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NBAA-BACE 2021 Review
NBAA-BACE 2021: They Came Back. By the Thousands!
The Business Aviation community swarmed the Las Vegas Convention Center's newest space, the West Hall, to learn, earn, and reconnect with their world at the National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in October. Dave Higdon reports...
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The atmosphere at NBAA-BACE 2021 reflected something of a celebratory mode as friends, colleagues, customers, and products and service providers re-convened for face-to-face meetings, just glad to be there after months of virtual events and Zoom meetings.
Strong crowds circulated across the static display at Henderson Executive Airport and moved through the convention’s West Hall adjoining the older sections of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
There was something of a contrast among the convention delegates: On the one hand, international visitors were absent, due to the US government’s international travel restrictions. But on the other hand, many first-time attendees mixed with veteran show-goers in their quests to seek out new opportunities, make new connections, and learn what’s new in the Business Aviation industry.
With a mix of new aircraft announcements and a string of avionics- and electronics-oriented unveilings, business was strong.
The show featured inspirational figures and trailblazers who shared personal stories of passion, perseverance, and triumph. Among them were Olympic champion skier Lindsey Vonn; astronaut Dr. Sian Proctor, the first Black woman to pilot a spacecraft; and visionary pioneer Martine Rothblatt.
Sustainability Focus
A central focus during NBAA-BACE 2021 was sustainability, highlighting the sundry opportunities to reduce the impact of carbon dioxide on our atmosphere and its contribution to global climate change.
With NBAA’s carbon-offset effort active, the convention’s carbon-offset program made the show one of the world’s largest carbon-neutral aviation events. The efforts went beyond mere pledges, and into action with almost 100 show exhibitors signing a Green Pledge to reduce their
carbon footprint.
And the underlying theme of the gathering reflected Business Aviation’s concern about global climate change and their contributions to the effort to lower carbon dioxide emissions through a variety of methods – most prominently through operators’ focus on using sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).
A plethora of Business Aviation players – including fuelers and operators – addressed Business Aviation’s leadership toward advancing the global market for SAF.
Each departing flight from Henderson Executive Airport flew away with SAF in the tank, while McCarran International Airport also offered SAF for the first time. And new this year, operators flying to NBAA-BACE had the opportunity to use book-and-claim to choose SAF.
In his remarks at NBAA-BACE 2021 FAA Administrator Steve Dickson told delegates that his agency is focused on supporting the development of new Business Aviation technologies, and initiatives to contribute to further lowering carbon emissions.
The day before the convention's opening, executives with several Business Aviation organizations stood unified in renewing the Business Aviation Commitment on Climate Change, renewing support launched previously, the organizations reaffirmed their goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Among the other key happenings at the event were:
Dassault Falcon
Development of Dassault’s Falcon 10X is progressing onschedule and is set for service entry in 2025. The company displayed a full-scale Falcon 10X cabin mock-up for the first time at NBAA-BACE in October.
Measuring 6.7ft high and 9.1ft wide, the cabin offers a larger cross-section than some regional jets’, according to Dassault. Those dimensions allowed the interior design teams to “imagine a cabin environment more characteristic of a posh penthouse apartment than a leading high-end business aircraft,” according to the company.
Meanwhile, look for the Falcon 6X – which Dassault claims will be the first ultra-widebody business jet – to receive type certification in 2022.
Although Dassault introduced the aircraft in 2018 and completed its first test flight in March 2021, the Falcon 6X has already begun winning awards, including a 2020 International Yacht & Aviation Award for interior design and a 2021 Red Dot: Best of the Best award for its premium cabin design.
Honda Aircraft
New, larger, offering longer legs, Honda Aircraft had a cabin mock-up on the convention floor, providing delegates a glimpse at its concept for a jet that will follow the current HA-420.
Honda Aircraft’s HondaJet 2600 would offer transcontinental range of 2,625nm, and Mid-size Jet cabin seating for up to 11. A fuselage mockup revealed stub wings, and engines of the same pylon style as the existing HondaJet HA-420.
According to Honda Aircraft president and CEO Michimasa Fujino, the HondaJet 2600 is being developed similarly to the HA-420, with the company first showing it as a concept for market research ahead of a later a decision whether to move into full-scale R&D – with market interest the guiding factor.
“There is a lot of activity in R&D with the interior mockup and progress of our design,” he said. “What we are proposing by the HondaJet 2600 is very unique compared to other business jets.”
Textron Aviation
Textron Aviation made two introductions at NBAA-BACE 2021: Gen2 variants of its Cessna Citation M2 and Citation XLS jets, adding a blend of new technology and interior upgrades to its Light and Mid-size business jets.
According to an overview of the Citation M2 Gen2 from Textron, the upgrade gives the Citation M2 a range of 1,550nm, and capacity for up to seven passengers. In the cockpit, pilots will “enjoy improved boot-up and processing speed” with the aircraft’s advanced Garmin G3000 avionics suite. The company also added three inches of legroom for the First Officer/Co-Pilot right seat position.
Textron has added wireless charging capabilities and USB-A ports to each of its cabin seats, upgraded cabin illumination with accent lighting, wireless charging, and USB-C ports in the cabin club area.
Meanwhile, Textron Aviation’s upgraded Citation XLS Gen2 has a range of 2,100nm and seating for up to 12 passengers. Inside the cockpit, Collins Aerospace is providing its Pro Line Fusion 21 avionics, while the main exterior enhancement includes a lighted airstair door.
Other cabin enhancements include a new wireless cabin management system that includes a touchscreen moving map monitor, wireless charging, USB charging ports at each cabin seat and optional Bongiovi Immersive speaker-less sound system.
Pilatus Aircraft
Pilatus reported strong interest and order activity on its PC-24 Super Versatile Jet and the PC-12 NGX.
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd CEO Markus Blucher said, “Two years ago, we were unveiling the newly certified PC-12 NGX to an enthusiastic audience at this same location. Who could have predicted the events of the past 24 months?
“We are happy to be back here, in the largest market for Pilatus aircraft, and are very fortunate that in this challenging environment sales of the PC-12 NGX and the PC-24 continue to exceed our original projections.
“Sales may also improve with news that both aircraft are now certified to operate using sustainable alternative jet fuel,” he added.
Airport flew away with SAF in the tank...”
Other Noteworthy Items...
The avionics business is more than holding its own in the aftermath of the pandemic’s onset two years ago.
While sales for forward-fit suffered a bit from a slowdown in airframe manufacturing, in the past 12 months both forward-fit and retrofit have been strong players as operators – with most mandates behind them – look to the operational gains of new navigators, radar altimeters and lighter, sharper, less power-hungry cockpit and cabin displays.
These are all part of the endless cycle of product development that typifies business and general aviation. More information from www.nbaa.org/bace ❚
DAVE HIGDON
