CFBAA First Quarter Newsletter 
President's Report
CFBAA Presidents Corner
1st Quarter 2026
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are a simple concept, yet they remain elusive for many small Part 91 operators. While many departments have standards provided by manufacturers or training providers, pilots often return from the simulator and apply their own personalized procedures in the cockpit. This lack of consistency causes confusion and creates a truly unsafe environment.
A New Industry-Wide Standard
Last year, a coalition including FlightSafety, CAE, NBAA, and both Part 135 and Part 91 operators collaborated to create an industry-accepted SOP. Introduced at BACE 2025, this common SOP is designed to be:
- Unified: Enforced at training centers and accepted by the FAA.
- Accessible: Easily adopted by flight departments of any size.
- Practical: Packed with tools for runway performance, briefings, and callouts.
As President of CFBAA, I highly encourage all our flight departments to adopt this SOP immediately. It will be the standard for your next training event, ensuring that all of us—including contractors—are "singing from the same sheet music". You can download the current SOP from NBAA for free, even if not a member, at:
What’s Ahead for CFBAA
Welcome to 2026! Following our busiest year yet, we are excited to offer another full calendar of activities, including:
- Networking: Happy hours and golf outings.
- Professional Development: Annual meetings and briefings.
- Safety & Community: Safety standdowns and airshows.
Please check cfbaa.org for the updated calendar of events. We value your input and look forward to seeing you involved this year!
Dave
From the Executive Directors desk
Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a great holiday season and is off to a strong start in 2026.
CFBAA wrapped up 2025 with another fantastic golf outing, a successful Mission Aviation Day in Daytona Beach, and a fun Holiday Party in Winter Park to close out a great year. We’re excited to keep that momentum going.
We kicked off 2026 with a great Happy Hour in Melbourne, sponsored by our friends at Dassault Falcon Jet. These events continue to grow, and it’s been great to see members using them as a way to network, reconnect, and meet other industry professionals close to home. We plan to continue hosting happy hours throughout Central Florida and are hoping to add a couple in Tampa and Sarasota this year as well. Be sure to watch for announcements or check our website to register. Our next Happy Hour is February 19th in Orlando, sponsored by C&S Companies, we hope to see you there.
Our scholarship applications are now open, and I can’t encourage you enough to spread the word. Last year, we had two scholarships go unclaimed, so please don’t miss this opportunity for financial assistance. We truly have a scholarship option for almost every age group and career stage, from students to working professionals. We’re also excited to partner with CAE this year to offer one person a free ATP-CTP course. A big thank you to CAE for making that possible.
We’ll also be bringing back our popular Orlando TRACON Tours. Our member and controller, Paul, will be leading four tours this year, with the possibility of adding more if there’s enough interest. It’s a great behind-the-scenes look at what controllers see and do every day while guiding aircraft into and out of Central Florida. Dates will be announced soon, so keep an eye on your email and the website.
Mark your calendar for our Third Annual Golf Classic on November 5th at Eagle Creek Golf Club. Sponsorships are now available at cfbaa.org under the Golf tab. This event is always a highlight of the year, and spots tend to fill quickly.
You’ll also find CFBAA representatives at the NBAA Regional Forum in Opa-locka in February and the ACSF Safety Symposium at ERAU Daytona Beach in April. If you’re attending either, please stop by and say hello—we’d love to see you.
Lastly, a quick note that our newsletters are now sent quarterly, so be sure to watch your email between issues for event announcements, or visit cfbaa.org for the latest updates.
Thanks for being part of CFBAA. I look forward to seeing you at a future event.
Blue skies,
Matthew Olafsen - CFBAA Executive Director
CFBAA Notes
Not Seeing Our Emails?
With our recent switch to the StarChapter platform, some members have reported our emails landing in their spam folders or being blocked by company firewalls.
To ensure you don’t miss important updates or upcoming event announcements, please add the following address to your contacts or whitelist:
We’ve got exciting events coming up, and we don’t want you to miss a thing!
