News
REVISED ON AIR SUMMIT WILL FOCUS ON SUPPLIERS
November 12, 2013 2:15pm
Both houses of the United States Congress are now scheduled to be in session on Monday, December 16, 2013, forcing the Wichita Aero Club to revise its plan to host it’s annual On-Air Summit at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel at Wichita Airport. Instead, four leaders from aviation industry suppliers will make up the panel. Daniel McCoy, Aviation Reporter for the Wichita Business Journal will moderate the discussion.
“First sequestration and the government shutdown threatened to extend the legislative calendars in the US House and Senate…and then the problems with Obamacare created a host of unanticipated hearings and a flurry of legislation that dashed virtually any hope of seeing the Congress end its current session before December 16—the date of our ON-AIR SUMMIT,” said Dave Franson, president of the Wichita Aero Club.
“We were contacted by the offices of the two Senators we had invited to serve on the panel early last week to inform us that the Senate would likely be in session on the day of our event—effectively precluding their participation. Then we heard from to the offices of Congressman Pompeo and Congressman Graves, as well, and it became obvious that we were not going to be able to proceed with our plans to discuss key issues with members of the Senate and House General Aviation caucuses. I know it’s very disappointing to our members, many of whom had already reserved seats for the ON-AIR SUMMIT, but we DO have a program that will be both interesting and informative to replace it. This will be an opportunity to hear from leaders of the companies that supply many of the components and systems used by the industry’s OEMs. They face their own unique set of challenges and regulations and how they deal with them definitely influences the efficiency and success of the airframe manufacturers they serve.”
Making up the panel for the Supplier panel will be:
Malissa Nesmith, Chief Operating Officer of GlobalParts.aero. Based in Augusta, Kansas, GlobalParts.aero was serves the worldwide aviation spares market with cost effective, quality parts. The company also operates a Federal Aviation Administration-certified repair station and an in-house, build-to-print part manufacturing operation;
Woody Cottner, founder and vice president of engineering for Global Aviation Technologies, a Wichita-based engineering, consulting and manufacturing operation that provides aircraft owners and operators with component and avionics upgrades;
Jason Cox, Chief Technical Officer for Cox Machine, Inc., a long-time, family-owned provider of machined and fabricated parts and assemblies for the aerospace industry;
Rod Wilson, President of Air Capital Interiors which offers services ranging from complete aircraft interior refurbishments with custom designs and materials to simpler furniture and upholstery repairs.
“All of these panelists are industry veterans who deal with diverse customers and concerns. They cover a broad spectrum of the general aviation industry and can offer perspectives from the other side of the supply and demand equation when compared to those of the OEM CEOs from whom we heard last year,” Franson added.
The Wichita Aero Club will honor existing reservations for the December 16 luncheon that were made in anticipation of the ON-AIR SUMMIT. Those wishing to change their plans or get more information on the new program can connect on-line to the Aero Club’s website at www.wichitaaeroclub.org or call 681-4471. Reservations and information can also be obtained by emailing [protected email address]. The cost to attend the luncheon is $30 for members and $40 for non-members.