The annual NBAA convention will take place Tuesday through Thursday next week in Las Vegas, and 1,100 exhibitors from the business-jet industry and about 26,000 visitors have signed up to be there. About 80 aircraft are expected to fill the static display at Henderson Executive Airport. Cessna will show off its Citation Longitude large-cabin jet, in its first public appearance, and will provide an update on other products in the works, with more details expected on its new single-engine turboprop design. “We expect NBAA to be a positive catalyst for Textron Aviation as we look to 2016 and beyond,” CEO Scott Donnelly said recently in a phone call with company investors. “We believe the Longitude will be a significant game changer in the business jet world.” Diamond’s DA62 twin-engine diesel will make its U.S. debut.
Forum speakers will include FAA Administrator Michael Huerta and Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger. The show will also feature a “Career Day” on Thursday, and a “Single Pilot Safety Standdown,” a safety event for pilots of all aircraft from single-engine pistons to jets, is set for Monday, the day before the show. This year’s standdown will focus on preventing loss-of-control accidents. The show will close with a safety forum featuring NTSB Chairman Christopher Hart. AVweb’s editor-in-chief Russ Niles will be on site in Las Vegas all week, providing daily reports, videos and podcasts.
