This month the Aviation Industry Expo (AIE) will host technicians from around the country in Las Vegas. Hopefully we will see many of you there despite these difficult economic times.
This event has a unique history. Here is a brief account.
First there were the annual PAMA meetings that were primarily regional in nature, sponsored in most part by local chapters, such as Houston’s meetings in the mid ’80s. NATA had its own successful convention, holding it annually in various parts of the country such as Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and Kansas City, MO. In the late ‘80s PAMA national was able to convince the chapters that there was a need for a national convention. I believe the first was held in either St. Louis or Philadelphia. The PAMA national was slow to grow until a dedicated group of volunteers took the meeting to new heights in attendance and revenue in the mid ‘90s, contributing in excess of $400,000 to the treasury with just two shows.
It was then that NATA approached PAMA about combining their shows and AS3 was formed. Each agreed a merger of the respective events would result in added benefits. These included economies of scale, the ability to secure better dates for the show, the synchronous nature of the exhibitors and attendees, and additional resources for planning and administration. The show went along fine for several years until PAMA got into financial difficulty. It was at this point that Cygnus recognized that AS3 was complementary to several of its publications and approached the group with an offer to manage the meeting and put it under its professional show team.
AIE is a growing, strong, well-received, and financed show. It is the foremost trade show for aircraft technicians meeting the needs of general, business, and military aviation plus those maintenance personnel working for the air carriers. Currently it draws up to 6,000 participants from all over the world, proffers 400 different exhibits, presents a multitude of seminars to aviation maintenance and management personnel, and enables technicians to renew their IAs. It includes a maintenance skills competition, a career center for those looking for workers and/or employment, a demonstration area for exhibitors to demo their products to potential buyers, and a “green pavilion” where a showcase of green products and services will be displayed to help attendees make environmentally smart decisions in this growing area of greater regulation. It also offers the opportunity to rub shoulders with fellow technicians in a social setting. That’s a lot for just a couple of days.
Additionally, Haggan Aviation is sponsoring the second annual AMTSociety Scholarship Golf Outing on Monday, March 9, at Rio Secco Golf Club. You can find information on this and register for the event at AMTSociety.org.
I look forward to seeing you at the Aviation Industry Expo.
