Our sixteenth annual CARGO FACTS Aircraft Symposium, held last week at the Doral Golf Resort in Miami, was one of the most successful ever. Attendence was well up, giving us the best crowd in recent years, the forum sessions were extremely well received (and well attended, too), and there was a non-stop hum of business being conducted in the hallways.
We’ll summarize some of the high points from the six forum sessions in the upcoming November issue of Cargo Facts (see the end of this post for a list of sessions and the stellar speaker
list), but as a reminder of the good time for those of you who were there — and a not-so-subtle hint for next year to those of you who didn’t make it this year — here are a few pictures…
The Doral Golf Resort is just a few minutes from MIA, and provided a perfect setting for the Symposium.
On the day before the conference we arranged Tee times for those who wanted to take advantage of the Doral’s many courses (shown here at sunset on the last day of the Symposium)
The forum sessions were generally packed, and since many of them were in Round Table format, audience participation was encouraged.
The sponsor area was immediately adjacent to the forum sessions, and overlooking a spacious patio — which allowed for a terrific indoor/outdoor opening cocktail reception.
And speaking of cocktail receptions, here is a full house enjoying the reception before the Gala Dinner
And the Gala Dinner itself, in the Grand Ballroom
As has become a tradition at the CARGO FACTS Symposium, our two lead sponsors, Airbus and Boeing, held a drawing for models of their most recent aircraft at the end of their respective lunch presentations. Here, Empire Airlines boss Tim Komborec shows off the latest addition to his freighter fleet.
As always, we thank our speakers and sponsors, and especially all of you who attended.
Finally, here is the forum agenda and speaker list, showing an amazing depth of experience and talent.
Session 1: Air Cargo & Express – is the Recovery Sustainable
Robert Dahl (Moderator), Managing Director, ACMG
David Brooks, President and CEO, American Airlines Cargo
Michael Steen, Senior VP and Chief Marketing Officer, Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings
Stan Wraight, Managing Partner, Strategic Aviation Solutions International
Session 2: Passenger Airlines – Inside the Profit Conundrum
Pete Seidlitz (Moderator), President, Bristol Assosiates
Ron Baur, VP Fleet, United Airlines
Sigthor Einarrson, Deputy CEO, Icelandair Group
Altfried Nessel, Chief Commercial Officer, Lufhtansa Technik
Session 3: Emerging Trends & Technologies – Help on the Horizon?
Mark Atwood (Moderator), Member, Cozen O’Conner
Ben Boehm, VP Commercial Aircraft Programs, Bombardier Aerospace
Jeff Roberts, Senior Manager Environmental Performance Stragegy, Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Oliver Von-Tronchin, Airline Marketing Director, Airbus
Session 4: Aircraft Finance – Capital and Capacity at a Crossroads
Steve Rimmer (Moderator), CEO, Guggenheim Aviation Partners
Chris Damianos, EVP and Manager Special Markets, GECAS
Ron Wainshal, CEO, Aircastle
Oliver Trauchessec, Head of Global Marketing and Head of Aviation Finance, BNP Parabas
Eelco Van De Stadt, Managing Director and Regional Head of Aviation for The Americas, DVB Bank
Session 5: Cargo Conversions & Other Upgrades – Opportunities in an Improving Market
Rick Hatton (Moderator), President & CEO, 10 Tanker Air Carrier
Robert Convey, VP Sales & Marketing, Aeronautical Engineers Inc
Wake Smith, CEO, Pemco World Air Services
Michael Fuerst, VP Marketing & Sales, Airbus Freighter Conversion
Jack Gaber, VP & GM of Marketing, Israel Aerospace Industries
Dan da Silva, VP Freighter Conversions, Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Session 6: Aircraft Values in 2010 and Beyond
Fred Klein (Moderator), President, Aviation Specialists Group
John Vitale, President & CEO, AVITAS
Jack Feir, President, Jack B Feir Associates
Eddy Pieniazek, Director, Ascend
Ken de Jaeger, VP, SH&E
Steve Rehrmann, President, CK Aviation Services
Lunch presentations were made by Didier Lenormand (Head of Marketing-Freighter Aircaft, Airbus) on Day 1, and by Randy Tinseth (VP Marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes) on Day 2
I took the opportunity to meet and speak with Ken de Jaeger, Jack Gaber and Robert Dahl. This was made possible only through the CARGO FACTS Symposium. Thanks goes to JJ Hornblass and his team.