NBAA Announces Event Aimed at Light Aircraft

The National Business Aviation Association announced during Sun 'n Fun 2008 that it will hold its first Light Aircraft Convention & Exhibition (LAC&E) next spring in San Diego. Set to run March 12, 13 and 14, the event targets business owners who use light aircraft-up to and including very light jets and cabin class turboprops. NBAA expects to fill 1,000 exhibit spaces at the San Diego Convention Center. There will be a static display of close to 50 aircraft at nearby San Diego-Lindbergh Field Airport and 25 information sessions are planned, covering taxes, accounting, insurance, regulatory compliance, maintenance and other operational issues. Flying Senior Editor Robert Goyer said NBAA president Ed Bolen, when questioned, downplayed concerns that NBAA's new effort will overlap with other light aircraft shows and impinge on pilot organizations such as the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Bolen said 60 percent of NBAA's 8,000 current members operate a single aircraft.