Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) administrator Steve Dickson will be a day one Keynote speaker at the 2021 NBAA Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition, which takes place October 12-14 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“NBAA is pleased to welcome once again administrator Dickson to NBAA-BACE,” says NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “His insights into issues that impact business aviation, such as safety, sustainability, diversity and innovation, are always of the utmost interest to our attendees.”

Dickson attended the 2019 convention, presenting at the NBAA-BACE Careers in Business Aviation Day, where he spoke with high school students about careers in aviation. He then spoke at the NBAA-BACE National Safety Forum, where he provided his perspectives on business aviation safety.

As head of the FAA, Dickson oversees a $16.4 billion dollar budget and more than 47,000 employees. Dickson is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, as well as a graduate of the Georgia State University College of Law. He is a former F-15 pilot, and has served as chairman of several industry stakeholder groups and federal advisory committees; and was sworn for a five-year term as FAA administrator on August 12, 2019.

NBAA has also announced a distinguished panel of experts that will discuss the federal perspective on facilitating advanced air mobility (AAM) operations during a session at the 2021 NBAA-BACE.

Set for 14:00 on Wednesday 13 October, the panel will offer perspectives from the following respected industry officials working in the AAM space: Steven Clarke, deputy associate administrator, Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); Col. Nathan P. Diller, director, AFWERX, a U.S. Air Force programme focused on developing a culture of innovation within the service; and Christopher J. Rocheleau, FAA acting associate administrator for aviation safety, tasked with leading the organisation responsible for setting safety standards and overseeing all aspects of the nation's aviation industry.

“NBAA-BACE serves an important place to not only showcase innovation across our industry, but to also discuss how these emerging technologies will be implemented,” says senior vice president of government affairs Christa Lucas “We're pleased to bring together these influential policymakers and thought leaders to host an important conversation about current work in the AAM space, how each agency is preparing and planning, and future policies and regulations in this space.”

Renowned American comedian and Emmy-nominated actor Rob Riggle will be a day one Keynote speaker at the show.