Major Boost in Exhibitor and Attendee Participation Over
Previous Years
The 2004 rendition of
the NATA/PAMA AS3 annual convention and tradeshow (now run by an
independent organization) is off to a new and greater start than
previously seen. Boasting strong attendance from both exhibitors as
well as attendees, the AS3 show has become a focal point for
aviation services, FBOs and the aviation maintenance field.
This year's show has filled a good part of the south annex of
the Las Vegas Convention center with general aviation aftermarket
services for aviation companies, aircraft manufacturers, and
airport-based businesses as well as ground support equipment,
services, and solutions. Over 400 companies are displaying their
wares on over 100,000 square feet of exhibit space while NATA and
PAMA also host a series of seminars, meetings, special events and
workshops.
In addition to the civilian world, a very noticeable presence
this year is a large contingent of maintenance personnel from the
US Air Force.
The event has assembled a prominent group of important speakers.
During a well-attended opening session, the NTSB's John Goglia
addressed the assemblage. With 30 years of hard experience in
aviation, Goglia has the distinction of being the first Board
Member to hold an FAA A&P ticket.
Another prominent session featured aviation innovator Dr. Paul
MacReady. MacCready is currently known as the founder and chairman
of AeroVironment, Inc., but is best known for his work on the
Gossamer Condor and Albatross. He has been pioneering the use of
alternate energy sources in aviation for over 50 years, developing
vehicles and devices for both military and commercial use.
A Wednesday session detailed the contributions made to the
aviation world by a man billed as the "The Wright Brothers'
Mechanic." Charles Taylor II, the great grandson of Orville and
Wilbur Wright's mechanic Charles Taylor, presented a slideshow and
discussion about his grandfather Charles Taylor in a special
session. Charles Taylor worked for the Wright brothers for 29 years
and made the airplane engine that powered their first flight. He
was the first airplane mechanic, the first airport manager, the
first airplane crash investigator, the chief mechanic on the first
cross country flight, a signing witness to the first army airplane
contract, the owner of the first American flag to fly on an
airplane, and the only person to work for both the Wright brothers
and Henry Ford in the Wright Bicycle Shop. Taylor passed away in
1956.
Some of the biggest buzz expected for this show should come about
early Thursday morning as the CEOs of a number of promising (and
not-necessarily-so-promising) microjet programs gather to discuss
the state of a burgeoning aspect of the civil air transportation
system. This panel was invited to discuss the next generation of
aircraft-compact light jets "and the challenges they present for
the FAA, airports, and the industry."
Among those expected to offer their insight include Rick Adam,
CEO of Adam Aircraft Industries; Richard Aboulafia, VP of Analysis
for Teal Group Corporation; Harold Clark, Chairman of USAIG; Jack
Pelton, President and CEO of Cessna; Vern Raburn, President and CEO
of Eclipse Aviation Company; Camilo Salomon, President and CEO of
Safire Aircraft Company; and David Tait, CEO of Avocet Aircraft
LLC. We're looking forward to this session... and will report on it
later this week.
In the meantime, optimism is an unexpected and welcome feeling
on the convention floor as visitors look over new equipment, tools
and services needed in their businesses and discuss the strategies
needed for continued survival in a post-911/aviation-unfriendly
environment. Most attendees agree that the worst seems to be behind
them and that business is, indeed, on a documented upturn... while
also noting (with no little amount of fatalism) that the entire
business could tank again in the event of another aviation related
terrorist attack.
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