NBAA-BACE 2026 in Las Vegas: FAA Clears BETA Technologies for eVTOL Passenger Demo Flights as New Aircraft and Engines Debut
Why It MattersClearance of the first eVTOL passenger demonstrations and a wave of new light-jet and engine programs show business aviation weighing advanced air mobility and propulsion alongside safety and certification reform.
The 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) was held in Las Vegas from October 20 to 22. According to NBAA, the show featured a packed exhibition floor, more than 100 first-time exhibitors and one of the strongest industry turnouts in recent years, with industry priorities shifting toward technology integration, certification reform, advanced propulsion and operational efficiency.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy used the convention to announce the FAA's approval of BETA Technologies as the first eVTOL manufacturer authorized to conduct passenger demonstration flights for market research purposes. Discussions at the event addressed vertiports, Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations and the role of advanced air mobility within existing aviation networks.
SyberJet unveiled a mockup of the SJ36, a nine-seat light jet positioned for owner-operators and single-pilot missions, and said that by the close of the show it had letters of intent covering more than 50 aircraft. Textron Aviation debuted the Cessna Citation CJ3 Gen2, and Gulfstream brought its G400 flight-test aircraft. The static display at Henderson Executive Airport included the Gulfstream G400, G500, G600, G700 and G800, the Bombardier Global 8000, Global 6500 and Challenger 3500, the Dassault Falcon 6X and Falcon 8X, and the Cessna Citation Latitude, Longitude and CJ3 Gen2.
Pratt & Whitney Canada introduced its newly certified PT9 turboprop engine, Honeywell outlined testing plans for future HTF engine developments, and a high number of emerging engine programs were under discussion across the exhibition. Panels addressed how artificial intelligence can be integrated into operations, safety management, maintenance planning and airspace management, focused on situational awareness, predictive maintenance and decision support rather than replacing pilots.
Safety was the dominant theme, with sessions on standardized operating procedures, single-pilot operations, cybersecurity threats, risk management, pilot mental wellness and regulatory modernization; IBAC launched its CORE program for smaller operators. Industry experts in NBAA sessions also reported continued strength in the pre-owned business aircraft market, with robust demand and constrained supply in several categories.
