BBJ Forum Brings Operators, OEM Personnel and Service Providers to the Table
September 18, 2023
The second annual King Aerospace BBJ Operators Forum recently brought members of this exclusive community together to both share and receive helpful information to optimize their Boeing Business Jet experience.
“We host this forum as a service to our customers,” says Kay Roby-Bragg, special projects manager for King Aerospace. “It makes sense to get everyone in the same room to openly discuss what’s working for them in the field, what issues they’re having and how these aircraft can be improved to help everyone in the long run.”
Approximately 30 BBJ operators, OEM personnel, service providers and suppliers gathered July 11-12 at the Renaissance Dallas at Plano Legacy West Hotel in Dallas, TX, for the event. Roby-Bragg notes one of the most popular discussion topics involved cabin connectivity solutions, with many operators looking to upgrade their systems to the latest Ka-band equipment.
Aircraft modifications were another hot topic of conversation, with Boeing representatives highlighting redesigned engine cowl structures for the BBJ/737NG to reduce the risk of “fan blade out” events following a catastrophic failure of the forward blade disc.
Vendors were also on hand to discuss Honeywell’s latest radar altimeters hardened against signal interference from ground-based 5G networks; Jet Aire’s Invicta polyurethane foam fuel vapor inerting solution that complies with FAA requirements to reduce flammability in empty fuel tanks; and other available modifications.
“This event was not about promoting King Aerospace or trying to sell anything to anyone,” Roby-Bragg says, “but simply about getting a group of people together to have open, honest discussions that will benefit all BBJ operators.”
The event wasn’t all-business, of course. Attendees also enjoyed a dinner at the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Dallas Love Field (DAL) catered by Dallas’s III Forks Steakhouse. A private museum tour followed, providing attendees the chance to examine several historic aircraft, with docents on hand to share details about their histories and to answer questions.
Hosting forum attendees at Frontiers of Flight also marked a personal milestone for King Aerospace Chairman and Founder Jerry King, who – prior to establishing King Aerospace in 1992 – launched his own aviation career with Associated Air Center, in hangars that once stood on what is now the museum grounds.
“This is literally where I got started in this business,” King recalls. “It was wonderful to see these BBJ operators, and all those supporting their missions, at this place where it all began for me.”
Another personal highlight was the first company appearance for Cora James King, the newborn daughter of company President Jarid King and his wife, Haley. “Everything has come full circle,” adds Jerry while holding his granddaughter.
Plans are already underway for next year’s King Aerospace BBJ Operators Forum, which Roby-Bragg says will incorporate suggestions from this year’s attendees to make the event even better.
“All attendees said this forum was an excellent and worthwhile gathering that was tremendously beneficial to the BBJ community,” she says. “We hope that word-of-mouth will encourage more operators to come to the table next year to learn more about the tools available to them, and share tips, experiences and suggestions with Boeing, vendors and suppliers and fellow BBJ operators.”