NATA recently joined industry partners for a webinar preview of the 71st annual Business Aviation Safety Summit (BASS), highlighting the major safety priorities and operational challenges that will shape this year’s event. The summit, taking place May 5–6 in Provo, Utah, will bring together aviation leaders, operators, safety professionals, and service providers to examine how the industry can strengthen resilience in an increasingly complex operating environment.
Paige Kroner of the Flight Safety Foundation moderated the discussion, which featured Doug Carr, Senior Vice President for Safety, Security, Sustainability, and International Operations at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), and Hector Huezo, Chief Operating Officer of NATA. The conversation focused on how leadership, culture, and practical operational strategies can help aviation organizations anticipate and mitigate emerging risks.
Huezo emphasized that resilience in aviation safety begins with leadership and culture. “Safety leadership means breaking the chain of events early,” Huezo explained during the discussion. “When incidents occur, they rarely stem from a single factor. It’s the interaction between people, processes, technology, and culture. Leaders have to create an environment where employees are encouraged to raise concerns, share solutions, and continuously strengthen safety practices.”
From a ground operations perspective, Huezo noted that ramp environments remain an area where operational complexity can introduce risk. Tight operating spaces, equipment congestion, and time pressure require consistent procedures and strong training programs. He stressed that training alone is not enough if it is treated as a one-time requirement rather than part of a broader safety culture.
“Training is essential, but it cannot end with a binder on the shelf,” Huezo said. “Organizations must reinforce a culture where safety is embedded in daily operations, where people feel empowered to speak up, and where leaders actively support continuous learning and improvement.”
Huezo also highlighted the importance of addressing the growth of illegal charter operations, emerging industry challenges, including workforce development. Carr agreed that illegal charters are a concern, calling it “a significant challenge for us” and warning that some operators are “actively avoiding compliance” with safety, training, insurance, and other requirements designed to protect the flying public.
Both speakers noted that these issues carry direct implications for safety and compliance across the business aviation ecosystem. Illegal charter activity, in particular, poses risks not only to passengers but also to legitimate operators who invest heavily in regulatory compliance, training, and operational oversight.
Throughout the discussion, panelists emphasized that resilience is built through practical actions, from reinforcing standard operating procedures and strengthening Safety Management Systems (SMS) to improving communication and leadership accountability across organizations.
The themes explored during the webinar preview will be central to the 2026 Business Aviation Safety Summit, which is designed as a collaborative forum for identifying safety challenges and developing actionable solutions for the industry. NATA’s VP of Education and Safety Steve Berry will participate in the May summit, further contributing the association’s operational safety and training expertise to the discussion in Utah.
The two-day summit will feature expert-led discussions, interactive roundtables, and peer-to-peer exchanges that allow participants to share lessons learned and best practices. Organizers say the event is designed not only to examine emerging risks, but also to help aviation professionals return to their organizations with concrete strategies to improve safety performance.
NATA encourages aviation professionals across operations, maintenance, safety, and ground handling to participate in the summit and contribute to the ongoing industry dialogue around safety leadership and operational resilience.
More information and registration details for the Business Aviation Safety Summit are available here.