The Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association (RACCA) held its 23rd Annual Conference this past week in Scottsdale, Arizona at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas. The three-day gathering drew leaders from across the regional air cargo community, including suppliers, regulators, educators, government leadership, industry and advocacy groups— for a series of discussions harnessed on, “Piloted by Purpose, Delivered by People: Investing in the Workforce of Regional Air Cargo.”
This year’s theme set the tone for a program centered on talent training and workforce development, operational safety, and air cargo policy priorities. Looking ahead, the future of aviation depends on cultivating the next generation of professionals who carry forward both the fascination of flight and the technical expertise required to sustain it. RACCA’s scholarships, with recipients to be announced in November, reflect that commitment by directly investing in tomorrow’s workforce. The sessions addressed topics such as workforce engagement, emergency response planning, crisis communications, mental health in aviation, flight safety and the NTSB, emerging technologies, and federal policy updates. Together, these discussions underscore how RACCA continues to advance its mission of supporting a safe, sustainable, and vibrant regional air cargo industry.
Over the past year, RACCA has strengthened and elevated member resources by launching its first-ever Core Principles Paper, unveiling a redesigned website, rolling out an upgraded newsletter, and establishing a vibrant new social media presence. These milestones embraced new ideas and helped transform RACCA’s identity while honoring its extraordinary legacy while laying strong foundations for future growth.
At the conference, RACCA was proud to build on this momentum by announcing the launch of the RACCA HANGAR — Hub for Aviation Navigation, Growth, And Resources, the first centralized online hub created to serve members as a comprehensive resource center. The HANGAR will provide easy access to RACCA’s growing library of content, including guidance on setting up federally registered apprenticeship programs with the U.S. Department of Labor, state-level workforce development initiatives, and specialized training opportunities for employees and leadership teams—such as crisis communication preparation. Members will also find tools to build their own storytelling strategies and other resources as we continue to develop and expand this innovative platform.
RACCA President Jim Goddard kicked off the conference to announce the robust group of presenters, which included Chris Rocheleau (FAA), Faye Malarkey Black (Regional Airline Association), Sean Toth (Republic Airways), Pete Broschet (Empire Airlines), Kent Lovelace (University of North Dakota), Linda Markham (Cape Air), Steve Crenshaw (CAT Aero Staffing), Lauren Beyer (Cargo Airline Association), Holly Hopkinson and Brittney Mallah (McGriff Aviation), Natalie Hartman (Capitol Point Group), Peter Goelz (NTSB), Jeremy Horn (Horizon Air/Washington Air National Guard), Steve Alterman (Kitty Hawk Strategies), and representatives from FAA for the HazMat presentation. The agenda also featured the Textron Aviation/Pratt & Whitney operators meeting, as well as a Workforce Development Roundtable led by Pete Broschet, Director of HR at Empire Airlines.
“This year’s conference underscored the importance of preparing for the future of regional air cargo,” said Goddard. “From workforce development and safety to emerging technologies and policy priorities, our members engaged in meaningful dialogue that will shape the years ahead. I am especially grateful to our sponsors, exhibitors, and participants for creating such a collaborative environment, and I am proud of the industry’s continued resilience and commitment to innovation.”
Additionally, The AMC Meeting and handover marked an important transition, with Keith McGann (FlightSafety International) concluding his tenure as Chairperson and Tom LaJoie (SkedFlex) stepping in as the incoming Chairperson.
RACCA is very grateful for the participation from representatives of the FAA, continuing the association’s longstanding collaboration with federal regulators. Additionally, RACCA was proud to host 65 exhibitors who spent the week showcasing technologies, services, and innovations shaping regional air cargo operations.
RACCA extends its deepest gratitude to the 57 conference event sponsors whose generous support made this year’s event possible. We are especially honored to recognize our corporate leader sponsors: Pratt & Whitney Canada, Southwest Turbine, World Class Aviation and Textron Aviation – for their continued partnership and commitment to strengthening the future of air cargo.
