The Association of California Airports (ACA), representing California’s 241 public-use airports, successfully concluded its Annual Conference from October 2 to 4 in South Lake Tahoe. This year’s event marked a milestone, being the highest-attended conference since its inception in 1997, with over 170 attendees from across the state.
The conference provided airport managers and aviation professionals with critical updates and insights from both the Caltrans Division of Aeronautics and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as well as a state of the industry discussion including leaders from the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), and Vertical Aviation International (VAI). These sessions focused on the latest developments impacting the industry, specifically California airports, including regulatory changes and funding opportunities.
One of the conference’s highlights was an in-depth session on the status of the transition from leaded to unleaded aviation gasoline and its implications for the aviation community, a hot topic in California. In attendance were representatives from the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions Initiative (EAGLE), a partnership between industry and government to ensure a safe transition. Other key sessions explored strategies for optimizing airports for the future, ensuring they remain vital hubs of economic growth and innovation, optimizing airport projects, building effective relationships, and ACA’s annual roundtable discussion where airport and aviation professionals participate in an open forum to discuss common challenges.
“With California’s aviation landscape rapidly evolving, this year’s Annual Conference was more important than ever,” said ACA President Justin Castagna. “The record attendance reflects the commitment and support from our airport professionals, industry partners, and collective membership to collaborate on the critical issues facing California’s airports.”
ACA has hosted its Annual Conference for over two decades, providing a forum for airport managers and aviation professionals to share knowledge, discuss policy, and strengthen partnerships. The success of this year’s conference underscores the importance of continued collaboration as California airports navigate the challenges and opportunities of the future.
For more information about the Association of California Airports and its upcoming events, please visit www.calairports.org
