Last week, Meridian sent 15 associates and its 400 sq. ft. exhibit booth to the 2018 National Business Aviation Association Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Orlando, FL. The event had a major focus on the future of the industry and new avenues for growth in Business Aviation, and drew about 1,000 exhibitors from the U.S. and around the world. Attendees at the show represented all 50 U.S. states and about 90 countries. Over 100 exhibitors were new to the show!
Eric Allison of Uber Elevate shared the latest news on eVTOL (Electronically Powered Vertical Takeoff and Landing) technology, which can effectively render traffic jams obsolete while reducing carbon emissions to thousands of attendees. Bertrand Piccard, who flew around the world without the use of fuel, shared his story and urged the industry to make more environmentally conscious choices. This, as well as the breakthroughs made in electronic aircraft engines this year, signals a new avenue for growth in Business Aviation.
The industry is laser-focused on the future, and this was highlighted by the last day, where over 1,000 students were granted free admission to the event and had the opportunity to speak with some of the industry’s major players. Over the past few years, the National Business Aviation Association has made a considerable effort in attracting younger talent to join the industry.
Meridian had some news of its own to share with attendees, including the recent addition of two charter jets, as well as the opening of a brand new hangar at Teterboro Airport. Ken Forester, our CEO, had this to say “I think that NBAA is a great venue for us to showcase all of the outstanding services that we offer, and provides us with the opportunity to reconnect with longtime customers and friends. It also creates a conducive environment for meeting new customers and prospects, who may have heard of us, but have never had the chance to meet us in person. This is a must-attend event for any company in business aviation.”
NBAA-BACE 2019 will be held in Las Vegas, NV, on Oct. 22-24.