Held under sunny June skies, the 2025 National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) White Plains Regional Forum was a blockbuster event, marked by an enthusiastic, overflowing crowd, a sold-out exhibit floor, a completely full aircraft showcase and a series of expert-led, standing-room-only panel discussions on the industry’s hottest topics.
“NBAA’s White Plains Regional Forum brought together a vibrant industry that is embracing new technologies, new business models and new ways of thinking as never before,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “We came together not just to plan for the future, but to define it.”
A record 3,300 attendees connected with more than 200 exhibitors offering the latest products and services at the June 4 forum, held at Westchester Airport (HPN). The outdoor display, including more than 20 aircraft, featured a flying advanced air mobility (AAM) vehicle for the first time at an NBAA regional forum.
BETA Technologies’ ALIA CX300 conventional takeoff and landing (cTOL) aircraft debuted at the event immediately following its history making flight as the first all-electric aircraft to land at a New York City area airport, John F. Kennedy International (JFK), on June 3. The ALIA was shown on the NBAA forum ramp adjacent to a Douglas A-26 Invader, restored by Million Air. Together, the pair of aircraft offered a tribute to aviation’s storied past and promising future.
Regional, Industry Leaders Welcome Business Aviation
The forum day began with an opening keynote featuring a warm welcome from a host of Westchester County business and civic leaders, who detailed business aviation’s central role in job creation, economic development and connectivity for White Plains and other communities across the region.
NBAA Board Chair JD Witzig, vice president of corporate aviation at Pfizer, observed that the forum’s energy provided a reminder that business aviation is “a unique industry, where we combine profession with passion. We come together to learn from each other because we know in the end, we’re all in this together,” Witzig said.
Roger Woolsey, Million Air CEO, added that general aviation employs more than 1 million people in the U.S. and contributes billions in economic output. “What you do is vitally important,” Woolsey told those gathered for the packed keynote session.
Other local leaders on hand for the keynote included April Gasparri, Westchester County executive director of aviation; Kenneth W. Jenkins, Westchester County executive; and Shawyn Patterson-Howard, Mount Vernon City mayor.
The session also included a moment to recognize excellence on the industry’s highest priority, safety, with the presentation of the FAA’s distinguished Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award to Clay Lacy Maintenance Specialist Jim Ando for 50 years of leadership in safety professionalism.
The Place to Be
Exhibitors and attendees gave the forum high marks, citing its valuable in-person engagement opportunities.
“It is paramount for us to be face-to-face with our potential and current customers,” said Emily Tobler, 4AIR sustainability program manager. “We prioritize long-term relationships, so it’s always important to show up at this event and make sure there’s a sustainability representative on site.”
Attendee Kevin Allis, executive director of the Native American Aviation Association, said the forum’s emphasis on meeting and collaboration is irreplaceable, even in a digital world. “It’s exciting to be here, mingle, talk and share ideas with other professionals,” he said.
Timely Topics in Focus
Throughout the day, the forum brought authoritative sources together with attendees for an insightful, interactive dialogue about the sector’s challenges and opportunities.
A CLIMBING. FAST. panel session highlighted the industry’s importance in supporting citizens, companies and communities, with perspectives from Patrick Buckles, head of commercial aircraft sales, BETA Technologies; Gary Buchanan, executive vice president of FBO operations, Million Air; and Shannon Peterson, regional sales director, Textron Aviation.
A session focused on navigating operational disruptions in the New York region featured NBAA Air Traffic Services Managers Dean Snell and Jan Planten, joined by Andy Aponte, FAA TENY general manager.
An overview of the Washington policy landscape – focused on recent developments related to tariffs, ATC modernization and aircraft-data security protections – was provided by NBAA Senior Vice President Safety, Security, Sustainability and International Operations Doug Carr, as well as panelists Katie DeLuca, a partner with Harper Meyer for international and domestic transactional matters; and Dan McCabe, National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) NSO regional vice president.
The forum concluded with a session for students about career pathways in business aviation. NBAA Northeast Regional Director Brittany Davies moderated the discussion, joined by Russ Arena, executive director, Massachusetts Business Aviation Association (MBAA); Nathan Schmidt, MBAA board member; Mark Heefner, chair, New York Aviation Management Association; Jennifer Kempsey, vice chair, Westchester Aircraft Maintenance Association; and Carla Figuereo, a Barrington Irving Technical Training School graduate and Signature HPN employee.
The association’s next event is the 2025 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), set for Oct. 14-16 in Las Vegas.