YoPro's are you on the CFBAA WhatsApp group?
CFBAA News
CFBAA Scholarship Applications Now Open - Apply by May 4th.
The Central Florida Business Aviation Association (CFBAA) is pleased to announce that applications are now open for our 2026 CFBAA Scholarship Program, supporting students and professionals pursuing careers in business aviation and aerospace.
CFBAA offers multiple scholarship opportunities designed to assist individuals at various stages of their education and career development.
Available Scholarships & Award Amounts
• CFBAA Scholarship for Incoming College Students – $2,000
• CFBAA Scholarship for Current Undergraduate College Students – $2,000
• CFBAA Scholarship for Current Graduate College Students – $2,000
• CFBAA Scholarship for YoPro Career Development – $2,000
• CFBAA Scholarship for Professional Development – $2,000
• Kinsella Award – $5,000
• CAE ATP-CTP Scholarship – Training Award
Applicants must complete the online application and submit a short video explaining how the scholarship will support their career goals, along with required supporting documentation.
The application portal is open now and will close on May 4th.
To review eligibility requirements and apply, visit:
CFBAA Scholarships
We encourage all eligible candidates to apply and take advantage of these outstanding opportunities to further their education and careers in business aviation.
CFBAA Happy Hours are back for 2026!
We kicked off the year in Melbourne at Intracoastal Brewing Company, with generous sponsorship from our friends at Dassault Falcon Jet. More than 60 attendees joined us for an evening of networking and connecting with fellow industry professionals. These Happy Hours have become one of our favorite member events and continue to grow in size due to their popularity. They are currently held monthly, rotating between four cities—Orlando, Sanford, Daytona Beach, and Melbourne—giving members in each area the opportunity to reconnect every four months.
We’re also excited to share plans to expand Happy Hours to Tampa and Sarasota/Fort Myers later this year, so be sure to check back often or watch your email for updates.
Thank you to everyone who attends and makes these events so special, and to our sponsors who help make them possible. We look forward to seeing you at our next Happy Hour in Orlando on February 19, sponsored by our friends at C&S Companies!
CFBAA Golf Classic Sponsorships are Open!
The CFBAA Golf Classic returns on November 5th in Orlando, and sponsorships are open!
Visit CFBAA.org and click the Golf tab to view all available sponsorship opportunities. Ready to lock in your spot? Head over to the Meetings tab to reserve, all opportunities are first come, first served, and they go fast!
The CFBAA Golf Classic is one of our most anticipated events of the year, offering a fantastic chance to connect with members of the rapidly growing business aviation and aerospace community in Central Florida.
Whether you're looking for team-building, client engagement, or new networking opportunities, this event delivers—and there’s no better time to enjoy a round of golf than late fall in Orlando.
For questions or more information, email us at [email protected]
Sponsorship Opportunities:
Sponsor or Sign up for a Golf spot here;
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this exciting event!
CFBAA Student Membership Price Change
CFBAA is fortunate to be located in one of the busiest regions in the country for aviation-centered schools, which has led to tremendous interest in our student memberships. Due to the high volume of student applications, the CFBAA Board has implemented a small annual membership fee of $20 for students to help offset administrative costs associated with processing and managing these memberships.
Student members will also be limited to attending certain member-only events. Full memberships will continue to be offered at the same low annual rate of $60, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors who help cover the association’s administrative expenses. Students who wish to have access to all member-only events are welcome to register for a full membership at $60.
Industry News
YoPro Washington, DC Fly-In Applications Now Open!
The NBAA Young Professionals in Business Aviation (YoPro) Washington DC Fly-In is a premier advocacy event designed to empower young professionals in business aviation. Held in the nation’s capital, this unique experience provides participants with the tools and training needed to engage with policymakers and advocate for the industry's future. Attendees will meet with members of Congress, participate in educational sessions on legislative and regulatory issues, and connect with industry leaders and peers. The fly-In is an invaluable opportunity to showcase the importance of business aviation, develop advocacy skills, and network with like-minded professionals committed to shaping the industry’s success.
