The NBAA has launched a new NBAA Owner Pilot Association Coalition (NBAA OPAC), that will bring together leaders of business aircraft owner-pilot organisations in a collaborative effort to tackle top concerns for business aviators and explore opportunities to grow the owner-operator community.

“NBAA is about serving all entrepreneurs and companies using an aircraft for business, including owner-pilots,” says senior vice president of strategy, marketing and innovation Andrew Broom. “This new, grassroots coalition will connect the best thinking to concrete action to address owner-operators' unique challenges, and also optimise the many ways aviation can support their business needs.”

A starter group of representatives from several owner-pilot groups are advising the association, including leaders from Cirrus Vision Pilots and Owners, Citation Jet Pilots Association (CJP), Embraer Jet Operators Association; Malibu M-Class Owner and Pilot Association; and TBM Owner Pilot Association (TBMOPA).

The coalition intends to quickly focus on a list of initial priorities to drive its work, including new ideas for further enhancing operator safety; innovative ways to address insurance coverage and costs; initiatives to drive owner-pilot associations' member acquisition and retention; and redoubling NBAA's focus on the value of its events for owner-operators.

“The needs of owner-operators are continually evolving, and the formation of this coalition is an important step in bringing us together to address mutually shared challenges,” says TBMOPA executive director Misty Stanistreet. “NBAA's coalition will leverage the association's proven ability to harness the collective expertise that will benefit all owner-aviators.”

CJP CEO Trent Corcia adds: “Owner-pilot associations create tremendous value for their members, and by coming together under this coalition tent, we'll create a force multiplier that can address changing needs and create opportunities in a way that hasn't been possible until now.”