIA ADVISORY: Miami Aviation Forum to Gather Local Students, Businesses Focused on Sustainability, Workforce

Guinness Record-Breaking Pilot to Make Announcement About Training Center Backed by Miami-Dade

Contacts: Dan Hubbard, 202-431-5970, dhubbard@nbaa.org
Amanda Jada, FleishmanHillard, 813-808-0736, amanda.jada@fleishman.com

Miami FL, Jan. 24, 2024 – The region’s leading aviation forum is coming back to Miami on Jan. 31, with a strong focus on advancing business aviation in the region, featuring local businesses in one of the state’s largest and fast-growing sectors, a new class of students beginning career training, the forum’s first-ever Exhibitor Sustainability Pledge and the return of a student competition between five technical schools in Florida.

“Business aviation” is the term given for the mostly small and mid-sized companies – including many in Florida – that rely on a small airplane to meet transportation challenges. Hosted by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), the 2024 Miami-Opa locka Regional Forum will take place at Miami-Opa locka Executive Airport (OPF) and gather local civic leaders, aviation companies, industry experts and students.

The day will begin with remarks from NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen, who will welcome the civic leaders and others, then highlight a new industry initiative focused on leadership in aviation sustainability, CLIMBING. FAST. Other speakers include Miami resident Capt. Barrington Irving – a Guinness World Record-breaking pilot who was the youngest person and first Black pilot to fly solo around the world – Ralph Cutie, director and CEO at Miami-Dade County Aviation Department and Francesca de Quesada Covey, chief innovation and economic development officer of Miami-Dade County.

An aviation maintenance competition among more than 20 students from top South Florida technical schools will return after its success in 2023, featuring exciting new activities. Also joining the event will be the new class of The Barrington Irving Technical Training School – Capt. Irving’s training center based at Miami-Opa locka Executive Airport, which he founded and opened in 2022 with the support of NBAA and other organizations. Irving will make an exciting announcement about the school’s plans for the future.

This year’s event for the first time will include an Exhibitor Sustainability Pledge, a commitment made by participating companies, including those based in South Florida, to follow environmentally friendly practices during the event operations on-site. This effort is just one representation of the industry’s continued dedication to sustainability progress.

The forum will feature 187 exhibitors, including 14 based in or near the Miami area, as well as 22 aircraft will be on display at OPF.

Florida has the third-largest aviation industry in the United States, based on total economic impact and jobs. The state is home to more than 200 aviation manufacturing companies. The forum is a crucial annual event that helps grow awareness of business aviation within the local community and build the aviation workforce of tomorrow.

Interested media are encouraged to RSVP with Amanda Jada, amanda.jada@fleishman.com.

WHAT:	Regional Forum and Opening Session	Student Maintenance Competition
WHEN:	Wednesday, Jan. 31, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (ET) Exhibits and Aircraft Display Open at 9 a.m. Opening Sessions begin at 9:30 a.m.	10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
WHO:	Ed Bolen, CEO, NBAA Greg Voos, NBAA Ralph Cutie, Director and CEO, Miami-Dade County Aviation Department Francesca de Quesada Covey, Chief Innovation and Economic Development Officer, Miami-Dade County Capt. Barrington Irving Local aviation companies, current and prospective business aircraft owners, operators, manufacturers and other essential industry personnel and local officials	Capt. Barrington Irving Students from Aviation Institution of Maintenance (AIM) – Orlando Campus Broward College Charlotte Technical College George T Baker Aviation Technical College Lorenzo Walker Technical College
WHERE:	Miami-Opa locka Executive Airport 14201 NW 42nd Ave. Opa locka, FL 33054

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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 10,000 company and professional members and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), the world’s largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at nbaa.org.

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