BURNSVILLE, MN -- Aviation Industry Expo, held March 10-12 in Las Vegas, attracted an audience of more than 3500 aviation key buyers and aviation professionals from more than 30 countries.
"Everyone who stepped foot in our booth was there out of interest in our products," says John Hoeper, Vice President, Wasp GSE Division.
"Aviation Industry Expo 2009 was by far the best show we exhibited at in a long time," says Craig S. Alexander of Wichitech Industries Inc. "The quality of attendees was tremendous and the leads we obtained were solid. I usually do not sign up to exhibit at shows a year in advance but I will for Aviation Industry Expo 2010."
Aviation Industry Expo hosted an on-site space draw and had a 42 percent renewal rate, a positive indicator for 2010's Aviation Industry Expo.
Nearly 350 leading companies exhibited at the 2009 event. In addition, there were approximately 100 new exhibitors at Aviation Industry Expo.
The 2009 Aviation Industry Expo was host to brand-new show features. The sold-out Green Pavilion offered attendees a showcase of green products and services to help make environmentally-friendly, smart business decisions. Another new element of Aviation Industry Expo was "Demos on Demand," a feature that allowed attendees to get a first-hand experience of equipment in action. Both show elements will be expanded in 2010.
"Overall, first quarter trade show attendance has been down but quality has been up," says Lynnette Sjoquist, Show Manager. "Aviation, tradeshows, and Las Vegas have been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons. In the face of a terrible economy that has hit aviation especially hard, Aviation Industry Expo has held its own. Maintaining attendance figures in this economy is a testament to the show and this year's exhibitors."
The second annual AMTSociety Aircraft Maintenance Symposium was once again held as part of Aviation Industry Expo. One element of the Symposium was the AMTSkills Competition, an event where mechanics compete against each other on basic through advanced aircraft maintenance skill requirements. A record number of teams participated.
Symposium participants were also able to qualify for IA renewal training and AMT Awards credit. In addition, for the second year in a row, AMTSociety and Haggan Aviation sponsored a golf tournament, raising more than $16,000 for the AMTSociety scholarship program.
"Las Vegas was a great venue for us," says Tom Hendershot, AMTSociety Executive Director. "Our Maintenance Skills teams doubled the 2008 entries and the delivery of the IA renewals was a success."
National Air Transportation Association (NATA) introduced its new Education Week at Aviation Industry Expo.
"The 2009 Aviation Industry Expo in Las Vegas was the ideal venue for NATA's Education Week. The seminars and workshops were well attended and well received by participants," says NATA President James K. Coyne. "NATA's Education Week and the Aviation Industry Expo complemented each other perfectly."
Aviation Industry Expo 2010 will be March 16-18, 2010, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. For more information visit www.AviationIndustryExpo.com.
