Meridian Hosts NATA Industry Town Hall

On Wednesday, April 3, Meridian welcomed local representatives from all walks of business aviation to hold a roundtable discussion on the current state of the industry, and speculate on where it’s headed in the future.

The first topic was the “State of the Charter Industry” and the rising popularity of the ultra-long range jet. The attendees surmised that this is due to either business taking people further than before, or that larger jets are chosen to accommodate more passengers at once.
The industry’s efforts in recruiting young talent are beginning to bear signs of success. More and more young pilots and engineers are lining up to begin their careers in Business Aviation. The challenge we face now is getting them qualified to fly.
One issue that NATA Vice President, Ryan Waguespack, brought up was the increasing popularity of “Gray Charter” and the safety issues that accompany it. NATA has been working to advise and inform the FAA on what “Gray Charter” is, and what to look for to uncover it.
Finally, to wrap the meeting up, representatives discussed what they’ve been doing to reach out to the youth and get them interested in the industry. From career days to 5Ks, there were plenty of different community engagement methods being utilized.

Overall, the event was a tremendous success and all that attended left with a better picture of the industry, and a greater understanding of its future. We cannot wait to see what the next meeting holds in store for us.