Washington, DC, May 8, 2015 – The 2015 NBAA Maintenance Management Conference (MMC2015), held this year for the first time in Portland, OR, attracted a record number of attendees – more than 800 individuals representing 42 states and the District of Columbia, as well as several foreign countries. The event also featured a sold-out exhibit hall with a record 156 exhibitors. The annual Maintenance Management Conference provides attendees a high-caliber educational program with an emphasis on leadership and management.
“The 2015 NBAA Maintenance Management Conference exceeded all expectations, with the largest exhibit hall to date and a greater than 10 percent increase in attendance from last year,” said Mike Nichols, NBAA’s vice president of operational excellence and professional development. “This conference is about developing the next generation of business aviation maintenance leaders, providing new tools and skills for current leaders, and enabling those individuals to develop important business relationships and networks.
“We are confident MMC2015 excelled in these areas, and we were pleased to offer attendees high-quality educational content,” he added.
During the conference, FAA officials awarded the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award to William E. Kerchenfaut. This prestigious award – named in honor of Charles Taylor, the first aviation mechanic of powered flight – recognizes the lifetime accomplishments of senior maintenance technicians. Kerchenfaut was honored for his more than 50 years of contributions to aviation safety as a professional aircraft mechanic.
At the conference NBAA announced the recipients of the NBAA Maintenance Committee’s Maintenance Technical Reward and Career Scholarships (TRACS). Thanks to the scholarships, more than 40 individuals will be able to attend aircraft model-specific courses at training centers offering aircraft, engine and avionics instruction. Learn more about the scholarship winners.
Also, the Maintenance Committee announced the two winners of the inaugural Hank Hilsmann Memorial Scholarship. This new award was presented in coordination with Dassault Falcon Jet Corp. and Dassault’s authorized training providers CAE Simuflite and Flight Safety International in memory of Hilsmann, a former field representative with Dassault Falcon Jet. Learn more about the Hilsmann award winners.
MMC2015 also featured several charitable special events, including a golf tournament, silent auction and raffle for a one-of-a-kind custom toolbox from Snap-On Tools, the proceeds from which help support the TRACS program.
“We congratulate the recipients of this year’s TRACS scholarships and are grateful to the NBAA Maintenance Committee, attendees, sponsors, exhibitors and everyone who helped raise funds to continue this important program,” said Nichols.
Business aviation maintenance professionals looking to expand their leadership skills and develop management techniques should plan to attend MMC2016, scheduled for May 3 to 5 in Kansas City, MO.