S&DC PREVIEW SDC2020, which will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina form March 10 -
ELEVATE YOUR CAREER
13, is the must-attend event for FBOs, tripplanners, fuel-suppliers and anyone else involved in the scheduling and dispatching of business aircraft. Nick Klenske picks out some of the highlights to expect from the show
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2020 edition of the event takes place in Charlotte.
oute and documentation planning, access to airspace and airports, managing risks in disruptive weather situations – all critical to a smooth and safe flight and all tasks falling onto the desk of the scheduler and dispatcher. As the role and responsibilities of the aircraft scheduler and dispatcher continues to grow, so too has the NBAA’s annual Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference. As the premier professional development event for anyone with a foot in the world of scheduling and/or dispatching business aircraft, this year’s event will take place March 10 - 13 in Charlotte, North Carolina. With the aim of bringing attendees up-to-date on the latest information critical to the scheduling and dispatching job function, this year’s conference agenda was developed to help attendees take their careers to new heights. “If you’re interested in elevating your career to the next level, look no further than the 2020 NBAA Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference,” says the NBAA. “Whether this is your first time joining us or you’re a seasoned SDC attendee, you’ll want to connect with this vibrant industry at SDC2020.” SDC2020 promises to be full of opportunities to learn best practices and trends from both industry experts and fellow attendees.
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Organizers specifically developed this year’s conference agenda with the aim of encouraging attendees to build their resilience in the face of new challenges. “Not only will you hear from industry experts about the critical information you need to do your job well, you’ll also learn from an inspiring keynote speaker about the key to staying resilient both professionally and personally,” says the NBAA. That keynote speaker is Warren MacDonald, whose life’s boundaries were redefined in 1997 when a freak rock fall left him stranded for two days only to undergo the amputation of both legs at mid-thigh. Yet just 10 months later, Warren climbed Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain using a modified wheelchair and the seat of his pants. “This keynote presentation focuses on what we can do to prepare for our challenges in advance and how we can fortify ourselves against the curve balls and roadblocks before they happen by practicing resilience,” says the NBAA. Other highlights from the agenda include sessions on the ABCs of active flight following, how to fill the tank without breaking the bank, security in the 21 st century, and team building for aviation professionals. “SDC2020 is all about ensuring you learn current best practices and trends from industry experts and fel-
low attendees,” adds the NBAA. “Through top-level education sessions and critical peer-to-peer networking, we’ll help you work smarter, not harder, in the year ahead.” According to the NBAA, SDC2020 will welcome over 2,900 attendees from 47 countries and all 50 states. It will also feature over 500 exhibitors, several of which we highlight here. Introducing the Green FBO In November of last year, Jet Aviation opened its new sustainably built FBO and hangar complex at Van Nuys Airport in California. The much anticipated project includes a brandnew 10,000 sq. ft. FBO terminal, a 43,000 sq. ft. hangar with 8,000 sq. ft. of office space and long, unobstructed ramp space. The hangar has a 30 ft. clearance, which can accommodate such large aircraft as the Gulfstream G700 and the Global 7500. “As part of one of the country’s busiest general aviation airports, we are proud to offer our customers a comprehensive solution for all of their aircraft service needs, including traditional FBO services like fueling, hangarage, aircraft cleaning, catering, and domestic and international handling, as well as full-service aircraft management, charter, and on-demand maintenance,” says Michael McDaniel, Director and General Manager of the Van Nuys FBO.
