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OBAP Annual Convention

The annual conference of the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals — its landmark 50th edition, held at McCormick Place in Chicago. Three days of professional development, scholarship distribution, and the largest gathering focused on Black professionals in aerospace.

August 12–14, 2026McCormick Place, Chicago, United States~1,500 attendees

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What to expect

OBAP's annual conference runs in mid-August, rotating host cities between major US convention destinations — the 2026 edition, the organization's 50th, runs August 12–14 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Expect career-development sessions, mentorship programs, scholarship awards (over $1.5 million annually distributed), an exhibit hall with active airline and operator recruiting, and networking that connects professionals across career stages. OBAP scholarship recipients are highly motivated students with funding secured — a strong applicant pool for any flight school looking to diversify its student body.

Quick facts

Dates

August 12–14, 2026

Location

McCormick Place
Chicago, United States

Estimated attendance

~1,500

Exhibitors

~80

Registration

from USD 595 full pass

Languages

Regulatory focus

FAA

Also known as

OBAP, OBAP Convention, Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals Convention

Who attends

Black aerospace professionals at every career stage, aviation students seeking scholarships, airline and operator recruiters, flight schools, mentors and educators, and OBAP corporate partners.

Why flight schools attend

Flight schools committed to expanding diversity in their student and CFI pipelines find OBAP Convention uniquely valuable. The recruiting density, scholarship recipients seeking placement, and partnership opportunities all directly support the goal. Many schools build sustained partnerships with OBAP that extend beyond the annual convention.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — OBAP is uniquely valuable for that goal. The recruiting density, scholarship recipients seeking placement, and sustained partnership opportunities all directly support diversifying flight school student and CFI pipelines.

OBAP's annual conference runs in mid-August, with the host city rotating between major US convention destinations. The 2026 edition — OBAP's 50th — runs August 12–14, 2026 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois.

OBAP awards over $1.5 million in aviation scholarships annually across categories from initial flight training through type ratings and college aviation programs. Schools partnering with OBAP gain access to motivated students with funding secured.

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