Record-breaking NBAA SDC2026 powers business opportunities and a bold vision for the future

A record-setting 3,500 attendees had an opportunity to see the full range of leading products and services on a sold-out exhibit floor over two business-driven days that also featured inspiration, innovation and powerful in-person connection at every turn throughout the 2026 National Business Aviation Association Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference (SDC2026) in Cleveland.

“The year’s conference was yet another record-breaking event, but it was about much more than a set of numbers,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “This conference uniquely brings together a group of professionals who fundamentally understand that we are all better - as individuals, and as an industry - when we can come together to share our passion, our knowledge and our sense of possibility about the future. That collective optimism and excitement also reached a high point at this year’s conference.”

For the more than 440 leading companies that filled the Huntington Convention Center, SDC2026 was a strategic opportunity to supercharge business with clients and customers from all 50 US states, and 55 countries from around the world - more than 350 of whom were first-time participants at the event.

“When you come here to SDC, you have opportunities to speak directly and in person with many different people,” said exhibitor Charles Le Duc, president and CEO of Clarity Flight Logistics. “Having that face-to-face contact is invaluable.”

“It’s nice to see our clients, connect with industry peers and demonstrate our products and services. We’ve had a successful show,” said Jenn Stone, senior sales manager at Argus International.

“The vibe is great, a lot of energetic people,” said Savannah Mittleider of Paragon Aviation Group. “People are happy to be here. Business aviation is continually growing and headed in the right direction, and that’s the vibe I got from this event.”

An enthusiastic, energized industry

The sense of opportunity that permeated the SDC exhibit floor also characterized the show’s sessions, starting with the standing-room-only keynote featuring iconic business aviation visionary and Flexjet Chairman Kenneth “Kenn” Ricci. The industry pioneer’s story of how he built his fractional business jet fleet from the ground up echoed a key theme of SDC2026: Progress happens when people adapt, rethink and innovate.

Flexjet Chairman Kenneth “Kenn” Ricci (R) presented a 'standing-room-only Keynote.

Other top industry experts and big-picture thinkers were on hand for more than two dozen education sessions, sharing indispensable guidance across operations, technology,leadership - and most importantly, safety. In the days leading up to the conference, NBAA offered Professional Development Program courses in leadership and essential skills.

An important advocacy platform

As with other NBAA events, SDC offered an opportunity to showcase the industry’s value. On the event’s opening day, a delegation of association staff and industry leaders met with representatives from Ohio’s congressional offices at Cleveland’s Burke Lakefront Airport (BKL) to underscore the importance of general aviation in connecting citizens, companies and communities in the Buckeye State and across the country.

Cleveland’s Burke Lakefront Airport

Staff members from the offices of Sens. Jon Husted (R-OH) and Bernie Moreno (R-OH), as well as Reps. Shontel Brown (D-11-OH), Dave Joyce (R-14-OH) and Max Miller (R-07-OH), were also offered a tour of the SDC show floor, to see the diversity and importance of business aviation first-hand.

Honoring excellence, investing in the future

Celebrating excellence in all its forms was also a part of the conference, as the committee presented the prestigious 2026 NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Outstanding Achievement and Leadership Award to Exclusive Air founder and President Holly Whitaker. The award honors those who have shared their expertise, provided extraordinary service, exhibited leadership and made significant contributions to the scheduling and dispatching function.

The conference also made a significant investment in the industry’s future through the generosity of the committee’s scholarship donors, who awarded more than $40,000 in monetary scholarships this year, along with 16 training scholarships supporting 23 recipients.

SDC2026 was held for the first time in Cleveland, with the theme, “From aviation’s birthplace, to its future.” The association’s committee leaders and NBAA team members agreed the premise was a fitting one for the event.

“SDC 2026 was built to be both timely and forward looking,” said NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Committee Co-Chair Mitch Papontos. “Mission accomplished.”

S&D Committee Co-Chair Lisa Borrayo added: “As schedulers and dispatchers, we as a group want to help move business aviation forward.”

“Through a tireless partnership between NBAA, the volunteers of the S&D Committee, and our dedicated exhibitor and sponsor partners, we built an experience in Cleveland that saw record-breaking energy,” said Jo Damato, CAM, NBAA senior vice president, events and professional engagement. “Watching SDC evolve from its early roots into this massive, multi-activation hub of action is a testament to our schedulers and dispatchers being the heartbeat of business aviation.”

“What inspires me most is that professional development extends beyond the session room,” said NBAA Senior Director, Events and Credentialing Tyler Austin. “It is an active experience happening in every micro-moment and spontaneous conversation wherever our community connects onsite, and we know they will keep this going throughout the year ahead.”

Next year’s Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference takes place February 22nd-24th, 2027, in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 2nd April 2026 | Issue #836