Standout NBAA Maintenance Conference Inspires, Fuels the Momentum for NBAA-BACE

Contact: Dan Hubbard, 202-431-5970, [email protected]

New Orleans, May 7, 2026 - With a theme of "Big Easy, Bright Futures," the National Business Aviation Association's (NBAA's) 2026 Maintenance Conference energized more than 1,000 registered attendees with a high-octane, business-driven event marked by a shared enthusiasm for an industry on the move.

The Maintenance Conference comes at a moment when the sector's value is in sharp focus. Recent studies show that over the coming decade, hundreds of thousands of aviation maintenance specialists will need to be added to the workforce in order to meet demand.

Fittingly, NBAA's conference highlighted the enthusiasm for being part of the dynamic and continually evolving maintenance profession in the years to come, drawing attendees from 44 states and five countries, 42% of whom were first-time attendees.

A packed exhibit hall featured more than 150 leading companies, including the most known and trusted brands, showcasing the latest business aviation products, services, tools and technologies.

"The success of the 2026 NBAA Maintenance Conference reinforces a critical industry imperative," said NBAA Senior Vice President Events and Professional Engagement Jo Damato, CAM. "We must redouble our commitment to attract, retain, develop and celebrate a skilled workforce ready to lead a future defined by rapid change on many fronts.

"This week's conference underscored that future-focused mindset, and fueled a momentum that will carry into NBAA's Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), with a particular onsite emphasis on maintenance education and engagement."

Inspiring Keynote, Engaging Sessions

NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen opened the conference by emphasizing aviation maintenance specialists' critical role with regard to safety, the industry's highest priority.

"In business aviation, we're safety first, and safety always," Bolen said. "There's no group that cares more, and has a bigger impact on safety, than the technicians."

Keynote speaker David Rendall challenged attendees to think differently about their perceived weaknesses, and consider potential flaws as strengths, when assessing opportunities for professional growth.

"If we want people to have brighter futures, we have to change the way we see ourselves and each other," he said. "We succeed because of our weaknesses, not in spite of them."

Read more about the 2026 Maintenance Conference keynote session.

The keynote kicked off a robust slate of expert-led sessions that tackled the topics defining the future of business aviation maintenance - including solutions to address the maintainer shortage, perspectives on the rise of artificial intelligence, workforce-development tips and guidance on safety management systems and aircraft integrity.

Paul Gillenwater and Steve Steele, FAA Safety Team program managers, presented a standing-room-only session that introduced maintenance managers to key FAA online tools, including the Dynamic Regulatory System, the Service Difficulty Reporting System and the Airworthiness Certification Portal.

An NBAA Professional Development Program course on adaptive leadership took place prior to the opening of the conference.

Learn more about the education sessions at the conference.

One Event, Countless Connections

Exhibitors and attendees consistently noted the quality of attendees at the conference - a key element in distinguishing the event as an unrivaled strategic opportunity for connecting with purpose.

"The show has been amazing," said Meredith Hedwall, vice president of customer success at Pulsar, which exhibited at the show for the first time this year. "We will be back next year, with plans to include this event in our list of 'must-dos' every year."

Mike Saathoff, senior director of King Air maintenance sales and programs at Elliott Aviation, said, "We've been able to connect with our key contacts and combine a number of visits with a lot of customers, all in a three-day event."

Kellie Roby, CAM, vice president of safety services with Polaris Aero, said the Maintenance Conference offers a vital opportunity for face-to-face meetings. "Business aviation is a relationship-based industry; at this conference, we build our relationships and make sure that our customers feel cared for and supported," she said. "It's really hard to do that via email and virtually, so it's great to be in-person, shaking hands and getting to know one another."

Investing in the Future

The conference also spotlighted the need for collective industry investment in the long-term strength of the business aviation maintenance workforce.

The week included several targeted receptions and other networking moments where young professionals and aviation maintenance students could network, connect with mentors and learn more about available career opportunities.

In another noteworthy conference moment, NBAA's Maintenance Committee presented Maintenance AMT Scholarships and Hilsmann Memorial Scholarships to 27 aspiring maintainers, to help them jump-start their business aviation careers.

Learn more about the Hilsmann Memorial Scholarship recipients.

Learn more about the Maintenance AMT Scholarship recipients.

More than $23,000 was raised at the conference - via a Snap-on toolbox raffle and a silent auction - to benefit future maintenance scholarships.

Doug Carr, NBAA senior vice president, safety, security, sustainability and international operations, summed up the week by noting, "NBAA's Maintenance Conference is where the business aviation maintenance, technical and asset-management community comes together to exchange knowledge, embrace innovation and inspire future industry professionals. This year's event delivered on all fronts, offering attendees an exceptional lineup of business opportunities, exhibit hall demonstrations, education sessions and meaningful moments for hands-on experiences with cutting-edge tools and technologies.

"NBAA especially thanks conference co-chairs Jim Crone and Brett Semple, and the full committee, for their work in delivering a conference that was as engaging as it was informative."

Next year's NBAA Maintenance Conference takes place May 4-6, 2027, in Charlotte, NC.

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Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful. The association represents more than 10,000 company and professional members and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), the world's largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at nbaa.org.

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