NATA launches new FBO seminars

The National Air Transportation Association’s new seminar series, “How to Build a More Successful FBO,” got off to a strong start with the first of the two-day meetings held on October 24 and 25 on the Carnival Cruise Lines Sensation during a voyage from Port Canaveral in Florida to Nassau, Bahamas. The new seminar series is designed to help experienced and new FBO managers, supervisors and owners learn how to adapt to challenges facing the aviation industry, including the economic recession and FBO-specific issues.

A variety of attendees, 25 in total, from small to large FBOs all over the U.S. were in attendance. Aviation Business Strategies Group, a consulting firm headed by long-time FBO expert John Enticknap (also vice president/COO of Mercury Air Group), delivered much of the content at the seminar. Sessions covered such issues as FBO operations in tough times; dealing with fuel providers; staying on time and on budget with building projects; airport leases; contingency planning; NATA’s new employee prescreening program; working with fractional-share operators; a best-practices round table; and marketing and customer relations. NATA will hold another “How to Build a More Successful FBO” seminar at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Conn., May 14 to 15.