At this year’s NBAA International Operators Conference (IOC) in Orlando, more than 500 aviation professionals came together to learn more about geopolitical developments, emerging security threats, and the regular meat of the event: operational requirements for business aircraft flying around the globe.
Attendees from 17 countries and 40 U.S. states celebrated the winners of the Guy Gribble IOC Appreciation Award for dedicated service to the IOC Committee: Mente's director of flight operations, Mark McIntyre, and Shawn Scott, co-founder of Scott International Procedures. The committee also released a new tool for international operators, the International Flight Plan Format Guide, which is designed to help operators comply with flight plan requirements from the FAA, ICAO, and foreign regulators.
Two key issues addressed during the IOC were U.S. government plans to impose new taxes and IRS audits on business aviation and the ongoing efforts to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“This year’s conference reached a new altitude in bringing the industry together to remain on top of an ever-changing global aviation landscape, with insights from leaders in the field, dedicated sessions with actionable intelligence, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities unavailable at any other industry event,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “Attendees have come away informed and inspired about the opportunities on the world stage.”