Summary:

• 2 days until individual conference rates increase (extended to March 13)
• 5 days until the hotel room block closes (March 16)
• 26 days until the golf outing and conference begins April 6

The Ohio Aviation Association is happy to announce the 2026 Annual Conference dates will be April 6-8, 2026.  theme, From First Flight to Future Skies - Keeping Ohio a Global Aviation Leader.

New Year, New Venue - The OAA Board of Directors have selected the Hilton Downtown Columbus for the conference next year.  We are excited because the new venue presents us with additional opportunities for sponsors, exhibitors and attendees!

UPDATED Agenda at a glance

Monday, April 6, 2026

OAA Pre-Conference Golf Outing - Golf Club of Dublin (8-2p.m.)

3pm - OAA Annual Business Meeting

5-7pm - OAA Welcome Reception - Stories on High Rooftop Restaurant/Bar Overlooking Columbus

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

7am - Registration opens

8:00 - 9:00am - State Legislative Panel Discussion

9:00 - 10:00am - The role of Airports in Aerospace and AAM Economic Development

10:00 - 10:30a.m.  Networking Break with Sponsors and Exhibitors

10:30 - 11:30 Breakout sessions

- Issues and Opportunities of Electric Aircraft in Flight Instruction

- How to Implement a Master Plan

11:30 -12:00pm  Networking Break with Sponsors and Exhibitors

Noon - 1:00pm - Lunch - Speaker TBA

1:00 - 2:00pm - ODOT Office of Aviation Update and Ohio Airport System Plan

- Jim Bryant, Aviation Administrator, ODOT Office of Aviation
- Mark Groves, Aviation Planner, ODOT Office of Aviation
- John Stains, Airport Engineer, ODOT Office of Aviation

2:00 - 3:00pm Breakout Sessions

- Workforce and Economics Progress: Butler/Middletown Regional Airport

- What to Do with Your PCI

3:00 - 4:00pm Breakout Sessions

- Driving Safety Through Smart NOTAM Management

- Considerations When Selecting a Location for New Aviation Fueling Facility

4:00 - 6:00pm - Aviation Career/Job Fair with Sponsors, Exhibitors and Aviation Job Providers

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Registration opens at 7a.m.

8:00 - 9:00am - General Session - TBA

9:00 - 10:00am - General Session - TBA

10:00 - 10:30am - Networking Break with Sponsors and Exhibitors

10:30 - 11:30am - Commercial Service Airport Panel

11:30 - 12:30pm Breakout Sessions

- Leveraging ARCP to Solve Your Airport's Challenges

- TBA

12:30 - 1:30pm Awards Luncheon and Scholarship Presentations

1:30 - 2:00pm - Networking Break with Sponsors and Exhibitors

2:00 - 3:00pm Breakout Sessions

- Caution Helicopter Wake Turbulence

- FAA Design Standards: What Airport Managers Actually Need to Know

3:00 - 4:00pm - Breakout Sessions

- Managing Your Assets

- Digital Twins for Airports

4:00 - 5:00pm - General Session - TBA

5p.m. Prize Drawings and Conference Concludes

On Tuesday, March 10, 2026 the Ohio Aviation Association Executive Director, Tony Fiore, provided proponent testimony on HB 333, the Airspace Protection Act. 

In sum, HB 333:

• updates state law to align with current federal law and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations under part 77 regarding navigable airspace and obstructions to air navigation. 
• requires any person that must file notice with the FAA regarding the proposed construction or alteration of a structure or object of natural growth because the structure or object exceeds federal obstruction standards also to apply for a permit with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). 
• authorizes the notice filed with the FAA regarding the proposed construction or alteration to serve as the application for the state permit, as opposed to filing a separate application as under current law. 
• requires ODOT to conduct its permit study and review concurrently with the FAA’s review and to grant, deny, or grant with a waiver from obstruction standards the ODOT permit within 75 days after the FAA issues its final determination. 
• specifies when ODOT must grant or deny a permit based on both the FAA’s final determination and the study and review conducted by ODOT and any impacted airport.

OAA has been working with ODOT's Office of Aviation, AOPA, legislators and other stakeholders for nearly 9 years to clarify state law regarding navigable airspace around Ohio's airports.

To help illustrate the need for HB 333 Mr. Fiore provided each member with an airport in their district (or one close by) where tall structure issues will continue to be unresolved unless HB 333 becomes law.  The first page of each shows the 5 imaginary surfaces ODOT’s permitting process is currently limited to while the remaining diagrams show areas that need to be covered as part of the airport’s obligations under Part 77.  He also gave credit to the ODOT-Office of Aviation staff that helped pull together the maps for each airport.

