CFBAA 2nd Annual Safety Standdown
From Good to Great: Advancing Safety in Small Flight Departments
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
7:30 AM – 4:30 PM
CAE, SimCom by CAE Aviation Training
6480 Nemours Pkwy
Orlando, FL 32827
You're Invited
The Central Florida Business Aviation Association (CFBAA) invites you to our 2nd Annual Safety Standdown, taking place at the CAE, SimCom by CAE Aviation Training Center in Lake Nona, Florida.
Following the success of our inaugural Safety Standdown, we're bringing the business aviation community together once again for a full day of education, collaboration, networking, and real-world safety discussions focused on one common goal — making aviation safer.
This year's theme, From Good to Great: Advancing Safety in Small Flight Departments, will explore how flight departments of every size can strengthen their safety programs, prepare for the unexpected, develop their people, and continually improve operational performance.
Whether you're a pilot, maintenance professional, scheduler, dispatcher, flight attendant, safety manager, department leader, student, or aviation professional, this event is designed for you.
Conference Schedule
Schedule and presenters are subject to change as additional sessions are confirmed.
This event is CAM Approved! Attendees are entitled to 1 point for this session. Notification to [email protected] for this point is mandatory.
7:30 AM – 8:00 AM
Continental Breakfast & Networking
Start the morning by connecting with fellow aviation professionals, speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors. Sponsorship: Available
8:00 AM – 8:20 AM
Conference Kickoff
8:20 AM – 8:50 AM
CFBAA Welcome, Conference Preview & Housekeeping
8:50 AM – 9:50 AM
Safety That Fits: Building a Scalable SMS for Your Flight Department
Presented by Jason Starke, Ph.D., President/CEO, Business Aviation Safety Consortium (BASC)
Whether you operate one aircraft or five, your Safety Management System should fit your operation. Learn how to build and customize a practical, scalable SMS that strengthens risk management and safety without unnecessary complexity — and can grow alongside your flight department.
9:50 AM – 10:30 AM
Networking Break & Vendor Expo
Visit with our exhibitors, connect with industry professionals, and explore products and services supporting business aviation safety and operations.
Networking Break Sponsor: 
10:40 AM – 11:40 AM
When the plan becomes real: an erp activation
Fireside Chat with Barry Ellis, Director of Operations, Hop-A-Jet
No flight department ever wants to activate its Emergency Response Plan—but when an aircraft accident occurs, preparation becomes reality in an instant.
In this candid fireside chat, Barry Ellis will share his firsthand experience navigating the activation of Hop-A-Jet’s ERP following the tragic accident involving one of its aircraft in Naples, Florida. The conversation will explore the first critical hours, how their ERP helped guide the organization through an extraordinarily difficult and emotional situation, lessons learned, and why having a plan in place before you need it can make an immeasurable difference.
This real-world discussion will offer flight departments a unique perspective on ERP preparedness, not from a manual or checklist, but from someone who has lived it.
11:50 AM – 1:20 PM
Lunch & Vendor Expo
Enjoy lunch while networking with fellow attendees and visiting our exhibitors and industry partners.
Lunch Sponsored By: 
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Ready When It Matters: Building an Emergency Response Plan for the Small Flight Department
Presented by Gina Shealy, Emergency Operations Director, Fireside Partners
Emergencies don't scale based on the size of your flight department — and preparedness shouldn't either.
Gina Shealy will share practical guidance for creating an Emergency Response Plan (ERP) that works for a small flight operation with limited personnel and resources. Learn how to identify critical roles, establish clear first-response actions, coordinate with company resources and outside partners, and regularly practice your plan so your team is ready to respond when it matters most.
2:30 PM – 3:15 PM
Refreshment Break & Vendor Expo
Another opportunity to visit exhibitors, meet industry partners, and continue conversations from throughout the day.
Refreshment Break Sponsor: Available
3:25 PM – 4:25 PM
Leadership Perspectives on Advancing Safety, People, and Performance
Panelists:
Wesley Treco
Director of Aviation, NASCAR
Scott Harris
Lead Captain & Safety Officer, L3Harris
Greg Kinsella
Director of Aviation, Fliteways
What takes a small flight department from good to great?
Join a panel of business aviation leaders as they share practical strategies for strengthening safety culture, developing and retaining top talent, and using quality training to drive operational excellence.
Panelists will offer real-world perspectives on leadership, continuous improvement, and achieving exceptional safety performance with limited resources.
4:25 PM
Closing Remarks
Keep the Conversation Going
Safety Standdown Wind-Down Happy Hour
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Canvas Restaurant & Market
13615 Sachs Ave
Orlando, FL 32827
After a full day of learning and networking, join us for an informal Safety Standdown Wind-Down Happy Hour and continue the conversations with attendees, speakers, sponsors, and industry friends.
Exhibitors & Industry Partners
Meet Our Exhibitors
Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with representatives from the below companies and organizations throughout the day in our Vendor Expo Area. Stop by between sessions to learn more about their products and services, ask questions, make new connections, and engage with industry partners who support Central Florida’s business aviation community.
Companies Scheduled to Attend
AIRCARE INTERNATIONAL
Aircare International has become a cornerstone of business aviation, leading the industry in safety, preparedness, and operational excellence. Our comprehensive services—including training, emergency telemedicine, and customized staffing solutions—are designed to ensure seamless, worry-free operations that prioritize readiness and reliability.
