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

As the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) uncovered during the course of its investigation into the tragic midair collision between a CRJ700 and a Sikorsky UH-60L at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) on January 29, 2025, which claimed the lives of 67 people, there were countless known vulnerabilities in the various layers of defense surrounding the complex airspace around DCA prior to this accident. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had access to numerous subjective and objective data sources, but as the investigation revealed, there was limited access to and use of these data, which hindered both industry and government stakeholders' ability to identify hazards and mitigate risk. This presentation will identify those layers that failed, how they failed, and the NTSB’s recommendations to ensure those failures are not replicated anywhere in the National Airspace System. The presentation will also include lessons learned for all operators in congested airspace, along with an in-depth discussion on the importance of proper data analysis within organizations and at the FAA.

Speaker:
Michael Graham, Board Member, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

Using lessons learned from 2025 aviation events, this session examines how recent safety data is shaping our understanding of human and system resilience. Speakers will explore where today’s complex, tightly coupled socio-technical systems are most vulnerable — and what industry leaders should prioritize in 2026 to strengthen resilience, reduce risk, and turn insight into meaningful, forward-looking safety solutions.

The handoff between ground support teams and flight crews represents one of the most safety-critical interfaces in business aviation. This session explores how stronger alignment between ground and flight operations can reduce errors, prevent incidents, and improve overall performance. Drawing on real-world examples and NATA’s Safety 1st initiatives, speakers will highlight practical ways in which operators are using safety management systems, human factors training, standardized communication, and technology to strengthen collaboration, enhance accountability, and build safer, more resilient operations.

Moderator:
Steve Berry, VP, Education and Safety, NATA 

Panelists:
Jason Sahl, Director of Safety, Million Air-Interlink
Kevin Donnelly, Director of Safety, Jet Aviation

Mental well-being and fatigue are deeply interconnected, and together they have a direct impact on safety, culture, and operational resilience in aviation. In a 24/7, high-demand environment that disrupts sleep and strains mental health, managing fatigue and well-being requires more than regulatory limits and good intentions. This session explores how effective fatigue risk management supports mental health, strengthens safety culture, and enhances performance across operations. Presenters will examine current research, post-pandemic trends, and the organizational consequences of unmet well-being needs, while introducing Fit for Flight, a data-driven, holistic tool designed to assess mental health, resilience, stigma, and aviation-specific stressors. Attendees will gain insight into how valid, actionable data can be used to identify risk, inform targeted interventions, and embed well-being as a shared operational responsibility — supporting safer, healthier, and more resilient aviation organizations.

Moderator:
Capt. Peter Whitten, Director, OdiliaClark

Panelists:
Dr. Brooke Linden, Director of Research, Presage Group Inc.
Sarah Booth, Managing Principal Consultant - Fatigue Risk Management, Baines Simmons

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

Speaker: Capt. David Belastock, Bechtel Corporation

Attend two different 45-minute round-robin safety conversations during this first afternoon session.

Round Robin – Safety Conversation 1 – Leading at Every Level: A Holistic Approach to Influential Safety Communication

Location: Cascade B

Effective safety leadership depends on more than speaking clearly — it begins with truly listening. This session explores a holistic approach to communication that emphasizes listening with awareness, respect, and intention to build trust and shared understanding at every level of an organization. Participants will gain insight into the often-overlooked factors that influence communication performance and how breakdowns can erode safety culture and resilience. By illustrating the essential elements of effective communication, this session equips attendees with practical tools to strengthen dialogue, influence positive behaviors, and elevate safety advocacy from the front line to leadership.

Moderators:
Patti Arnott, Vice President, Administration, Wyvern
Sonnie Bates, CEO, Wyvern
Thomas Anthony, Director, USC Aviation Safety, and Security 

Round Robin – Safety Conversation 2 – Safety in Our DNA: Building a Culture Where Excellence Is Inevitable

Location: Cascade C

Building a strong safety culture requires more than just policies and compliance. In this interactive conversation, participants will explore how a culture of safety and excellence is intentionally built, sustained, and scaled. Through real-world lessons learned, attendees will identify common pitfalls that cause safety programs to stall; they will gain a practical, experience-tested framework built around three key factors for embedding safety into organizational DNA.

Moderators:
Clarke McNeace, EVP of Compliance & Standards, Aviation Performance Solutions
Keith Yaddaw, International Captain, JP Morgan Chase

Round Robin – Safety Conversation 3 – Advancing Safety Through Integrated Runway Performance Planning

Location: Cascade D

Effective runway performance planning is essential to managing risk during the most critical phases of flight. This interactive session explores how integrated runway performance planning - supported by high-fidelity data and modern workflow solutions — can reduce pilot workload, minimize errors, and strengthen safety margins. Participants will gain practical insights into addressing current industry challenges and improving operational safety through smarter planning and integration.

Moderators:
Jordan Hovland, Manager, Aircraft Performance Data, Jeppesen ForeFlight
Maria Kelly, Vice President of Safety, Jet Access

Round Robin – Safety Conversation 4 – AI

Location: Cascade E

Attend two different 45-minute round-robin safety conversations during this second afternoon session.

Round Robin – Safety Conversation 1 – Leading at Every Level: A Holistic Approach to Influential Safety Communication

Location: Cascade B

Effective safety leadership depends on more than speaking clearly — it begins with truly listening. This session explores a holistic approach to communication that emphasizes listening with awareness, respect, and intention to build trust and shared understanding at every level of an organization. Participants will gain insight into the often-overlooked factors that influence communication performance and how breakdowns can erode safety culture and resilience. By illustrating the essential elements of effective communication, this session equips attendees with practical tools to strengthen dialogue, influence positive behaviors, and elevate safety advocacy from the front line to leadership.

