ANN's Jim Campbell Analyses The Mood and Reality of NBAA 2009

NBAA 2009 is now history... and with a sigh of relief, the industry notes that while certainly beaten up a bit, it remains unbowed and raring to go forth and revisit past glories... though it may take a years to get there.

"Even in the tough climate we're in, the support for this show proves that it remains an absolutely essential venue for the buyers and sellers in our industry to connect and promote a true and positive image of business aviation," Bolen said.

"Equally important, this was an opportunity to come together all in one place, and underscore the importance of business aviation to citizens, companies and communities across the country, and articulate a vision for our future. As everyone knows, the business aviation community puts a premium on face-to-face meetings and communications, and this year's show provided the ultimate opportunity to benefit from that type of interaction."

Bolen pointed to several measurements for this year's show, as compared to last year's record-setting totals:

•Ninety-one percent, or 1,075 of the Exhibitors from last year's Convention had returned for the 2009 show.
•This year's show required 84 percent of the floor space needed for last year's event.
•Representatives from 86 countries, from six continents, were in attendance at this year's Convention – an increase from 82 countries represented last year.
•Representatives from all 50 states were in attendance – up from last year, when 49 states were represented.
•The Static Display of Aircraft featured nearly 100 aircraft at Orlando Executive Airport.
•New education sessions for entrepreneurs who rely on light business airplanes had wide acceptance and overflowing attendance.
•Attendance stood at 75 percent of last year's total, with 22,920 participants at the show’s final day (last year's attendance total was 30,811).

"While we never expected to achieve last year’s attendance total, we were determined to provide the value that the community has come to expect – and all indications are we succeeded,” Bolen concluded.

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