Nafa Aircraft - FT. LAUDERDALE, FL., March 28, 2017 – The National Aircraft Finance Association (NAFA) held its 46th Annual Meeting March 21-24, 2017, at the Harbor Beach Marriott, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The four day event included a 1 day NAFA Aircraft Education Program, a Vendor Forum, Annual Business Meeting, General Session, and Break-out Sessions.
The association was organized at a meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1970, then formally launched as the Aircraft Finance Association (AFA) in early 1971. In those days, the FAA was more heavily involved with aircraft sales as part of the registration process
Nafa Aircraft
, and financing an aircraft purchase was cumbersome. The AFA's first mission: to work with the FAA and finance departments of Cessna and Piper to improve the aircraft lending process. A panel session was held featuring Mark Baker, president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and Peter Bunce, president and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturer's Association (GAMA) on the current "State of the Aviation Industry".
National Aircraft Finance Association
The association began in the late 1960s when representatives of companies that financed large numbers of aircraft met to facilitate and improve the lending process. The group included Tom Harvell from the aircraft loan program at Montclair National Bank, who later founded the National Aircraft Finance Company;
Jim Peters, the "Flying Banker," of the Aviation Finance Division of National Community Bank—one of only three banks in the country at the time to finance airplanes; William Staub of the accounting division of the FAA Aeronautical Center;
Bob Beech and Carol Davis of Fulton National Bank; and other prominent aircraft finance and lending representatives. Jim Blessing, is the vice president of AirFleet Capital, Inc., a finance firm focused on aircraft lending to the "owner-flown" segment of the aviation industry.
At AirFleet, Blessing oversees all functions of the company, to include strategic planning, marketing and sales, and he participates regularly with credit evaluation and underwriting. Blessing joined AirFleet in 1999 and has helped participate in its growth from a new entrant in aircraft lending to one of the larger firms in the segment.
The National Aircraft Finance Association (NAFA) is a non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting the general welfare of individuals and organizations providing aircraft financing and loans secured by aircraft; to improve the industry's service to the public;
and to providing our members with a forum for education and the sharing of information and knowledge to encourage the financing, leasing and insuring of general aviation aircraft. For more information about NAFA, visit the website at www.NAFA.aero.
Chris Miller, who has served as NAFA president, introduced Ford von Weise as the newly elected president and Jim Blessing as the vice president. "NAFA's incoming leadership team brings a fresh and invigorating perspective to continue serving the needs of our membership," said Miller.
The leaders of SIX aircraft manufacturers provided their industry views and discussed new aircraft that will soon enter service. Todd Simmons, president of Cirrus Aircraft, Peter Maurer, president, Diamond Aircraft Industries, and Simon Caldecott, president of Piper Aircraft discussed the future of small-cabin aircraft (piston through light jet), while Scott Neal, senior vice president Worldwide Sales Gulfstream
Aerospace, David Coleal, president of Bombardier Business Aircraft, and Michael Amalfitano, president and CEO of Embraer Executive Jets, discussed the future of Large-Cabin Aircraft. The National Aircraft Finance Association (NAFA) is a non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting the general welfare of individuals and organizations providing aircraft financing and loans secured by aircraft;
to improve the industry's service to the public; and to providing our members with a forum for education and the sharing of information and knowledge to encourage the financing, leasing and insuring of general aviation aircraft.
For more information about NAFA, visit www.NAFA.aero Working to be the "voice of aviation finance," NAFA continuously gathers intelligence to evaluate the aircraft market and track activity, changes, and trends. During an informal review conducted by NAFA in 2020, the association found that its members represent about 38 percent of the aircraft secured by debt, totaling about $4 billion.
John Robertson, vice president & senior policy advisor of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta discussed current economic conditions, outlook and monetary policy. Todd Evans, a principal of Export Development Canada discussed Brexit, Trump and the changing world order.
A special THANK YOU to our Sponsors: Silver Sponsors - Executive Jet Management and Rolls-Royce. Bronze Sponsors - 1st Source Bank, Aero-Space Reports, AIC Title Service, Airfleet Capital, Aircraft BlueBlook, Aviation Management Systems, Aircraft Owners Pilot Association, American Society of Appraisers, Embry-Riddle Aero University, Asset Insight, Aviation Legal Group, BMO
Harris, Dorr Aviation, Insured Aircraft Title Services, JetAviation, Jetcraft, National Aircraft Finance Company, PNC Aviation Finance, SalemFive Aviation, Scope Aircraft Finance, Stonebriar Commercial Finance, TVP 1031 Exchanges & Trust, Vref and Wright Brothers Aircraft Title. The 155 member companies of the National Aircraft Finance Association include banks, financiers, appraisers, tax specialists, manufacturers, brokers, and dealers as well as law, title, insurance, and escrow firms—all the financial players involved in buying or leasing business and
general aviation aircraft in the U.S. The 17th Annual Aircraft Appraisal Education Program offered a new and improved agenda, as NAFA collaborated with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the ASA to provide an eight-hour refresher course for accredited aircraft appraisers.
This program has been remodeled to offer real-world skills and best practices in order to create a more varied learning experience for attendees. "Compliments to the Board for a new format," said Lou Seno, chairman emeritus of Jet Support Services, Inc.
(JSSI). "This was a departure from previous years and proved to be very positive." Seno commented. There were over 40 attendees, which was an increase in last year. AFA's conferences grew along with its membership, with 260 attendees in 2019 and 291 people registered for the 2020 event before COVID-19 lockdowns forced its cancellation.
As the conference includes educational sessions on the latest industry developments, laws, and regulations, NAFA introduced a webinar series in 2020 to keep members informed; an average of 130 people attended each webinar. "This was one of the most successful meetings we have had in many years, with over 200 attendees," said Chris Miller, president of NAFA, and managing partner of Shearwater Aero Capital.
"We had a tremendous line up of speakers, we partnered with Embry-Riddle and American Society of Appraisers (ASA) on our continuing education program, and we raised $8,800 to go towards Scholarship programs."
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