EBACE 'Is Just the Right Show' for Business Aviation in Europe

"This is not the NBAA convention moved to Europe, and it is not the EBAA convention on steroids," insists Jack Olcott, president of the National Business Aviation Association.

"It is a special event, one that will make the most of the unique resources of each organization."
So just what is EBACE?

Co-organized by the NBAA and the European Business Aviation Association, EBACE is, Olcott claims, the first conference and exhibition in Europe devoted solely to business aviation.

"We are not in the midst of airliners and military aircraft, nor among gliders and flying club aircraft," he said, referring to other shows where business aviation has had only an "us too" presence.

Realizing the opportunity for an informational exchange and exhibition, EBAA and NBAA decided to combine the European organization's strong links with politicians, regulators and operators with NBAA's skills at running large conventions. "NBAA has the technology of running major events of this nature, and believe me, there is a technology associated with it," Olcott told Show News. Part of that is persuading exhibitors the show should really matter to them.

"When we first discussed this at Farnborough the word we heard was the community doesn't need another show -- it just needs the right show. And we think EBACE is the right show," he said.

Olcott said he has been very heartened by support for EBACE, with over 170 exhibitors signing up more than 500 booths. Attendance is expected around 3,000, and Palexpo and Geneva airport threw in their support by building a footbridge between the static display area and the exhibition hall.

Key to EBACE is the impressive line-up of informational conferences and seminars, covering a wide range of topics from regulations to maintenance workshops, as well as the exhibition itself.

Could a successful EBACE impact the NBAA's own annual convention? "Certainly there is a risk of that as 18% of our members are outside the U.S.," said Olcott. "But it's a risk well worth taking, as I see this as an opportunity to grow the global market for business aviation."

By John Morris