Convention And Trade Show To Be Held October 21-23

The AOPA returns to Long Beach (CA) for the AOPA Expo 2004 convention and trade show, October 21-23. Long a favorite with pilots for its convenience, Long Beach boasts attractions such as the Queen Mary, the Long Beach aquarium, museums and fabulous ocean vistas.

Expo kicks off on Thursday, October 21 with the first of three free daily general sessions. For the third year in a row, FAA Administrator Marion Blakey will address the hundreds of pilots gathered at the general session, this time live via satellite. On Friday, October 22, Adm. David M. Stone, the head of the Transportation Security Administration will speak directly to AOPA members for the first time on GA Security: A View From the Top. Saturday’s general session is TEAM AOPA, giving AOPA members a chance to hear from and ask questions of the association’s senior leaders, including AOPA President Phil Boyer.

"General aviation is an integral part of the government’s overall aviation strategy," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "It’s the training ground for most of today’s and tomorrow’s airline pilots. With more than 145-million people taking GA flights each year, general aviation actually carries more passengers than any single commercial airline.

"GA is especially important in a state the size of California, where one out of every ten US pilots lives. That’s why AOPA returns to the West Coast every other year for AOPA Expo."

After each day’s general session, the exhibit hall opens with 500 industry exhibits showcasing some of the latest technology in GA. Pilots can speak with knowledgeable experts, test and compare products, and shop for a wide variety of items from headsets to GPS receivers to aviation apparel. In addition to the indoor exhibits, the AOPA Win A Twin Sweepstakes grand prize, a better-than-new 1965 Piper Twin Comanche, will headline the static aircraft display at Long Beach Airport, just a short, free shuttle bus ride away. Adam, American Champion Aviat, Bombardier, Cessna, Cirrus, Diamond, EADS Socata, Extra, Lancair, Liberty Aerospace, Maule, Mooney, New Piper, Pilatus, Raytheon, Robinson Helicopter, Stemme AG, Symphony, and Twin Commander will all also have aircraft on display.

AOPA is joined this year by DTC DUAT as the first-ever Platinum sponsor of AOPA Expo and SMA as the Gold sponsor. DTC DUAT, one of the two government contractors that provide DUAT flight briefing service, will host an Internet Café right next to the registration area where visitors will be able to check email or get a preflight briefing online while at Expo.

"Educational opportunities abound at this year’s Expo," said AOPA Sr. Vice President Karen Gebhart. "Whether you are a new pilot, or have been flying for several years, there are dozens of seminars offered over the three days that will improve your skills and safety. In 75 seminar hours, we cover such topics as "How To Save Your Life in an Aircraft Accident," "Single Pilot IFR," "Affordable Flying," "Fly-In Destinations in the West," and "Defensive Flying," plus our well-known Pinch Hitter course for non-pilots.

"Not only can you attend these great educational sessions, but you can shop for your favorite aviation products and attend some of AOPA Expo’s fun social events, all in one convenient city," concluded Gebhart.

FMI: www.aopa.org/expo