News

December 15th Wichita Aero Club ‘On-Air’ Summit Will Be Simulcast On The Internet At http:accordant.powerstream.net/008/00165/WAC/msh.htm

December 9, 2009 10:14am

Panel Will Include Top Managers of Wichita Aerospace Companies and FLYING Magazine Editor Mac McClellan

Wichita, KS—December 9, 2009- The final monthly luncheon of the Wichita Aero Club on December 15 featuring the senior executives of Wichita’s airframe manufacturers and prominent aviation writer and FLYING magazine editor Mac McClellan will be simulcast over the Internet club officials announced today. The luncheon, which will commence at 11:45 AM at the Wichita Airport Hilton and will extend until 2 PM in order to take advantage of the unique nature of the event. The video simulcast sponsored by the Wichita Aero Club, the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA), ADR, Inc., BBK, Inc., the National Aeronautics Association (NAA) and FLYING Magazine will begin at approximately 12:00 Noon and will be available free of charge at accordent.powerstream.net/008/00165/WAC/msh.htm.

“We’re extremely pleased to host this unique event,” noted Dave Franson, Wichita Aero Club Executive Director, “ since it brings seven industry leaders together in the same place at the same time to discuss the industry, the economy and the outlook for both in the coming year. Add in the relevance it has beyond the local aviation community and it’s obvious that there is undoubtedly a significant audience that won’t be in attendance for the luncheon itself that will definitely be interested in what will be discussed,” he said. “We are grateful to the participants for taking time from their busy schedules to be involved and to our sponsors for allowing us to disseminate this event to a much wider audience over the Internet,” he added.

Scott Strode, Vice President and General Manager of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems in Wichita, Jack Pelton of Cessna, Bill Boisture of Hawker Beechcraft, David Coleal of Bombardier Learjet, Jeff Turner of Spirit AeroSystems, and Bill Greer of Airbus North America Engineering will make up the panel. FLYING Magazine’s Editor in Chief J. Mac McClellan, who will act as moderator for the discussion, has indicated that he will focus on four key areas: Business and Recovery Outlook, Wichita’s future focus, Employment levels and Government influence.

“We’re expecting record attendance for this luncheon, exceeding the 240 attendees we had in January when Craig Fuller, the president of AOPA, made his first public appearance in that role. We’re hopeful that the webcast will allow us to contribute to a broader understanding and awareness of the issues facing the aerospace industry among the general public,” Franson added.

The Wichita Aero Club was founded in October of 2008 to foster and promote interest in aviation, provide a forum focused on the industry’s issues and achievements and bring together those with a passion for flight.