Host: Jason Zilberbrand, President & CTO of VREF

Length: ~28 minutes

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jason Zilberbrand takes a hard, unfiltered look at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention — the industry’s flagship event that once defined dealmaking, advocacy, and innovation in business aviation.

But in an era of digital transactions, sustainability mandates, and shifting buyer demographics, is NBAA still relevant? Or has it become a nostalgic echo of what business aviation used to be?

Drawing on more than three decades of insider experience — from OEM partnerships to appraisals, advocacy, and firsthand memories of the show’s heyday — Jason explores whether the industry’s premier event is evolving fast enough to meet the realities of today’s market.

In This Episode

• How NBAA became the heartbeat of business aviation — and when it started to lose momentum
• Why today’s show feels more like a reunion than a marketplace
• The “static display paradox” — the sustainability hypocrisy no one wants to talk about
• The vanishing middle of the aircraft market and the industry’s obsession with ultra-long-range jets
• How the next generation of buyers is changing what success looks like in private aviation
• Why today’s wealth prefers discretion over display
• The Phenom 300 case study — proof that practicality still wins
• A blueprint for how NBAA could evolve: digital engagement, data access, and meaningful innovation

Key Takeaways

• NBAA isn’t dead — but it’s at a crossroads. Its future depends on whether it adapts to new buyer values and modern expectations.
• Optics have replaced operations. Today’s trade show feels more performative than productive — and that’s a problem.
• The industry’s middle market is missing. Between turboprops and $80M long-range jets, there’s a massive gap waiting to be filled.
• Younger generations buy differently. They want efficiency, data, and discretion — not photo ops.
• Sustainability needs authenticity. The static display’s waste contradicts the industry’s green messaging.
• It’s time for a new model. NBAA could evolve into a year-round digital platform for verified data, advocacy, and true innovation.

Jason’s Truth

“Not every buyer wants a floating boardroom. Some of us just want a reliable airplane that gets us where we need to go without burning through a trust fund. Innovation shouldn’t mean bigger and more expensive — it should mean smarter, leaner, and built for people who actually fly.”

Mentioned in This Episode

• NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition
• Embraer Phenom 300 & Praetor 500
• Gulfstream G550, Dassault Falcon 7X
• Textron Aviation, JSSI
• EAA AirVenture and Sun ’n Fun
• VREF Online Aircraft Valuation Platform

Brought to You By

VREF — The Trusted Name in Aircraft Valuations and Appraisals. Whether you fly a piston single or manage a business jet fleet, VREF keeps you grounded in data that matters. Know what your aircraft is really worth before you buy, sell, or finance at vref.com.

The full show notes can be see at https://vref.com/news/episode-9-is-nbaa-still-relevant-and-what-it-says-about-the-future-of-business-aviation-10-30-25/