First look at 2022 aviation events
The who, what, where, and when of aviation events
It’s shaping up to be a great year for aviation events in 2022 with in-person events back in full swing, at least as of January.
Redbird Migration 2022 will take place February 8 and 9 at the Aerospace Center for Excellence in Lakeland, Florida, and will feature presentations from flight training industry leaders. Registration is now open.
The National Gay Pilots Association Industry Expo will be held February 10 and 11 in Palm Springs, California, and will feature a lineup of guest-speakers and educational seminars for general aviation, business, and commercial pilots.
The thirty-eighth Northwest Aviation Conference & Tradeshow will be held February 26 and 27 at the Washington State Fair Events Center in Puyallup, Washington. The event will have over 75 hours of safety seminars with an annual attendance of over 10,000.
A host of event offerings from the National Business Aviation Association will be taking place in 2022 worldwide
- Miami-Opa locka Regional Forum – February 2 | Opa-locka, Florida
- Leadership Conference – Feb 7 through 9 | Fort Worth, Texas
- International Operators Conference – March 14 through 16 | Los Angeles
- Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference – April 5 through 7 | San Diego
- Maintenance Conference – May 3 through 5 | San Antonio
- European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition – May 23 through 25 | Geneva, Switzerland
- Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition – October 18 through 20 | Orlando, Florida
The 2022 HAI Heli-Expo, taking place March 7 through 10 (Exhibits open March 8-10) in Dallas promises “endless networking and hundreds of education courses with 14,000 industry professionals and 600+ exhibitors.”
The 2022 International Women in Aviation Conference will take place March 17 through 19 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville.
The sixty-fifth annual Aircraft Electronics Association International Convention & Trade Show is set for March 28 through 31 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. The event is touted as the largest gathering of GA avionics manufacturers, distributors, and government-certified repair stations in the world.
The Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo returns April 5 through 10 in Lakeland, Florida, for five full days of airshows, over 500 aviation-focused exhibitors, educational seminars, static military aircraft and demonstration flights, and more.
Aero Friedrichshafen is scheduled for April 27 through 30 in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Electric flight, sustainable fuels, digital systems to support pilots, and many other innovations will be the focus of the 2022 event.
The 2022 Great Alaska Aviation Gathering will return to the Alaska State Fairgrounds and the Palmer Airport May 6 through 8. The event boasts an annual attendance of over 25,000 aviation enthusiasts and professionals.
The Valdez Fly-in and Airshow has announced plans to host its annual event May 13 through 15 at Valdez pioneer field in Alaska. Check the website for updates as they become available.
The Ninety-Nines International Conference and Career Expo returns to in-person meetings this year in Charleston, South Carolina, July 6 through 10 at the Francis Marion Hotel.
The Professional Asian Pilots Association will be holding its first-ever Aerospace Expo on July 16, at the LINQ Hotel in Las Vegas.
The sixty-ninth EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, the world’s largest fly-in event, is set for July 25 through 31 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. This year the Experimental Aircraft Association will be celebrating the seventy-fifth anniversary of the U.S. Air Force.
The Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals is holding its forty-sixth annual aerospace conference August 10 through 12 in Phoenix. The three-day event is expected to attract thousands of aerospace and aviation professionals from diverse backgrounds.
The STIHL National Championship Air Races is on track for September 14 through 18 at its usual home in Reno. Tickets are not yet on sale, so keep checking back for updates.
The fiftieth anniversary Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is shaping up to be one of the fiesta’s busiest years yet! RV reservations are already sold out with more than 20,000 reservations made within an hour and a half after reservations opened. The event will take place October 1 through 9. Event tickets go on sale April 1.
The Vintage Aerobatic World Championship will be joining the Real Aeroplane Co. and Real Aeroplane Club at the historic Breighton Airfield in Breighton, United Kingdom, August 18 through 21. Once a World War II heavy bomber base and Cold War nuclear missile launch site, the airfield is now home to classic, ex-military aircraft.
AOPA will be hosting events throughout the year. We’ll be announcing the dates and locations soon.
As with everything else during the coronavirus pandemic, it’s important to periodically check event websites for the most up-to-date information. This list is not comprehensive, so if one of your favorite events is not listed, check the event’s website to determine if one is being planned for 2022.
