ACSF Safety Symposium

April 7-9, 2026 | ERAU Daytona Beach, FL

2026 ACSF Safety Symposium

at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

ABOUT THE SAFETY SYMPOSIUM

The ACSF Safety Symposium is an annual two-day gathering of business aviation safety-minded professionals where current and emerging safety challenges are reviewed and discussed. 

7-9 April 2026 | Daytona Beach, FL

THE SYMPosium starts in...

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General Info

Review useful information about the ACSF Safety Symposium, including who should attend, location, registration and more.

Agenda

2026 promises to be an immersive learning experience with impactful takeaways

Hotel Information

Please stay tuned for information about hotels for our 2025 Safety Symposium

SPONSOR OPPORTUNITIES

The ACSF offers a variety of sponsorships to support your branding efforts and build your awareness

Registration

Please stay tuned for Registration information for our 2025 Safety Symposium     

What Attendees Say

“The ACSF Safety Symposium is a top Safety Forum that’s consistent year in an year out. I’ll be back!”

Former Attendee
“I had a great time both at the ACSF Safety Symposium and ACSF Industry Audit Standard (IAS) Auditor’s Workshop. I really respect the Foundation and their commitment to safety. We’re very much on the same page and I look forward to future collaboration.”
John Delisi
Director, Office of Aviation Safety, National Transportation Safety Board
“We work in a profoundly safe industry, but the daily challenge is to continue learning and innovating so we can prevent the next incident or accident. I always have “take-aways” from each presenter that are helpful in moving towards that goal.”
Dave Hewitt
Executive Vice-President of Safety, Wheels Up
“The ACSF Safety Symposium is an outstanding, “pure” safety event that’s put together by safety-minded personnel for safety-minded personnel. There are always outstanding speakers who bring forth new ways to tackle age-old safety issues. It’s also comforting to be amongst like-minded, passionate aviators who are so willing to share so much safety information in the spirit of universal safety.”
Kurt Humm
Vice President of Quality and Safety, Priester Aviation
“More often than not these types of events are motivational and inspirational, but lack relevance and actual information. The ACSF Safety Symposium was a perfect balance of all of these elements.”
Madeline Sullivan
Safety Specialist, JetLinx
“I attend a few aviation safety conferences each year and without exception I feel the ACSF Safety Symposium provides the best “bang for the buck.” Great presentations, thoughtful questions and respectful discussions. See you next year!”
Former Attendee
Safety Specialist, JetLinx
“I enjoy attending the ACSF Safety Symposium each year. It’s nice to be with colleagues who are all working on similar issues.”
Edward M. Kilkeary
Jr., President, LJ Aviation
Any person who attends the ACSF Safety Symposium, conference, seminar or other program grants permission to the Air Charter Safety Foundation, its employees and agents (collectively ”ACSF”) to record his or her visual/audio images, including, but not limited to, photographs, digital images, voices, sound or video recordings, audio clips, or accompanying written descriptions, and, without notifying such person, to use his or her name and such images for any purpose of the ACSF, including advertisements for the ACSF and its programs.

Thank you to our 2026 Sponsors

AGENDA

Tuesday April 7, 2026

8:30 am-

9:00 am

Registration

Stop by the registration booth, say hello, pickup your badge and get registered!

9:00 am-

12:00 pm

Workshop: Safety Return on Investment

An interactive, non-punitive, confidential workshop to introduce the concept of safety as revenue/cost protection, not just a cost-center. The workshop will focus on the use of Return on Investment (ROI) calculators to quantify the cost of an event versus the cost of mitigation.

Attendees are encouraged to bring an example of a safety event from their operation to analyze in a confidential, small-group setting.

4:30 pm-

6:00 pm

Afternoon Registration

Stop by the registration booth, say hello, pickup your badge and get registered!

5:00 pm-

6:00 pm

ACSF Business Aviation Career Panel for ERAU Students

Business Aviation Career Panel

C-Suite leaders will help educate ERAU aviation students on what it takes to enter (and succeed in) the business aviation industry. Each executive will share a highlight reel of their career path, giving tips and advice based on their specific journey.

6:00 pm-

7:00 pm

Welcome Reception

Mix and mingle with leaders in aviation safety as well as students in aviation.

Wednesday April 8, 2026

6:45 am-

7:15 am

Shuttle Service to/from ERAU

Departs from The Daytona and Fairfield hotels to ERAU.
Note: Parking passes will not be available. Limited parking is at a rate of $12 per day.

7:00 am-

7:30 am

Registration

Stop by the registration booth, say hello, pickup your badge and get registered!

7:15 am-

8:00 am

Continental Breakfast

Coffee on. Breakfast served. Join fellow attendees before the day’s program gets underway.

8:00 am-

8:30 am

Welcome to A Day in the Life – The Aviation Reality Show

President Debi Carpenter, Chair Kent Stauffer and Vice Chair Mike Wootton open the 2026 ACSF Safety Symposium by setting the stage for A Day in the Life – The Aviation Reality Show, an immersive, scenario-driven program focused on real-world aviation safety challenges.

8:30 am-

9:30 am

Cultural Make or Break

This session examines how organizational culture directly influences performance, behavior, safety, and quality. It highlights the real-world impact of a strong safety culture, and the risks that emerge when culture is misaligned, showing why culture is a critical driver of operational outcomes.

9:30 am-

10:00 am

Morning Break – Day 1

Network with attendees and make sure to visit our exhibitors at this morning pick-me-up!

10:00 am-

11:00 am

Knock, knock, we’re here to help….

This session explores how operators experience FAA involvement at different stages of Safety Management System (SMS) maturity, from no formal structure or buy-in to voluntary, off-the-shelf programs, and through fully implemented SMS with continuous improvement. The discussion highlights how engagement, culture, and system use shape outcomes when the FAA arrives.