Business Aviation Safety Consotium
The Business Aviation Safety Consortium (BASC) is an organization dedicated to enhancing safety in business aviation through collaboration, benchmarking, and data sharing among operators. It aims to foster a culture of safety and provide resources that empower aviation operators to achieve high safety standards.
Gulfstream
Gulfstream is a business jet manufacturer and a visionary leader for the aviation industry. We design, build and service next-generation aircraft that accelerate the pace of global commerce.
Fireside Partners
Fireside’s comprehensive services allow you to prepare for and respond to emergency situations with confidence, compassion and meaningful action. Our experienced team leads you through customized preparations and plans before an event and offers immediate response after an emergency occurs. Trusted professionals, trained experts and technical specialists provide the services needed when you need it most.
Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF)
The Air Charter Safety Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization. Founded in 2008, our mission is to lead and support the advancement of the highest aviation safety standards. By sharing information, resources and tools, we help enable the business, charter and fractional ownership industry to offer the safest aviation operations in the world.
TRAININGPORT.NET
Whether you’re a single-pilot operation or you have hundreds of trainees across multiple bases, we can elevate and simplify your online training. Every flight department is different and has its own set of unique operational risks. We can assist in setting up a training program that helps to mitigate your specific risks while also ensuring compliance to regulations and any other training standards that you may follow. TrainingPort.net has been business aviation’s preferred online training provider since 2006. By working closely with industry-leading experts, we are able to offer fully customizable scenario-based training solutions for your entire flight department. We provide over 90 unique topics for all personnel in fixed and rotary wing operations that you can train on from anywhere in the world, on any device you choose. With an automated currency assurance system and programs calibrated to your operation’s needs, we offer your flight department a simple and adaptive path to regulatory compliance.
CAE / SimCom by CAE
Simcom by CAE provides pilot and maintenance training across a variety of general aviation, business, and commercial aircraft types. In addition to aircraft type specific training, Simcom by CAE also provides specialty courses including upset recovery, crew resource management, high altitude, and avionics. Training is conducted in four learning centers, two of which are located in Orlando, Florida and the third in Scottsdale Arizona.
Additional exhibitors will be added as they are confirmed.
More Than a Conference
The CFBAA Safety Standdown is designed to create opportunities for learning inside and outside the classroom.
Throughout the day, attendees will have opportunities to:
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Visit vendor displays and meet aviation industry partners
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Network with aviation professionals from across Central Florida and beyond
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Connect directly with speakers and industry safety experts
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Tour the CAE, SimCom by CAE aviation training facility
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Exchange ideas and best practices with other flight departments
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Enjoy complimentary continental breakfast, lunch, and refreshments
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Continue networking at our post-event Wind-Down Happy Hour
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🔥 Live Demonstrations: Aircare FACTS® Fire Trainer
Experience emergency training beyond the classroom.
The Aircare FACTS® Fire Trainer will be onsite throughout the CFBAA Safety Standdown for live demonstrations, giving attendees an up-close look at realistic inflight fire-response training.
Designed to replicate a business aircraft cabin environment, the Fire Trainer can produce smoke and live fire in multiple locations, including a galley, lavatory, and cabin seating area. Aircare FACTS® training allows crewmembers to develop the skills and confidence needed to respond to an inflight fire using protective equipment and fire extinguishers in a realistic training environment.
Aircare FACTS® specializes in human-factors-based safety, medical, emergency, and evacuation training for business aviation pilots and flight attendants.
Don't miss this unique hands-on safety experience during the Standdown!
Who Should Attend?
The CFBAA Safety Standdown is open to aviation professionals from across the industry, including:
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Pilots
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Maintenance professionals
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Schedulers and dispatchers
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Flight attendants
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Safety managers
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Directors of Aviation and Chief Pilots
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Flight department managers
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Aviation students
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Industry vendors and service providers
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Anyone passionate about advancing aviation safety
Whether you're part of a single-aircraft operation or a larger flight department, you'll leave with ideas, resources, and relationships that can help strengthen your organization.
Registration
Current Undergraduate Students
FREE
CFBAA Members
$20
Non-Members
$40
Registration includes access to all conference sessions, the Vendor Expo, continental breakfast, lunch, refreshments, and networking opportunities throughout the day.
Space is limited. Early registration is encouraged.
Sponsorship & Exhibitor Opportunities
Show your organization's commitment to business aviation safety while gaining valuable exposure to aviation professionals throughout Central Florida and beyond.
$250 Supporting Sponsor
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Company logo featured on conference materials, signage, and event displays
$500 Exhibitor Sponsor
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All Supporting Sponsor benefits
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Exhibit table in the Vendor Expo area
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Opportunity to interact directly with conference attendees throughout the day
$750 Break Sponsor
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All Exhibitor Sponsor benefits
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Recognition as the sponsor of one conference networking break with refreshments
$1,000 Premier Sponsor
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All Break Sponsor benefits
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Opportunity to welcome attendees with a brief introduction during the conference opening
Interested in sponsoring or exhibiting?
Contact CFBAA for availability and additional information.
Join Us
Safety is a shared responsibility, and the strongest safety cultures are built through preparation, continuous learning, leadership, and collaboration.
We invite you to join aviation professionals from throughout the region for the 2nd Annual CFBAA Safety Standdown as we share real-world experiences, practical tools, and innovative ideas designed to help take our flight departments from good to great.
We look forward to seeing you this September at CAE, SimCom by CAE in Lake Nona!
