EBACE, ABACE – How About VBACE?

As in Virtual Business Aviation Convention and Exposition.

While there’s still no substitute for actually being there, these days you can pull a lot of value out of a major aviation gathering even if you can’t make the show.

Take next week’s EBACE in Geneva, Switzerland – May 21-23. Between Twitter and the show’s excellent mobile app, you can follow the events from anywhere. Add online news from the aviation trade press and the only thing you’ll miss is one-on-one contact.

Even if you don’t usually use Twitter, you should consider following #EBACE13. Show organizers will use the feed to announce events as they’re coming up, and many of the 12,000-plus in attendance will check in with observations, insights, announcements and nuggets of information that may not be available anywhere else.

A Show On Your Phone

The EBACE mobile app – indispensable if you’re at the show – should also prove handy for those watching from afar.

• A complete updated schedule. Bookmark those of particular interest and the built-in scheduler will remind you when they’re about to occur.
• A friends list. Are colleagues or clients attending? Keep track of their activities – maybe even ask a question through them, or serve as their remote resource.
• A complete exhibitor list. This can be an invaluable resource, with company descriptions and links to websites.

You may find other, creative ways to make use of the app. It takes just a few seconds to download – and it’s free.

At a minimum, using these tools will keep you in the loop from afar and can serve as a prompt to watch for specific coverage of the developments that interest you most.

Of course, there’s definite room for improvement in the app. They haven’t figured out yet how to have it fetch a piece of artisan Geneva chocolate.