Just because there’s no FAA regulation requiring Part 91 operators to complete an official international training program before they blast off to other parts of the planet doesn’t mean skipping such a program is a good idea, even if it is legal. While the component titles–customs, oceanic ATC, safety management systems, aviation security, fatigue management, insurance issues, emissions controls, ICAO topics, flight planning and so on–don’t often change, the details of any one topic can and do change, quickly enough to become a thorn in the side of an unprepared international flight crew. Hence the enduring popularity and relevance of NBAA’s annual international operators conference, held this year in San Diego on March 12 to 15. While not a substitute for an international training program, to varying extent the event opens the eyes of all who attend, first-timer and seasoned pro alike. This year, slightly more than half of the 400 people in the audience said they were first-time attendees.
