Two of the year’s big aviation shows fall into the next two weeks. For quality managers, they are a rare chance to talk to many suppliers and maintenance providers in person, in a few days, without a travel budget for each visit.
The dates
NBAA-BACE 2026: 20–22 October in Las Vegas, with the exhibition at the Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall and the aircraft static display at Henderson Executive Airport. According to AIN, the program includes more than 70 educational sessions and a Maintenance Track that offers Inspection Authorization renewal credit.
MRO Europe 2026: RAI Amsterdam. The conference runs 27–28 October, the exhibition 28–29 October, according to Aviation Week.
Five questions worth bringing
From my own experience, a booth conversation is not a supplier audit. But the right questions tell you quickly whom you should audit next:
1. „Where are you with IA9100?“ The IAQG’s key change summary adds information security, stronger sub-tier control and counterfeit prevention as requirements. A supplier who has not looked at it yet is a supplier to watch.
2. „Which special processes do you buy in?“ Plating, heat treatment, NDT. The answer tells you how deep your sub-tier risk goes.
3. „How do you watch obsolescence?“ A required element under IA9100 8.1.4 — and a good indicator of counterfeit-part discipline.
4. For EASA Part-145 organisations: „How far are you with Part-IS?“ It applies to Part-145 maintenance organisations since 22 February 2026, with 18 months to reach full maturity.
5. „How has your team changed in the last year?“ Turnover in quality and inspection roles moves before ppm does.
One rule
Do not qualify a supplier at a booth. Use the show to decide where your next on-site audit goes.
Sources
- AIN — NBAA-BACE taking shape: expanded program, most OEMs (3 September 2026), ainonline.com
- Aviatize — NBAA-BACE 2026, aviatize.com
- Aviation Week — MRO Europe future dates, mroeurope.aviationweek.com
- IAQG — IA9100 Key Change Summary, clause view (November 2023), iaqg.org
- Jones Day — Civil Aviation Cybersecurity: EASA Part-IS (February 2026), jonesday.com