Very Light Jet (VLJ) Stakeholders to Discuss Future, Turbulent Economy

NEW YORK , Oct. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- AVIATION WEEK will host the third edition of the Very Light Jets (VLJ) Forum on November 11-12, 2008 at the Crowne Plaza West Palm Beach in Florida , an opportunity for 75 senior executives, owners, operators, managers and investors to share real-world strategies for excelling in today's business climate and network with executives from Linear Air, Eclipse, Embraer, Pratt & Whitney, SATSair, and other major VLJ players.

VLJ ownership and businesses are clearly becoming an entity in corporate travel, and the VLJ Forum, themed "The VLJ Horizon: Gaining Actionable Insights to Drive Sustainable Growth," will consider next steps for this niche. Attendees will learn how to best balance business goals with economic realities to enable growth; how current and potential regulatory activities are putting compliance pressure on the VLJ community and certification; and how turmoil in the financial markets and energy concerns will impact the overall business travel industry and VLJ sector in the near future. In addition, special sessions dedicated to VLJ maintenance and operations, updates on manufacturers, proactive safety and training tips, insurance and risk management strategies, and marketing intelligence will provide all attendees with a firm understanding of how to grow their VLJ-driven businesses.

In the opening keynote panel discussion, leading operators will share key insights on managing business growth, including how to identify and reduce operational pressure points and use metrics appropriate to the industry today. Other prominent speakers include Jens Hennig , VP Operations of GAMA; Mike McConnell , President & General Manager of Eclipse Customer Division of Eclipse Aviation; Jack Olcott , President of General Aero Company; Bill Garvey , Editor-in-Chief of Business & Commercial Aviation; and representatives from:

AVIATION WEEK is the largest multimedia information and services provider to the global aerospace and defense industries. Additional information about the VLJ Forum and registration are available at http://aviationweek.com/forums/vljmain.htm, or by contacting us at +1-800-240-7645, +1-212-904-4682 or forums@aviationweek.com. Special rates apply for government, military, airlines, partners, sponsors, press and groups of three or more.

The VLJ Forum is produced by AVIATION WEEK Management Forums, with support from the AirTaxi Association, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida Aviation Trades Association, Greater Miami Aviation Association, and Women in Corporate Aviation. The padfolio sponsor is TW Metals, and the media partners include Business & Commercial Aviation and VLJ Magazine.

About AVIATION WEEK

AVIATION WEEK, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, is the largest multimedia information and services provider to the global aviation, aerospace and defense industries, and includes the publications Aviation Week & Space Technology, Defense Technology International, Business & Commercial Aviation, Overhaul & Maintenance, ShowNews, Aviation Daily, The Weekly of Business Aviation, Aerospace Daily & Defense Report and the World Aerospace Database. The group's website, http://aviationweek.com, offers the industry's most reliable news, information, search and online community tools. Premium content services include the Aviation Week Intelligence Network, MRO Prospector, and the new Top-Performing Companies Benchmarking Tool. The group also produces prominent conferences, exhibitions and management forums around the world.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands including Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2007 were $6.8 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com.