NBAA Brings a Powerhouse Regional Forum to Miami’s Opa Locka Airport

Buoyed by blue skies and beautiful weather, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) kicked off its 2026 regional forum season in spectacular fashion Feb. 25 at Miami-Opa locka Executive Airport (KOPF).

The powerhouse event featured a sold-out exhibit floor, a cutting-edge aircraft display and nonstop networking in a region focused on launching an exciting new era in business aviation.

More than 3,000 attendees engaged with representatives from more than 200 companies on the indoor exhibit floor, creating an electric atmosphere. The forum’s aircraft display featured more than 20 industry-leading aircraft from manufacturers including Cirrus, Daher, Dassault, Honda, Leonardo, Piper and Textron.

“This regional forum was a celebration of an industry that is evolving and innovating as fast as ever, in exciting and inspiring ways,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen during his opening keynote remarks. “The event highlighted business aviation’s importance not just in Florida, but across the U.S. and around the world.” 

Bolen was joined on the forum’s opening keynote stage by Miami-Dade County COO Jimmy Morales and Miami-Dade County Commissioners Roberto Gonzalez and Oliver Gilbert, who discussed business aviation’s wide-ranging economic and societal benefits, especially in the Sunshine State.

The overwhelming turnout underscored the industry’s continued desire for in-person engagement, fueled by curated networking opportunities and high-impact panel discussion sessions led by respected subject matter experts.

The forum’s exhibit floor presented an ideal opportunity for aircraft buyers, operators and other key decision-makers to engage directly with business aviation product and service providers.

“You can’t beat face-to-face conversation,” said Isaac Kirkham, vice president of transformation and analytics at flyExclusive. “It’s really easy for somebody to ignore an email. It’s really hard for somebody to ignore eye contact as you shake someone’s hand, and learn about them as a customer.”

At the forum’s aircraft display, pilots, operators and brokers enjoyed the opportunity to board and experience a full lineup of business jets, turboprops, pistons and helicopters.

“The diversity of aircraft on display was key to our forum experience,” said David Neesan, head of business development at Starflight Aviation. “We operate a range of mission types, so our ability to see different aircraft up close gave us first-hand knowledge of the various aircraft we offer for charter.”

The daylong event included several compelling panel sessions hosted by industry leaders who addressed business aviation’s most pressing issues, emphasized the need for grassroots mobilization on shared policy priorities, and provided the latest guidance on operational challenges.

Developing the next generation of business aviation professionals was also a major topic of conversation at the forum. Famed aviation educator Barrington Irving, of Barrington Irving Technical Training School, hosted a standing-room-only panel discussion about the many career opportunities business aviation offers for young professionals, especially with the emergence of the advanced air mobility sector. 

Irving – who in 2007 was the youngest pilot to fly solo around the world in a single-engine airplane, and later received NBAA’s 2019 American Spirit Award – advised the large group of students in attendance that it’s important to design your education with career flexibility in mind. “Stacking different skill sets – diversifying your skills – allows you to stay ahead of the game,” he said.

“The 2026 Miami-Opa Locka Regional Forum continues the momentum for NBAA’s 2026 event lineup that started with our record-setting Leadership Conference,” said NBAA Senior Vice President, Events and Professional Engagement Jo Damato, CAM. “We look forward to building on the excitement at our upcoming events in the months ahead.” 

The 2026 NBAA White Plains Regional Forum takes place May 20 at Westchester County Airport (HPN).