NBAA’s 2026 Int’l Operators Conference Drives Global Operations Excellence
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Neil Singer speaks at IOC 2026. Image credit: nbaa
The National Business Aviation Association’s (NBAA’s) 2026 International Operators Conference (IOC2026) brought together an energized group of the industry’s most knowledgeable professionals for three days of meticulously selected content focusing on operations in an increasingly complex global mission environment.
More than 560 registered attendees (41% of whom were newcomers) from 20 countries and 41 U.S. states and territories took part in at-capacity sessions covering every facet of international mission planning at this year’s IOC.
“The IOC’s theme to ‘inspire, optimize and connect’ set the tone perfectly,” said NBAA International Operators Committee Chair Paul Scurio. “For entrepreneurs and companies managing international mission planning, the event offered an unmatched opportunity to access the very latest information available, all in one gathering.”
From start to finish, IOC2026 offered value at every turn.
Operationally, the conference program delivered exactly what international operators need most: clarity. Attendees gained rare access to clear, concise and authoritative briefings on evolving global route navigation, paired with practical, real-world advice from veteran international pilots covering everything from flight planning to safe operations at some of the world’s most remote and challenging airports.
The full lineup of curated discussions also included insights on other top mission considerations, including GPS jamming security, cyber threats, evolving pilot health care policies and other concerns.
The conference met the industry’s larger moment, marked by intensifying military operations in the Middle East, providing specialists with timely and actionable intelligence on the region.
“This IOC assembled a deep bench of experts with strategic guidance related to both evolving global operations and quickly shifting regional considerations,” said Laura Everington, NBAA director, flight operations and regulations. “The information regarding the Middle East – where the geopolitical environment is especially volatile – was particularly relevant.
“That said, we also had essential information operators need to inform travel to the destinations most frequently on their itineraries: the North Atlantic, Mexico, South America, Africa, Asia, Australia and airport-sparse regions of Oceania.”
IOC 2026 also served as a unique moment for participants to connect with purpose. An exclusive networking experience held on the flight deck of the iconic USS Midway Museum, where conversations unfolded against the backdrop of aviation history and the San Diego Harbor, was among the conference week’s memorable moments.
Keynotes Inform and Inspire
Another conference highlight was a riveting Day One Keynote by five-time master certified flight instructor Neil Singer, who delivered a powerful, step-by-step deconstruction of a 2009 business aircraft accident on Greenland’s ice cap. His candid analysis transformed tragedy into teaching, equipping pilots with practical lessons to sharpen decision-making and elevate safety across their own operations.
Executive Coach Tiffany Jones, the Day Two Keynote speaker, warned about the dangers of working in a consistently high-pressure environment, and offered tools business aviation professionals can use to reduce stress and its potentially devastating impacts.
Attendees also were able to engage directly with representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), who were onsite throughout the show, answering questions about U.S. regulatory changes and policies.
Pilot medical certification policies were front and center at a panel discussion featuring FAA Federal Air Surgeon Dr. Susan Northrup, who shared the latest data and policy guidance surrounding pilot mental health treatment — a subject that is drawing increased attention across the industry.
The International Business Aviation Council also had representatives on hand to answer questions about the latest operations issues, as did the European Business Aviation Association, the Canadian Business Aviation Association and the Brazilian Association of General Aviation.
“The turnout has been very strong, and the response I’ve heard from conference participants has been universally positive,” said EVO Flight Services Operations Manager Rob Turpin, an IOC attendee since 2002. “I’ve noticed a lot of new people here this year, with a lot of energy. I’ve made some very good contacts.”
An Expanded Fight Against Human Trafficking
Among the conference’s most powerful moments was a compelling panel discussion highlighting NBAA’s expanded commitment to combating human trafficking, in partnership with Signature Aviation and the American Association of Airport Executives.
The session featured survivor and Sun Gate Foundation CEO Shamere McKenzie, whose firsthand account of being drawn into trafficking as a financially struggling collegiate student-athlete left a lasting impression and reinforced the aviation industry’s critical role in awareness and reporting. All three organizations highlighted tools and resources available to train business aviation professionals on how to recognize potentially suspicious activity. Watch the IOC2026 session on human trafficking mitigation on NBAA’s YouTube channel.
Scholarships and Recognition
With an eye toward the future, NBAA announced eight recipients of its 2026 International Operators Scholarships to standout professionals who are poised to become the next generation of industry leaders, further underscoring the association’s continued investment in talent development.
“This annual gathering of international pilots, scheduler-dispatchers and other business aviation professionals is like no other,” said NBAA Senior Vice President, Events and Professional Engagement Jo Damato, CAM. “When this tight-knit global community gathers together, they create a focused learning fellowship that is both collegial and electric – truly an essential part of our thriving industry. We’re already looking forward to plans for the 2027 IOC.”
The 2027 NBAA International Operators Conference will take place March 23-25, in New Orleans.
