There will be the usual high-profile announcements, hundreds of millions of dollar worth of hardware on display and a who’s who of the aviation industry present as the National Business Aviation Association celebrates its 61s convention in Orlando, starting Monday, but it will be tough to ignore the big elephant in the room. Although the aviation industry has prospered against a backdrop of economic uncertainty for several years, the monumental issues facing the U.S. economy are sure to be a theme as the industry’s movers and shakers ponder a course through the financial turbulence. Among the most anticipated events at NBAA is the release of Honeywell’s business aviation forecast, a document that was brimming with confidence last year.
A few major unveilings are scheduled, including the first look at Bombardier’s Learjet 85 mockup. There will be an update on Cessna’s programs, including its large-cabin Columbus project and it looks like head-up displays are the next big thing for electronics. As always, AVweb staff will be on the convention floor, at the airport and in the news conferences bringing up-to-date coverage of the show.
