The Air Charter Association (The ACA) held its first US Air Charter Regional Forum in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on August 19-20. The event began with a networking reception at W Aviation, an FBO at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, before conference sessions moved to the Courtyard by Marriott on Fort Lauderdale Beach.

Over 50 air charter professionals representing brokers, operators, FBOs and support companies attended, with delegates from North, Central and South America.

The opening panel discussed challenges facing the US charter market. Moderated by ACA’s North America board member Ryan Waguespack, the panel featured Viviana Kozin of George J. Priester Aviation, Joel Fenn of Air Charter Service, Jack Burt of Chapman Freeborn and Kirti Odedra of Planet Nine Private Air.

Guest speaker Bettina Mrusek of Embry-Riddle University spoke on student pathways into aviation careers. ACA chief executive Glenn Hogben introduced ACA training courses through an aviation quiz, while Joshua Crumbaugh of Phish Firewall covered cyber security risks.

Hogben, the ACA's chief executive, says: “It is great to see the association building upon the successes of our previous US roundtable events by bringing the Air Charter Regional Forum to Florida for the first time. It was an invaluable opportunity to connect with our US members and colleagues, face-to-face, and share some of the initiatives we have been developing, including our professional training courses, which we are continuing to expand.”

Waguespack, international board member for North America at the ACA, says: “With more than 50 guests in attendance, the forum made for an excellent networking opportunity, and it was great to engage with industry colleagues. It also provided the perfect platform to promote the hard work of The ACA and learn how we can better support our US members and add value to the wider US air charter industry.”

The ACA has more than 50 US members within a global membership of 440 companies across 61 countries. Sponsors included AEG Fuels, W Aviation FBO and Silver Lining Inflight Catering.