When NBAA’s annual Schedulers and Dispatchers conference last visited Savannah, Ga., in 2008, it was at the apex of the industry’s most recent successful period. That conference attracted more than 2,600 attendees, the highest total in the show’s history, as well as 390 exhibitors. The end of that year marked the start of the recession that has ravaged economies around the world.
After several years of industry erosion, Schedulers and Dispatchers returned to Savannah last month for its 22nd iteration, and attendees fueled an upbeat mood as the industry experiences signs of revival. “It was a great vibe, good atmosphere; you can tell that business is starting to pick up a little bit,” said Meric Reese, the newly appointed director of scheduling for fractional provider Executive AirShare. “There wasn’t as much concern this year about employment and where the business is going as there was the last time I attended, so it’s a good feeling.” That feeling is supported by a definite uptick in business aircraft activity over the past year. According to statistics released by industry data provider Argus, 2010 saw a 5.8-percent increase in the number of business aviation flights over 2009, with every month posting gains over the previous year.