Use the form below to submit your application for participation in the YoPro Washington DC Fly-In on June 24, 2026. The NBAA YoPro Council will carefully review all applications and notify confirmed participants by Feb. 25, 2026. Participants must be at least 21 years old and working full-time in the business aviation industry. All 2026 YoPro Washington DC Fly-In participants will be required to participate in three, monthly, online training sessions.
NBAA’s Regional Forum Returns to Miami-Opa locka Executive Airport!
Bringing together current and future business aircraft owners, operators, manufacturers, customers, and other vital industry personnel, the 2026 NBAA Miami-Opa locka Regional Forum will feature education sessions, an aircraft display and more than 100 exhibits. This one-day program is jam-packed with networking opportunities, an aircraft display, educational sessions and two hangars filled with a wide variety of exhibits. Connect with industry professionals, stay informed on the latest topics in business aviation and discover an amazing array of products and services.
Safety Management Systems Training
PRISM proudly presents a practical 3-day Safety Management System (SMS) course designed to provide you with the knowledge you need to implement and maintain an effective SMS in your operation. The course is highly interactive and provides four (4) credits towards the NBAA Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) Program.
ACSF Safety Symposium – April 7 thru 9, 2026 at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL
Washington DC, November 19, 2025 — The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) is gearing up for a completely new format for operators and safety minded aviation professionals that delivers an immersive learning experience format at the 2026 ACSF Safety Symposium, scheduled for April 7–9, 2026 at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. The 2026 event represents a major shift in how the Symposium is designed and delivered. The new innovative
format ditches the PowerPoint parade and is presented as a Day in the Life of an Operator. Kent Stauffer, Chairman of the ACSF Board of Directors, described it as being “built as an active immersive learning experience, not a passive PowerPoint audience watch party.” This format’s approach is centered on practical learning, hands-on engagement, and “take-away” content that attendees can use immediately within their own organizations.
This year’s Symposium focuses on real operational challenges faced by operators, MROs, FBOs, manufacturers, and safety teams. Attendees will participate in scenario-based discussions, interactive modules, and sessions that mirror the day-to-day realities of business aviation.
The program includes a forward-focused session that introduces the business value of safety, along with a workshop on safety return on investment. This workshop is one component of a broader, more modern program that emphasizes actionable learning.
Participants will have opportunities to connect with professionals from every part of the industry. Operators, MROs, FBOs, charter organizations and manufacturers. Safety specialists will be able to meet, collaborate, and share solutions that strengthen safety practices across the industry.
Every session is designed with the same goal: to equip attendees with SOPs, playbooks, tools, strategies, and insights they can put into practice as soon as they return home. The emphasis is on useful, real-world guidance that supports stronger safety culture and operational performance.
“The 2026 Symposium represents a major step forward for our industry. We are delivering an event that reflects the realities of today’s operators,” said Stauffer. “This program is built to educate, engage, and strengthen the safety mindset across all segments of business aviation. By the end of the 2-day symposium, you’ll have a full assessment of where your organization stands in terms of safety and the takeaways to fill in the gaps.”
Get Early Bird pricing until March 1. Registration is now open. https://acsf.rsvp.gther.com/
Calendar of Events
Happy Hour – February 19th - Orlando – Sponsored by C&S Companies
NBAA Regional Forum – February 25th - Opa Locka - CFBAA Booth N1114
Happy Hour – March 19th - Sanford – Sponsored by CE Avionics
MCO TRACON Tour – March 27th - Orlando
ACSF Safety Symposium – April 7th-9th - Daytona Beach
Happy Hour – April 23rd - Daytona Beach – Sponsored by Open
3rd Annual Golf Classic – November 5th - Eagle Creek Golf Course Orlando
