The 11 Top Commercial Aerospace and Aviation Conferences in the United States

May 7, 2023

Attending conferences is an excellent way for those in the industry to stay current on the latest aerospace and aviation technologies and trends.

And each year there are plenty of options to choose from. How do you know which ones you should prioritize?

Check out our list of the top 11 aerospace and aviation conferences nationwide.

Table of Contents

1. World Aviation Training Summit
2. TakeOff North America
3. ATCA Global Conference & Expo
4. Airports@Work Conference
5. Business Aviation Safety Summit (BASS)
6. NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition
7. SPACECOM Commercial Space Week
8. MRO Americas
9. AIAA Aviation and Aeronautics Forum
10. Aviation Festival Americas
11. AOG Conference Americas

1. World Aviation Training Summit

WATS is considered the world’s largest conference in aviation training and has been held annually for 25 years.

Who should attend this annual conference? This training summit will serve airlines, aircraft manufacturers, regulators, training providers and any other airline industry decision makers.

Along with seminars and networking events, it also hosts the sector’s largest trade show with close to 100 exhibitors and sponsors.

It lasts four days and is typically held in April, at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida (at least through 2025).

To cover a broad range of information, there are three different training paths offered, focused on:

Pilots
Cabin Members
Maintenance

All attendees will have an opportunity to meet industry experts, discover updated best practices, make new business relationships and more.

2. TakeOff North America

TakeOff North America is hosted by Routes 360, a company devoted to airline route development.

This air transport-specific event is held in a new city on different dates each year, serving the North American air service development community.

All in the airport industry are invited to attend and enjoy one-on-one meetings as well as an entire conference program. Past speakers include CEOs of major airlines like Frontier and JetBlue.

3. ATCA Global Conference & Expo

Each year, the Air Traffic Control Association — in association with the FAA, NASA and NATCA — hosts the world’s largest aviation event to focus on airspace integration.

Known as the ATCA Global Conference & Expo, this conference includes educational symposiums with talks from industry leaders discussing global aviation issues and policies. It also features an exhibition of the latest tools, solutions and developments in the industry.

As the three days come to a wrap, ATCA presents an awards program recognizing excellence in the industry.

4. Airports@Work Conference

Plane taking off from an aviation conference

The Airports@Work Conference covers all aspects of airport operations: safety, security, environment, technology and technical affairs, and is hosted by a different airport each year.

Speakers typically include big names in Airport Authority management, CEOs of large aviation corporations and directors of international airports nationwide.

5. Business Aviation Safety Summit (BASS)

Usually held in late April or May, the Business Aviation Safety Summit (BASS) focuses on how every individual aviation professional can contribute to flying safety.

BASS is organized by the Flight Safety Foundation and covers topics around safety, training, practical solutions, management and all human factors that affect aviation.

As with most aviation conferences, this one will present great networking and learning opportunities for aviation professionals as well as introductions to advancements in technology.

6. NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition

The NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition is always held in mid-October and usually in Las Vegas. It is among the top tradeshows in the U.S.

Attendees can expect to enjoy educational sessions, exhibitions, and a strong media presence.

This event will be helpful for professionals in aircraft maintenance, training, operations, regulations, development and manufacturing.

Read before you book: 5 Tips to Simplify Group Hotel Bookings

7. SPACECOM Commercial Space Week

SPACECOM Commercial Space Week, presented in partnership with the 49th Space Congress, is typically held in January or February.

A unique, week-long event full of keynote presentations, roundtable discussions, networking and exhibitions, it creates a venue for space and aviation professionals to collaborate and share ideas.

It’s always hosted in Orlando, Florida, at multiple locations simultaneously. The expo is held at the Orange County Convention Center.

8. MRO Americas

Usually hosted in late April, The MRO Americas convention is the largest MRO aviation event in the world, with more than 850 exhibitors planned for 2023. usually in late April, but in a different city each year.

Attendees can expect useful information on topics like aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul, as well as risk management in various areas from air cargo to avionics.

This is the largest aviation MRO event in the world, with 850+ exhibitors.

It has created quite a buzz as an award-winning trade show, winning:

- 2019- TSNN Winner of Top Trade Show
- 2019, 2021- Trade Show Executive Top 100
- 2022- Trade Show Executive 50 Fastest Growing

9. AIAA Aviation and Aeronautics Forum

The AIAA Aviation and Aeronautics Forum features an integrated spectrum of the aviation business, research, development and technology. It includes workshops, networking and lectures in general aviation and aero.

It’s usually held in June, and lasts five days — and has offered virtual attendance since the pandemic as well.

10. Aviation Festival Americas

For more than 15 years, the Aviation Festival Americas has held a special place in the aviation industry, presenting over 300 of the most influential voices across 11 dedicated conference tracks.

Past speakers include the CEO of Frontier Airlines, CRO of American, CCO of Spirit and CEO of Viva Air Group.

This festival has 10 streams of information to tune into:

Aviation IT
Air retail and payments
Air revenue and distribution
Airport tech
Air experience
Aviation marketing
Workforce/talent management
Sustainability
Aviation of the future
Loyalty programs

This information will be shared within two full days of education, networking and strategizing.

11. AOG Conference Americas

The AOG Conference Americas is reserved for AOG personnel only, but it is free to attend. In fact, it is the only global conference dedicated to Airline AOG Professionals.

Industry professionals should attend to learn about new tech and best practices, and see how other airlines deal with AOG issues.

Conclusion

Industry conferences are critical for continued career education. Attending one is a great way to build new industry connections, learn valuable skills, and hear about advancements in technology.

If you’re planning to attend a conference as a group, trust Hotel Engine to help. With Hotel Engine, you’ll not only get great group rates negotiated for you — you’ll be able to hand off the hassle of searching, booking, reconciliation, and more.

With our help, you’ll have one less task to worry about, allowing you to enjoy the event to its fullest and rest easier.

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Article written by

Sara Kern

Sara Kern is a Copywriter at Hotel Engine. She worked as a writer in the tech and apparel industries for almost a decade before joining the HE family, but also has experience coordinating business travel for fast-moving nonprofits, so she knows firsthand how hard it can be. She joined Hotel Engine in 2022 and is excited to be a part of the movement to radically simplify trip management for everyone.