Congressman to be keynote speaker at NBAA

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) announced today that Missouri congressman, outspoken general aviation advocate and House GA Caucus co-chair Sam Graves will serve as a keynote speaker for the Oct. 22 Opening General Session at the 2013 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA2013) in Las Vegas.

A life-long aviation enthusiast, Graves is a member of the House Transportation Committee and the House Aviation Subcommittee who has represented Missouri’s sixth congressional district since 2000.

In recognition of the vital role of all general aviation, including business aviation, in serving citizens, companies and communities across the U.S., Graves has relentlessly promoted legislation that fosters the growth of GA, and combated proposals that would do irreparable harm to the industry.

Graves co-chairs the House General Aviation Caucus along with Rep. John Barrow (D-12-GA). The two have made the caucus a leading voice on behalf of general aviation, and one of the largest and most active of the congressional caucuses. Earlier this year, the House GA Caucus achieved a record total of 200 members, demonstrating the wide scope of industry support among lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

“Sam Graves is a tireless champion for general aviation in the House of Representatives, and we are honored to have him join us at NBAA2013 in Las Vegas,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “His passionate and vocal advocacy for our industry has been vital to winning broad recognition in Congress that general aviation creates jobs, helps businesses succeed, provides a transportation lifeline for towns across the country and supports people and communities in times of crisis.”

Graves will be joined at the NBAA2013 Opening General Session by other respected leaders from government and the private sector, including Michael Huerta, FAA administrator, and John Snow, former U.S. treasury secretary.

NBAA2013 will take place Oct. 22-24 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, with an extensive outdoor static display of aircraft located at nearby Henderson Executive Airport.

About 25,000 business aviation professionals from across the United States and around the world are expected to attend the convention.

NBAA’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition is the sixth-largest trade show in the U.S., featuring more than 1,000 exhibits displayed across 1 million square feet of floor space, as well as two static displays of aircraft. The show also features more than 100 education sessions covering topics of interest to all attendees, from those considering the use of an airplane to support their business needs, to those who have long used an airplane to help their businesses succeed. Dozens of maintenance and operations sessions will be offered by exhibiting original equipment manufactures.

Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National Business Aviation Association represents more than 9,000 companies.