Wichita’s business jet makers, suppliers prepare for annual NBAA show

Clarification: Aerospace Turbine Rotables in Wichita is also exhibiting at the convention. A previous version of this story did not include the company.

Beginning Tuesday, the center of the business aviation universe will be in Las Vegas, and Wichita will be well represented.

That’s where the 2015 National Business Aviation Association Convention & Exposition will be held, Nov. 17-19, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

It is one of the world’s largest civil aviation events, and this year is expected to draw 26,000 people, 1,100 exhibitors and 100 airplanes. Among the exhibitors will be at least 35 companies and organizations from the Wichita area, according to NBAA and the Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition.

The convention is many things to many aviation executives: connecting with customers, developing new business and seeing first-hand what competitors are up to.

It also is the venue of choice for manufacturers of business aircraft, such as Textron Aviation and Learjet parent Bombardier, to announce plans for – and to unveil – their newest aircraft and upgrades.

And among airplane makers, Textron Aviation is likely to garner a lot of headlines at NBAA.

On Monday, which is known as press day and falls on the eve of NBAA’s public opening, Textron Aviation is expected to reveal an airworthy example of its Cessna Citation Longitude.

The super midsize jet was first announced by Cessna in 2012 at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in Geneva, Switzerland. But the company has said little about it since then. The Longitude is expected to have the longest range of all its Citation jets.

The company could also have “other product developments to share,” Textron Inc. chief executive Scott Donnelly hinted at in a conference call with analysts in October.

That could be another large business jet. Cowen and Co. analyst Cai von Rumohr wrote in a note to investors and said in a Sept. 9 interview with The Eagle that Textron officials see opportunity for two business jets in the $25 million to $40 million price range – price points that fall into the category of business jets with larger cabins and longer range that aren’t in Cessna’s current aircraft lineup.

Textron Aviation said this week it will have 11 Citation business jets and Beechcraft King Air turboprops on static display at Henderson Airport, near Las Vegas, including the Longitude.

Bombardier said it also will have five business jets on static display, including a Wichita-built Learjet 75.

NBAA is not solely about new aircraft announcements.

It’s also a place for suppliers to aircraft makers to announce their own products, as well as for them to connect with existing customers, seek out new ones and find out what is the next big thing in the industry.

“We find it indispensable,” said Todd Winter, chief executive of Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics, which is marking its 29th year exhibiting at NBAA.

“Where else can you go talk to all those people, what they’re interested in, what’s coming down the pike? Last but not least, it’s always a good place to see what your competitors are doing.”

Winter said his company will have a few product announcements to make next week at NBAA, largely related to its True Blue Power division. The idea for that division, which focuses on the design and manufacture of aviation power systems, came in part from things he saw and heard at past NBAA conventions.

“It gave me the knowledge and confidence to launch a new business within my business,” Winter said.

Rod Wilson, president of Air Capital Interiors, said he finds NBAA a valuable means to gaining new business for his Wichita company, which repairs, refurbishes and replaces general aviation aircraft interiors.

“It’s an opportunity to talk about what we do,” Wilson said. “When we have an opportunity to do face-to-face with people, I think the passion for what we do comes through.”

This story was originally published November 11, 2015 at 5:34 PM with the headline "Wichita’s business jet makers, suppliers prepare for annual NBAA show."