Stephen Pope

Exhibitors who prepared to make big announcements in New Orleans last month were scrambling to draw up alternative plans in the weeks following NBAA's decision to reschedule its annual convention for December 12, 13 and 14 in the wake of last month's terrorist attacks.
A handful of major announcements involving new business airplanes were put on hold, and business jet makers told AIN they were unsure of exactly when or how they would make those announcements now that the convention has been postponed. 
One obvious strategy would be to delay making important announcements until the rescheduled convention in New Orleans. Executives at some airframe makers, however, said they were concerned that three months is simply too long to wait, especially since marketing and advertising campaigns timed to coincide with such announcements have already been developed and, in some cases, even launched. 
Sources at the major business aircraft OEMs told AIN that they may go ahead with planned announcements later this month, in time to make the November deadlines of industry trade publications. As far as the rescheduled NBAA Convention is concerned, some companies have already told the association they do not plan to attend as exhibitors, but most said they are likely to send representatives to attend security and safety informational sessions.
Observers generally agree that the postponed event will likely be smaller than the convention that was to be held last month, which was expected to draw up to 30,000 attendees and more than 1,000 exhibitors. Many of the companies that had planned on large presences at the September show told AIN they are planning to attend the December convention with scaled-down exhibits and reduced staffs. Others said they will forego the show altogether, while a few said they are planning to go to New Orleans with large presences, on par with what they had scheduled last month.
Sam Hill, vice chairman of Embraer, which is on the verge of gaining certification of its first business jet, the Legacy, said the company is planning to participate fully in the rescheduled show. 
“We are determined that life will go on and commerce will continue,” said Hill. “We have mixed emotions at Embraer. We’re very, very saddened by the tragedy and our hearts really go out to all the victims’ families. But I have to admit, the interest for corporate airplanes has really picked up in the weeks following the attacks.”
December is not the ideal time for a trade show, a fact that has influenced decisions at some companies. A spokesman for Honeywell in Phoenix said the avionics and engines maker has informed the NBAA board of directors that it will not be involved in the postponed convention, except to assist the association with technical and safety briefings. The spokesman cited the rescheduled meeting’s closeness to Christmas and an already packed convention and airshow schedule as reasons Honeywell will not attend. The spokesman also said Honeywell has decided not to send representatives to the United Arab Emirates for the Dubai Air Show next month. 
Security Concerns
At press time a spokesman for Gulfstream said the company had not yet decided whether it would attend the rescheduled NBAA Convention, but he did say that the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., have cast doubt on its involvement in the Dubai 2001 show.
Gulfstream parent General Dynamics recently bought the Galaxy and Astra business jet lines from Israel’s IAI, which continues to build the airplanes in Tel Aviv and fly them to the U.S. for completion. In the wake of the terrorist attacks, Gulfstream executives no doubt have security concerns about the Savannah, Ga.-based airframe maker’s business involvement with IAI and the company’s plans for the Dubai Air Show. 
Gulfstream was the first major OEM to announce its decision not to participate in last month’s NBAA Convention. Apart from security concerns, Gulfstream cited logistical problems of getting people and airplanes to New Orleans as a reason for the decision, which was followed by similar statements from the other major OEMs.
Raytheon Is Out
Since September 11, Raytheon Aircraft has made no announcements, with the exception of a spokesman’s comment that the Wichita airframer had decided not to attend the rescheduled show. There was no word on when Raytheon planned to make announcements that had been scheduled for last month.
At press time Cessna said a decision had not been made regarding its involvement in the convention, but a spokeswoman said that if the company attends it will be in a “diminished capacity.”
Dassaut Falcon Jet said it would exhibit at the December show, but it had yet to decide the level its participation would take. A spokesman did confirm, however, that it will have airplanes on static display.
Executive Jet Aviation said at press time it was near a decision on its involvement in the show, but a spokesman admitted it was leaning toward a much-reduced presence. “It’s a bad time for us, it’s right before the close of our fiscal year, and right before Christmas,” he said.
In an interview, NBAA president Jack Olcott said it is clear from discussions the association has held with members that the business aviation community sees a need to come together in the wake of the terrorist attacks, but he declined to speculate about how many people might attend the rescheduled December show.
NBAA lost $12 million from the cancellation of the convention. The rescheduled event will help the association gain some of that revenue back, but it is clear NBAA will take a financial hit, possibly as high as $10 million, said Olcott.
“We know our exhibitors have already incurred costs and some have told us they can’t afford to attend,” said Olcott. “We’re simply giving them an opportunity to display again. What the exhibitors do is up to them.”

NBAA 2001 assumes an all-new aura

Exhibitors who prepared to make big announcements in New Orleans last month were scrambling to draw up alternative plans in the weeks following NBAA's deci