Olcott Says Meeting 'Already A Success'

Even before the official opening of the 54th Annual Meeting and Convention, NBAA president Jack Olcott proclaimed the gathering "already a success." The convention was originally scheduled to take place September 18-20th ­ just a week after terrorists used airliners as weapons of terror against the United States.

Olcott told Show News the "community's willingness to gather to discuss the unique challenges it faces" are evidence of the strength and unity of business aviation.

With almost 700 exhibitors, the convention has about two-thirds of the exhibitors originally slated for September with about 40 percent of the original floor space. NBAA, which already expected a 10 percent drop from last year's record-breaking 30,000 attendees, now says that a showing of 12,000 will make this gathering a success. After years of explosive growth, the meeting will be the group's smallest since about 1987.

While aircraft deliveries and new aircraft orders are expected to decrease in 2002, Olcott says the "true measure of how business aviation is doing is activity" and activity, he says, is up. In surveys conducted before and after September 11th, about 75 percent of those questioned said their activity in 2001 had increased, Olcott noted.

Olcott says he's not surprised by the increase. With added security, "the time to travel from point A to B to C to D on the airlines has increased," he says. Business aviation is about using time more productively especially in a weak economy "when fewer people are required to do more."

According to Olcott, the convention's focus on "Security, Access and Opportunity" will help attendees confront the challenges they now face. The terror attacks reinforced the importance of business aviation's security culture. If operators can demonstrate their commitment to high levels of security, national security and transportation officials will give access to the system. With that access, Olcott says, comes the ability to take advantage of the business opportunities now available.

When NBAA considered the fate of this year's convention, some suggested canceling outright. Olcott and the NBAA board rejected that idea, saying such an action would be "yielding to terror."