Initial rebookings for the postponed 54th National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention, rescheduled to 12-14 December in New Orleans, Louisiana, reveal that the world's largest business aviation event has been hard hit following the 11 September terrorist attacks on the USA.
By 9 October only about 500 companies had agreed to exhibit at the December event. Furthermore, those that rebooked have cut the size of the booths due to funding constraints. Raytheon Aircraft, Cessna, Gulfstream and New Piper have dropped out of the exhibit hall, while Bombardier is yet to confirm its participation.
Embraer, Fairchild Dornier, GE Engines, Pilatus Aircraft, Pratt & Whitney and Sikorsky have, however, pledged their commitment, says NBAA president Jack Olcott, who expects to get additional bookings. A record 1,071 exhibitors had booked 46,500m2 (500,000ft2) of space at the original convention, set for 18-20 September.
Meanwhile, NBAA and the National Air Transportation Association have asked the US Federal Aviation Administration to extend by 30 days the comment period on the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to regulate fractional-ownership operations. The new proposals will place fractionals under a new Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 91 Subpart K and will also amend the current FAR Part 135 rules for on-demand charter flights.
The trade associations argue that the aftermath of 11 September has distracted the aviation community and it will need more time to refocus its attention to the NPRM. The National Transportation Safety Board has requested a 90-day extension to the NPRM comment period which was set to close on 18 October.
Source: Flight International
