News Release

April 22, 2008

Aviation leaders to meet in West Des Moines April 23-24

AMES, Iowa – Representatives from airports throughout Iowa will join state and federal government officials and other aviation stakeholders Wednesday and Thursday, April 23 and 24 at the West Des Moines Sheraton, 1800 50th Street, for the 2008 Iowa Aviation Conference. The conference is a joint effort between the Iowa Department of Transportation's (Iowa DOT's) Office of Aviation and Iowa Public Airports Association (IPAA).

Conference sessions will include a presentation of the findings, conclusions and recommendations from a statewide commercial air service study commissioned by the Iowa DOT. The study was completed over the past 18 months with input from passengers, Iowa businesses, commercial airport representatives, airline experts, aviation consultants, the Iowa DOT, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other private and government sources. The goal of the study was to identify strategies to sustain and improve air service for Iowa residents and businesses.

FAA Regional Administrator Chris Blum will moderate a session with other FAA executives representing various lines of business within the FAA to address current issues facing the aviation industry. FAA managers will be in attendance representing lines of business including air traffic, flight standards, technical operations, medical certification, flight services, airports, and runway safety programs.

Additional presentations will focus on maintaining airport safety and protection of infrastructure investments through smart land use planning around airports, airport operational issues, new aircraft manufacturing, and pilot issues from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

Between 200 and 300 people are expected to attend the conference. For more information on the 2008 Iowa Aviation Conference, contact Tim McClung at 515-290-2269. Following is a summary of the agenda for the conference:

WEDNESDAY, April 23

• 7:30 a.m. Registration


• 9:00 a.m. Opening Remarks


• 9:20 a.m. Gunships, Grits and Granny
Aviation Humor and Safety, Charlie Thompson

• 10:30 a.m. On the Fly
FAA Airports Division, Iowa DOT's Office of Aviation and
Transportation Security Administration

• 12:30 p.m. Exhibitor/Sponsor Updates
  
• 1:00 p.m. Hangar Talk with the FAA
Listening session - FAA Regional Administrator Chris Blum and FAA managers

• 2:00 p.m. Land Use Planning: Protecting the Viability of Iowa Airports
Stephanie Ward, Mead & Hunt

• 3:15 p.m. Airport Snow and Ice Removal -
  The Eastern Iowa Airport, Cryotech deicing technology
  
• 3:45 p.m. Airport/FBO Roundtable discussion -
Shane Vande Voort, Pella/Greg Gobble, Keokuk

THURSDAY, April 24

• 8:30 a.m. Aviation Market Update with Cessna Aircraft Company
  
• 9:15 a.m. Pavement Maintenance at Airports
  
• 10:30 a.m. Promoting Your Local Airport 101
  Greg Pecoraro, vice president of regional affairs, AOPA
  
• 11:15 a.m. Rollout of the 2008 Iowa Air Service Study
  Barb Fritsche, Wilbur-Smith Associates
  
• 12:00 p.m. Awards Banquet
  
• 1:00 p.m. IPAA General Membership Meeting