The 2018 Embraer Jet Operators Association (EJOA) Annual Conference at the Fairmont Hotel in Austin, Texas, held in conjunction with Embraer’s Executive Operators Conference, attracted a record attendance of more than 375 Phenom and Legacy owners, operators, pilots and maintenance personnel and guests; Embraer Executive Jets staff; and representatives from sponsoring and exhibiting companies. The conference also set a record for the number of sponsoring and exhibit companies, and donations to the association’s live auction.

The choice of the Fairmont in downtown Austin turned out to be a good decision. Austin is in the center of the county, giving it easy access from the east and west coasts, and it is brand-new. The hotel opened only one month prior to the start of the convention, but it was fully operational with excellent trained staff to accommodate all of our needs. The facilities – Exhibit Hall, General Sessions Hall, breakout rooms, and video and audio equipment - were state-of-the-art and gave us the feeling of a flawless convention.

Those of us who arrived on Saturday were met by a strong crosswind at the excellent Austin Executive Airport, and a late-afternoon outside temperature of around 40º. Embraer used the conference to launch a nationwide tour of its new Phenom 300E cabin mockup, which it stationed at Austin Executive for incoming attendees to view.

The conference opened Sunday morning with a golf tournament at the Teravista Golf Club in rather cold April temperatures for Austin. Fortunately, the skies cleared and temperatures returned to normal in time for the opening Welcome Reception, held Monday evening at Park Court, Fairmont’s beautiful seventh-floor outdoor poolside venue.

The association led off Monday with a welcome by outgoing board President Keith Christensen, followed by keynote speaker Mark Baker. The AOPA President and CEO has owned more than 100 airplanes and is an active jet and floatplane pilot. Baker spoke about his love of aviation, and about AOPA’s efforts to grow the pilot population, reign in predatory pricing at FBOs, and its ongoing efforts to maintain management of the air traffic control system as an FAA responsibility.

Following Baker there was a full day of continuing education sessions for members that focused on flying Embraer aircraft. Neil Singer, EJOA’s Pilot Proficiency Advisor, spoke about lessons all pilots can draw from a fuel-exhaustion accident involving a Piaggio Avanti on a North Atlantic crossing. A distinguished panel of Phenom and Legacy instructors and mentor pilots discussed ways to get the most out of recurrent training events, and another panel looked at Standard Operating Procedures and stabilized approaches.

Phenom Designated Examiner Tom Norton hosted an entertaining and instructive game show with airplane-related questions that he called “Your Jet in Jeopardy.” Norton’s creation follows the format of the popular TV game show Jeopardy, right down to the music.

The day culminated with individual ask-anything open-mic sessions for the Phenom 100, Phenom 300, and Legacy 450/500. Participants were able to ask questions of experienced mentor pilots, instructors, Embraer technical representatives and representatives from Phenom and Legacy service centers.

Embraer followed on Tuesday and the first half of Wednesday with its technical sessions that mostly were concerned with maintaining and upgrading its executive jet models.

The Exhibit Hall was open Monday and Tuesday, with displays and representative from 34 companies—service centers, insurers, finance companies, and aftermarket product and service suppliers. Breakfasts, lunches, and morning and afternoon breaks were held in the Exhibit Hall, providing attendees with ample time to meet with exhibitors.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION

At the conference, William Midon, David O’Maley, and Gary James were re-elected to two-year terms on the association’s Board of Directors. Jay Obernolte and Keith Christensen both have an additional year to serve on the board. David O’Maley was elected the President of the Association, succeeding Keith Christensen.

2019 ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The association will hold its 2019 annual conference June 2-5 in New Orleans at the Roosevelt Hotel. As in 2018, the conference will be held in conjunction with Embraer Executive Jet Service’s Phenom 100/300, Legacy 450/500, Legacy 600/650, and Lineage Executive Operators Conference. That means Phenom 100 and 300 and Legacy 450 and 500 owners, operators, pilots and maintenance personnel can look forward to one event that will cover both the EJOA and the EEOC meetings.