Pickup your registration materials and get answers to all your questions.

Thanks to our badge sponsor:

Join us for a networking breakfast before the day begins.

Sponsored By:

• Emcee:  David Belastock, Captain, Bechtel
• Speaker:  Dr. Hassan Shahidi, President and CEO, Flight Safety Foundation

An inside look at how a leading national news organization covers aviation, from the mundane to tragic disasters.

NBC NEWS Aviation & Space Correspondent Tom Costello, and Capt. John Cox, NBC’s Aviation Analyst, will use video examples to dissect their own reporting of top aviation stories. They’ll share the decisions that go into the editorial process, and how they navigate the world of internet conspiracy theories and armchair investigators to report responsibly on incidents and accidents. 

Speakers:

• Tom Costello, Aviation and Space Correspondent, NBC News
• Capt. John Cox, CEO, Safety Operating Systems, and NBC Aviation Analyst

Effective communication is vital to safety across business aviation. This executive panel, featuring association leaders representing operators, air traffic control, and FBOs, will explore key communication challenges and their impact on safety. Panelists will share insights on improving coordination, reducing miscommunication, and fostering a proactive safety culture.

Panelists:

• Doug Carr, SVP, Safety & International Affairs, National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), and FSF BAC Member
• Curt Castagna, President & Chief Executive Officer, National Air Transportation Association (NATA)
• Mark McKelligan, Director of Safety and Technology, National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA)

International cooperation on aviation safety by governments and industry groups, through ICAO, has helped to make commercial aircraft the safest way to travel. How does the business aviation sector continue to proactively improve our approach to safety performance in a global environment?

Speakers:

• Terry Yeomans, IS-BAH Programme Director, International Business Aviation Council (IBAC)
• Andrew Karas, IS-BAO Programme Director, International Business Aviation Council (IBAC)

Speakers:

• Patrick Browne, Founder and President, Flightdeck Safety Initiatives
• Capt. Nicolaus Dmoch, Founder, Pilot2Pilot Communications

Speaker:  Dr. Hassan Shahidi, President and CEO, Flight Safety Foundation

Choose to participate in two different 45-minute round-robin safety conversations in this first afternoon session.

Round Robin – Safety Conversation 1 – Emerging Technology

Moderators:

• Benjamin Youngstrom, CEO, Fyve By
• Reuben Mann, Director of Marketing, TrustFlight
• Scott Katznelson, Chief Pilot, CC Industries, and FSF BAC Member

Round Robin – Safety Conversation 2 – Data-Driven Decision-Making

Moderators:

• Jonathan Morrell, Senior Product Manager, GE Aerospace, Software as a Service 
• Mark Kleinhans, VP of Safety, Courseware & Regulatory Affairs, FlightSafety International (FSI)
• Mary Harshbarger, FSF BAC Member

Round Robin – Safety Conversation 3 – “Comm Check: Is Your Team Applying Your Safety Message?”

Your message is just as important as your data: Is your team hearing you loud and clear? Is the information being used? Join us as we discuss the importance of communicating the lessons learned from your SMS to your entire team.

Moderators:

• Madeline Young, VOCUS Product Manager and SMS Subject Matter Expert, Polaris Aero
• Steve Bruneau, Vice President of Aviation, Polaris Aero
• Kevin Honan, Senior Operations Advisor, Nimbl     
• Maria Kelly, Vice President of Safety, Jet Access Aviation, and FSF BAC Member

Round Robin – Safety Conversation 4 – Weather, Risk, and Turbulence

Moderators:

• Justin Moore, Instructor Pilot and Flight Examiner, U.S. Coast Guard
• Hagay Makov, Vice President Business Development, SkyPath US Inc.
• Keith Yaddaw, International Captain, JP Morgan Chase, and FSF BAC Member

Choose to participate in two different 45-minute round robin safety conversations in this second afternoon session.

CJ's  |  LeMeridien Charlotte

Pickup your registration materials and get answers to all your questions.

Thanks to our badge sponsor:

Join us for a networking breakfast before the day begins.

Speaker: Capt. David Belastock, Bechtel Corporation and FSF BAC Chair

In the high-stakes world of business aviation, effective communication is crucial in ensuring safety and mission success. This session will explore the critical communication strategies from different segments of business aviation that enhance situational awareness, foster collaboration, and explain why clear communication is paramount to safety. Join industry experts as they share real-world case studies and best practices that demonstrate how robust communication systems can mitigate risks, improve decision-making, and ultimately lead to safer skies. Whether you're a pilot, mechanic, operator, air traffic controller, dispatcher, or safety manager, this session will equip you with the tools to elevate your communication skills and contribute to a culture of safety in business aviation.

Speakers:

• Erika Armstrong, Pilot, Advanced Aircrew Academy
• Patrick Moylan, Chief Safety and Quality Officer, West Star Aviation
• John Murdock, Safety Chair, National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), and FSF BAC Member

Addressing workforce culture is vital to business aviation operations because culture directly influences safety, efficiency, and employee engagement.  A strong culture fosters trust, accountability, and collaboration, reducing errors and improving decision-making. Safety is impacted when employees feel supported and empowered to report issues or speak up about concerns without fear of retribution. To address cultural issues, organizations can conduct cultural assessments, actively listen to employees, and identify root causes of dissatisfaction or inefficiencies. Solutions include transparent communication, leadership training, and aligning values with practices to build trust and engagement.

Speaker: Jennifer Pickerel, President, Aviation Personnel International

Explore the concept of the “last minute” and  examine the case for better preparation, both by managers and flight crews, for decisions in time-critical situations. This presentation will look at case studies and  the role of aviation history, managing doubt, the importance of communications, and the use of data analysis to understand what actually happens, not just in accidents but in “nearly happened” events.

Speaker:  Capt. John Frearson, Former Regulatory Manager, Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority, and author of “Operational Safety for Aviation Managers”

Moderator:  Mark Larsen, Director, Safety & Flight Operations, National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)       

Panelists:

• Capt. Dave Fielding, Chair, International Peer Assist Aviation Coalition (IPAAC)
• Allison Duquette, Psychotherapist, Arene Psychotherapy Services
• Jason Starke, Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer, Business Aviation Safety Consortium

Emerging cybersecurity risks have the potential to impact aircraft systems, ground operations, data protection, and in-flight communications, among other areas. Understanding these risks and their potential to disrupt operations is essential to ensuring continued operational safety and efficiency. Explore navigational system spoofing and jamming, and cyberattacks targeting collision avoidance systems; gain practical insights and guidance that can help identify potential cybersecurity risks; and learn about ways to mitigate the threats.

Speaker:   Luc Bédard, President, Groupe CLI - Aviation Cybersecurity

The Greatest Generation, Boomers, Gen X, Xennials, Millennials, Gen Z, Gen Alpha ...  It's almost too much to keep up with. As with each generational change, today's up and coming aviators bring new perspective and insights, but also new challenges. The rapidly changing landscape of the aviation industry, and increased technology and massive growth over the past five years, have led to a "perfect storm" that has the potential to upset cultural norms and create recruiting and retention challenges for all operators, but especially those outside the traditional Part121 airline career path. It is important for organizations and their leaders to connect with, mentor, and develop the next generation of professional aviators, to understand the importance of effective communication, and to help create positive environments that foster mentoring.

Speaker: Capt. Josh Shields, Aviation Safety Manager, BAE Systems, Inc.

Speaker: Paige Kroner, Director Member Services, Flight Safety Foundation