• Rep. Bernie Willis (HD 74) – Springfield-Beckly Airport (SGH)
• Rep. Jack Daniels (HD 32) – Akron-Canton Airport (CAK)
• Rep. Roy Klopfenstein (HD 82) – Defiance County Memorial Airport (DFI)
• Rep. Brian Lorenz (HD 60) – Delaware Municipal Airport – Jim Moore Field (DLZ)
• Rep. Riordan McClain (HD 87) – Marion Municipal Airport (MNN)
• Rep. Kevin Miller (HD 69) – Licking County Regional Airport – Treneff Field (VTA)
• Rep. Johnathan Newman (HD 80) – Darke County Airport (VES)
• Rep. Justin Pizzulli (HD 90) – Alexander Salamon Airport (AMT)
• Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel (HD 79) – Columbiana County Airport (02G)
• Rep. Michele Grim, Ranking Minority (HD 43) – Toledo Express Airport – Eugene F. Kranz (TOL)
• Rep. Ismail Mohomed (HD 03) – The Ohio State University Airport (OSU)
• Rep. Elgin Rogers (HD 42) – see TOL as well
• Rep. Dan Troy (HD 23) – Northeast Ohio Regional Airport (HZY)

OAA hopes that the House Transportation Committee will continue to hold hearings on the bill to move it out of committee and off the full House floor before the primary election.  This will give enough time for the Senate to hold hearings in May and June, pass the bill and have it on Governor DeWine's desk for his signature before the summer recess begins.

Click here for a copy of HB 333.

Click here for a copy of OAA's proponent testimony given by Tony Fiore.

Click here for a copy of the AOPA proponent testimony given by Kyle Lewis.

Click here to watch a video recording of the hearing.  The hearing on HB 333 begins at 17:31.  The OAA testimony begins at 37:06.  The hearing on the bill concludes at 59:04.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: The Ohio Aviation Foundation has received a commitment to match dollar-for-dollar sponsorships up to $10,000!!!  We are getting closer to our goal and currently at $3,000 - Pitch in to help us support aviation scholarships and take advantage of doubling your impact with this matching grant before March 31, 2026!

Start off the 2026 Ohio Aviation Association Annual Conference hitting the links and help raise funds for aviation scholarships.

The pre-conference golf outing at the Golf Club of Dublin.

Registration is $125/person or $500 per foursome. (note registrations are not considered sponsorships and only cover the cost of the golfer for this event)

Some of the sponsorship options online include:

• $500 Economy Sponsorship (hole sponsor)
• $750 Economy Plus
• $1,000 Business Class Sponsorship
• $2,500 First-Class Sponsorship

The golf outing award winners and sponsors will be recognized at the OAA Annual Conference, so show your support by registering your foursome and secure your sponsorship today!

Click here to register and sponsor. 

Click the button below to reserve your room under the OAA negotiated room rate of $189 per night  before they are all gone!  This rate is available for 3 days prior to and 3 days after the conference, so come in early or stay late at a great nightly rate!  

Click the button below to become an annual sponsor with year round exposure as well as exhibitor space and complimentary registrations or become an exhibitor only for the conference. 

Do you have an aircraft or simulator to display?  We may have space...

Be sure to check out the different levels of sponsorship below.  Each level includes exhibitor space and complimentary registration for the conference and much more.  Annual sponsorship enhances your brand on the OAA website, in newsletters (like this one) and regional airport events.  The higher level gives your company more runway!

On Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at the Ohio Aviation Association Annual Conference we will be hosting a Aviation Career/Job Fair for aviation students looking for opportunities in the aviation industry.  This event will take place from 4-6p.m. at the Hilton Downtown Columbus.  Admission for students that are OAA members is FREE for this portion of the conference. 

We think meeting your potential future employer (and free food) is motivation enough to register, but here is another reason to attend our first ever aviation career fair.  We will be raffling off at least three (3) airline gift cards to students in attendance.  You must be present to win - no exceptions.  

Register today and well will see you on April 7!

OAA has space at the career/job fair for aviation employers that want to be onsite for just this part of the OAA conference.  The $300 registration as a career/job fair table exhibitor only provides table space on Tuesday, April 7 from 4:00-6:00pm (with extra time for setup and teardown) for employers that wish to be included in the OAA job fair, but not the rest of the conference.  Please register today and send us your logo to include in the career/job fair material for students.

Hotel rate available: Those students and employers attending the career/job fair only can take advantage of the hotel room rates listed below, but don't delay.  Once the room block is full the rates go up!

Space is limited due to fire code, so don't delay and register today!