Moderators:
Patti Arnott, Vice President, Administration, Wyvern
Sonnie Bates, CEO, Wyvern
Thomas Anthony, Director, USC Aviation Safety, and Security 

Round Robin – Safety Conversation 2 – Safety in Our DNA: Building a Culture Where Excellence Is Inevitable

Location: Cascade C

Building a strong safety culture requires more than just policies and compliance. In this interactive conversation, participants will explore how a culture of safety and excellence is intentionally built, sustained, and scaled. Through real-world lessons learned, attendees will identify common pitfalls that cause safety programs to stall; they will gain a practical, experience-tested framework built around three key factors for embedding safety into organizational DNA.

Moderators:
Clarke McNeace, EVP of Compliance & Standards, Aviation Performance Solutions
Keith Yaddaw, International Captain, JP Morgan Chase

Round Robin – Safety Conversation 3 – Advancing Safety Through Integrated Runway Performance Planning

Location: Cascade D

Effective runway performance planning is essential to managing risk during the most critical phases of flight. This interactive session explores how integrated runway performance planning - supported by high-fidelity data and modern workflow solutions — can reduce pilot workload, minimize errors, and strengthen safety margins. Participants will gain practical insights into addressing current industry challenges and improving operational safety through smarter planning and integration.

Moderators:
Jordan Hovland, Manager, Aircraft Performance Data, Jeppesen ForeFlight
Maria Kelly, Vice President of Safety, Jet Access

Round Robin – Safety Conversation 4 – The AI-Driven Safety Office

Location: Cascade E

This interactive session offers safety leaders a practical, low-cost roadmap for integrating emerging technologies into safety assurance programs. Learn how AI-enhanced tools can transform reactive SMS processes into proactive, data-driven systems, unlocking insights from unstructured data, visualizing risk through business intelligence, and strengthening safety resilience without major IT investment.

Moderators:
Anitah Favour, Aviation Safety & Security Officer, Z. Boskovic Air Charters Ltd.
Mary Harshbarger, Director of SMS, West Star Aviation, LLC.

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

Go behind the scenes with FAA air traffic control (ATC) professionals as they address the questions pilots and operators have always wanted to ask. This interactive session invites audience participation to explore ATC operations, decision-making, and coordination, fostering improved understanding and collaboration between ATC and business aviation.

Moderator:
Keith Yaddaw, International Captain, JP Morgan Chase

Panelists:
Joe Dickinson, Lead Captain, Hess Family Group/JBH Ventures
John Murdock, Safety Chair, National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA)

Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) jamming and spoofing are growing threats to aviation safety and operational reliability. This session will present how Honeywell is evolving its integrated avionics solutions, with the Inertial Reference System at their core, to protect business aviation operators against GNSS interference. Learn about the technologies that will be deployed short- to mid-term on current and future aircraft, as well as long-term alternate navigation techniques that can maintain full navigation capacity in GNSS-denied environments. Discover how this approach strengthens resilience to GNSS interference threats while building on decades of inertial navigation innovation.

Speakers:
Simon Innocent, Senior Director, Commercial Navigation Systems, Honeywell Aerospace
Thea Feyereisen, Distinguished Technical Fellow, Human Factors, Honeywell Aerospace

Join us for an engaging session as we delve into the critical issues surrounding thermal runaway and fire hazards in aviation. With the increasing use of lithium batteries in aircraft and passenger devices, understanding the associated risks has never been more vital.

This panel will unpack the nuances of smoke, fire, fumes, and lithium battery management, highlighting best practices, regulatory considerations, and the importance of a safety-first culture. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how to navigate these challenges confidently, ensuring both flight safety and operational integrity.

Moderator:
Lisa Sasse, Founder and Chairman of the Board, FlightStart Solutions

Panelists:
Nate Klatt, CEO, Klatt Works
David Wroth, Senior Director, Technology & Operations, UL Standards & Engagement
Jim Zanino, Head of Sales, VisionSafe

Join leaders from NBAA, the NBAA Safety Committee, and NATA Regulatory Affairs for a fast-paced check on the safety initiatives and regulatory priorities shaping business aviation. Hear what they’re focused on now — emerging risks, data-driven prevention, and practical guidance that you can apply — then take part in a candid, audience-driven Q&A to get answers to your biggest safety and compliance questions.

Moderator:
Dan Boedigheimer, Chief Safety Officer, Advanced Aircrew Academy

Panelists:
Mark Larsen, Director of Safety and Flight Operations, NBAA
Steve Berry, VP, Education and Safety, NATA
Sheryl Clarke, Senior Manger Enterprise Transportation & Aviation Safety, Netflix

This session explores the unique interpersonal dynamics of close-knit corporate aviation crews and how they directly influence safety, crew resource management, and SMS performance. Through focused, real-world vignettes grounded in aviation human factors and clinical psychology, the presenters highlight how subtle communication breakdowns can erode safety margins. Attendees will gain practical, psychology-based tools to recognize interpersonal threats, repair conflict, strengthen psychological safety, and improve crew communication in ways that meaningfully support a strong safety culture.
 

Speakers:
Capt. Michael Hoyt, Chubb Flight Operations, Co-Founder, Ascent Performance
Dr. Alison Hoyt, Clinical Psychologist, Co-Founder, Ascent Performance; Founder & Clinical Director, Ascent Psychology

This session examines emerging runway safety risks and the factors driving a rise in incidents across the industry. Attendees will explore practical, proven technology solutions that enhance situational awareness during critical ground operations and help reduce the risk of runway incursions and accidents without adding unnecessary complexity to the flight deck.

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