Mental health, the safety management system (SMS) mandate, and the massive FAA reauthorization bill are among the many pressing issues that will take center stage at 2024 NBAA-BACE 2024, to be held October 22 to 24 in Las Vegas. NBAA highlighted these issues as among the several significant developments that will bring the safety landscape into focus “as never before” during the upcoming convention.
“In just the past year, the FAA has been taking a new look at pilot mental wellness,” said Mark Larsen, NBAA's director of safety and flight operations who served on the FAA Mental Health and Aviation Medical Clearances Aviation Rulemaking Committee. “Equally important, this year also included the introduction of a sweeping new safety management system mandate. Separately, but significantly, Congress has passed a 1,600-page multi-year FAA reauthorization bill with key safety provisions."
NBAA is bringing in experts at its annual convention to “unpack” the new SMS requirements, as well as changes in FAA’s mental fitness approach, and whether those have implications for flight readiness. These discussions will culminate with the association’s 2024 National Safety Forum and Single-Pilot Safety Standdown.
“Safety is a core value of the business aviation community, and it will be a centerpiece of the convention,” said Paul “BJ” Ransbury, a retired Royal Canadian Air Force captain, CEO of Air Performance Solutions, and NBAA's Safety Committee chair.