The NBAA 2023 Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference (SDC2023) broke attendance records this week in Nashville. The annual SDC offers opportunities for education and networking in the aviation industry.
As companies look to fill gaps in staffing amidst a booming demand in aviation, certification courses were packed. The 2023 event welcomed over 460 exhibit booths and 3,400 attendees. More than 350, just over 10%, were first-time attendees. The conference theme was “Community, connections and a little bit country.”
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There were more than 30 education sessions offered, including Professional Development Program courses to cover a range of industry topics and pressing issues. Ahead of the conference, the NBAA announced its new Business Aircraft Scheduler Certificate Program, which is an assessment-based certificate program to provide participants with introductory to mid-level training on the functions of a business aircraft scheduler.
The NBAA also recognized the recipients and sponsors of the Schedulers & Dispatchers Training Scholarships and Schedulers & Dispatchers Scholarship Awards. Other honors, like the Schedulers & Dispatchers Outstanding Achievement and Leadership Award, were given out during the event.
“SDC2023 was an incredible, record-breaking event, but it’s about so much more than the numbers, it’s about the people,” NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said. “This is a group that’s very passionate. They are committed to coming together, giving back to the community and moving the industry forward, and the way they do that as part of this event is inspiring.”
Winner of Schedulers & Dispatchers Outstanding Achievement and Leadership Award Spring Adamo
GlobalAir.com CFO Elia Carrithers was among those in attendance. She said Nashville provided a great venue with everything in walking distance. The company representatives she spoke with were overwhelmingly positive about the direction in which the industry is headed.
“Everyone is growing their business,” she said. “They are all adding new hangars, new facilities, new staff. That showed in the record attendance. Some growing pains come with that, but we all realize that is a good thing.”
Among the company leaders that Carrithers met with included representatives with a pair of new FBOs that registered with the GlobalAir.com Airport Resource Center on the spot., Both of those FBOs are opening at airports with runways in the 5,000-foot range. Carrithers said much of the growth appears to be among mid-size airports looking to capture overflow from larger airports nearby.
Speaker Michelle “Mace” Curran
The SDC2023 keynote session opened with a mini-concert by Grammy-winning songwriter Josh Kear. United States Air Force combat veteran and former Thunderbird lead solo Michelle “Mace” Curran spoke a motivating tale of finding the courage to achieve your dreams afterward.
“Putting ourselves out there can be terrifying, but I promise you the cost of stagnating because of that fear outweighs the feeling of vulnerability,” Curran said.
Curran shared stories behind her inspiring career and how she put her fear behind her to achieve personal and professional success and happiness.
“There will be days of uncertainty, but you can be bold and brave,” she said. “It will help you create deeper connections and a stronger community, and you will be unstoppable.”
Attendees giving back to Thistle Farms
The event hosts many from the industry and gives back to the host city, Nashville, Tennessee, with a volunteer effort from a group of attendees. About 30 people from the event volunteered with Nashville-based Thistle Farms, an organization that for 25 years has provided a method of hope and healing for women survivors of trafficking, prostitution and addiction. SDC volunteers helped to make products for the organization to sell, with profits going toward the Thistle Farms mission.
SDC2023 Co-Chairs Megan Knox and Adam Hartley said the show had exceeded expectations.
“It’s been a fantastic event,” Knox said. “The keynote was amazing; the education sessions were standing room only in many cases and the show floor has been buzzing. The attendees are engaged and interested in doing everything the show has to offer.”
“We really have to thank our committee for its critical role in organizing a world-class event,” Hartley said. “We tip our hat to them, and we know that, thanks to their outstanding work, we can look forward to an even more ambitious SDC experience in the years to come.”
The 2024 Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference will be held March 12-15 in Fort Worth, Texas.
Contact
Name: Haley Davoren
, Digital Content Manager
Company: GlobalAir.com
Website: https://globalair.com
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Phone: 502-456-3934
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