11:00 am-

12:00 pm

But…What If?

Emergency preparedness – Are you prepared to handle the big stuff? How about the culture of your organization?

12:00 pm-

1:00 pm

Lunch

Share a meal with your fellow attendees, check your emails and make important phone calls.

1:00 pm-

2:00 pm

Headshot of ACSF Presenter Amanda Ferraro

It’s Just a Flesh Wound…

During an audit walkthrough in the hangar, a company employee slips and falls, sustaining a minor injury. The scenario examines how the incident is reported, including whether it is reported at all, how quickly it is documented, and who is notified, as a reflection of the organization’s reporting culture. The scenario then introduces a change-management element, requiring a Safety Risk Assessment (SRA) related to maintenance or structural modifications in the hangar, such as weeping wings. Finally, the exercise evaluates whether appropriate corrective action reports (CARs) are identified, documented, and closed in a timely and effective manner.

2:00 pm-

3:00 pm

Fake News?

This panel examines how charter operators promote safety through clear communication, effective training, and shared lessons learned. Panelists will discuss practical ways safety information is communicated, training is reinforced, and real-world experiences are used to strengthen safety culture and daily operations.

3:00 pm-

3:30 pm

Refreshment Break

Fuel up with afternoon coffee, tea, water and a light snack and an opportunity to visit with our exhibitors

3:30 pm-

4:30 pm

Needle Hunting in a Haystack

Needle Hunting in a Haystack explores how charter operators use Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) and meaningful metrics to proactively identify risk before incidents occur. This session focuses on turning long-term data analysis into actionable insights that help operators pinpoint trends, address vulnerabilities, and strengthen safety performance across the organization.

4:30 pm-

5:00 pm

Shuttle Service to Hotels

Departs for The Daytona and Fairfield host hotels.

5:30 pm-

7:00 pm

Evening Reception and Dinner

Network and enjoy a night out with your fellow attendees. Event will be at the The Daytona, Autograph Collection Hotel

Thursday April 9, 2026

7:30 am-

8:30 am

Shuttle Service to/from ERAU

Departs from The Daytona and Fairfield hotels to ERAU.
Note: Parking passes will not be available. Limited parking is at a rate of $12 per day.

7:45 am-

8:30 am

Full Breakfast

Start the day right. Join fellow attendees by enjoying the most important meal of the day!

8:30 am-

10:00 am

Safety From Another Perspective

This session examines risk culture lessons from the U.S. Coast Guard, drawing on experiences from Hurricane Katrina rescue operations. It highlights how strong safety culture enables teams to adapt when conditions exceed planning, emphasizing decision-making, communication, and leadership when no SOP exists.

10:00 am-

10:30 am

Morning Break – Day 2

Last chance to Network with attendees and make sure to visit our exhibitors at this morning pick-me-up!

10:30 am-

11:30 am

The Blame Game

The Blame Game explores how an organization’s response to events reflects its safety culture. This session compares varying levels of emergency response and investigation capability, from limited resources and reactions to fully developed, just culture programs. The discussion includes practical guidance on conducting a basic investigation, identifying contributing and root causes, and using available tools and data sources to support objective, blame-free analysis.

11:30 am-

12:30 pm

Kent Stauffer Chairman ACSF

What Have We Just Done?

We wrap up the symposium with a focused recap of key insights, shared lessons, and practical takeaways. This closing session reinforces how the concepts discussed translate into real-world actions operators can apply immediately to strengthen safety and decision-making.

Go Rentals Discount

Go Rentals shall provide the following rates for vehicle reservations to agents, employees and members of

  • ACSF Toyota Corolla: $64.99 Daily Rate 
  • Toyota Camry: $74.99 Daily Rate 
  • Toyota Rav4: $92.49 Daily Rate

Go Rentals’ standard rates shall apply to reservations in Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming.

Go Rentals shall provide the clients and customers of ACSF (collectively, “Clients”) a 20% discount for vehicle reservations applied against the daily rate in effect at the time of reservation.

MedAire Benefit

Ensure comprehensive safety and support with MedAire’s industry-leading solutions, expertly tailored for Business Aviation. As a valued member of the Air Charter Safety Foundation, you are eligible for an exceptional 20% discount on the first-year retail price of MedAire360 Assistance Membership. 

Why MedAire360?

MedAire360 stands at the forefront of aviation risk management and resilience. The program integrates advanced medical, security, and operational support, meticulously developed through nearly 40 years of industry insights, real-world experience, and technological innovation. MedAire360 ensures each flight is safeguarded with proactive risk mitigation, cutting-edge medical diagnostic equipment, and comprehensive safety training resources. 

Key Benefits:

  1. Discount: 20% off the retail price per aircraft tail. 
  2. Eligibility: Available to new customers only. 
  3. Duration: Discount applies to the first year of MedAire360 Assistance Membership. 

How to Redeem:

ACSF members can take advantage of this exclusive offer by presenting proof of current ACSF membership to the MedAire sales team during the enrolment process. 

Why Choose MedAire?

For nearly four decades, MedAire has solidified its reputation as a cornerstone of aviation safety and security. The MedAire360 Assistance Membership is designed to integrate top-tier medical and security assistance, rigorous crew training, and state-of-the-art medical kits for onboard health and safety. The membership provides 24/7 access to aviation medical and security specialists, VIP medical support at destination points, and seamless coordination for essential services worldwide. 

MedAire’s services are crucial in mitigating travel risks and ensuring the highest safety standards. Whether the need is for pre-trip risk assessments, in-flight medical guidance, or emergency support, MedAire360 delivers unmatched expertise and personalised care at every step.