Two-Day Meeting Focused On Financial And Government Issues

The National Air Transportation Association's (NATA) annual Aviation Business Roundtable once again brought key executives in the industry together with some of the most influential decision makers in Washington, D.C. The two-day event held Monday and Tuesday consisted of high-level meetings to discuss critical financial and political issues affecting the aviation business community.

"This time each year, NATA assembles panels and presenters to help us understand the most important issues that our industry faces. From the changing landscape at many airports to the uncertain prospects for regulatory and fiscal reform in Congress and within the administration, the discussions that unfold help all of us design our collective response to the chaos and complexity that is modern day Washington," stated NATA President and CEO James K. Coyne.

The 2011 lineup of speakers was highlighted by a keynote speech by Republican Presidential Candidate Herman Cain, and also included:

• A congressional aviation outlook session and breakfast with Congressman John Mica (R-FL), Chairman, U. S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
• An opening session with J. Randolph Babbitt, Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration.
• Business perspective luncheon with Washington's own Ted Leonsis, owner of multiple area sports teams, including the Washington Capitals.
• OEM industry roundtable panel, including Joe Lombardo, Executive Vice President, Aerospace Group, General Dynamics, John G. Rosanvallon, President and CEO, Dassault Falcon Jet Corporation and Pete Bunce, President and CEO, General Aviation Manufacturers Association.
• Aviation industry roundtable panel led by NATA President and CEO James K. Coyne with Marion C. Blakey, President and CEO, Aerospace Industries Association, Todd Hauptli, Senior Executive Vice President, American Association of Airport Executives and Edward M. Bolen, President and CEO, National Business Aviation Association.
• An industry forecast by Michael Boyd, President, Boyd Group International, Inc.
• General Aviation Infrastructure & Investment Coalition panel discussion with Michael Scheeringa, President, Signature Flight Support, Greg Arnold, President and CEO, Truman Arnold Companies, Clive Lowe, Vice President, Business Development, Atlantic Aviation and Jim Hopkins, Vice President, Sales & Charter, Landmark Aviation.

"The presence of NATA's members at this event sends a message to the policymakers present at the roundtable. It gives us a forum to express our anger at radical new user fee proposals. It demonstrates our commitment to stand with others in the aviation community against misguided attacks against our industry, and especially against our customers. And it helps us declare that jobs in aviation are no less important than those in any other industry," added Coyne.

FMI: www.nata.aero