11th Annual Aviation Industry Expo Hailed as an “Outstanding” Success Despite Weather!

April 3, 2008 (Burnsville, MN) - Aviation Industry Expo, held March 18-20 in Dallas, Texas, attracted an audience of over 4200 aviation professionals and key buyers from nearly 50 countries including Anguilla, Bermuda, Denmark, Egypt, Guyana, Israel, Pakistan and Turkey.

On Aviation Industry Expo’s opening day (March 18), nearly 1100 Dallas flights were canceled due to the severe weather, the greatest number of cancellations since 9/11. Despite the flash-flooding, flight cancellations and re-rerouting of planes on opening day, Aviation Industry Expo received positive feedback from exhibitors and attendees alike.

“Aviation Industry Expo 2008 was a great success,” said Lynnette Sjoquist, Aviation Industry Expo Show Manager. “The introduction of the AMTSociety Maintenance Skills Competition and IA renewals added to the excitement of a great looking tradeshow floor, while the NATA FBO Leadership Conference and GSE Seminars provided the much sought after educational piece. All in all, another successful Aviation Industry Expo.”

More than 450 leading companies exhibited at the 2008 event including: Ascent Aviation Products, Bosserman Aviation Equipment, Charlatte, Columbus Jack, Dallas Airmotive, Determan Brownie, DTA, Eagle Tugs, FMC, Garsite, Global Ground Support, Isuzu Commercial Truck, ITW GSE Group, Lektro, Liquip International Ltd, Par-Kan, Pratt & Whitney, Premier, Rampmaster, TLD, Toyota, Tronair, TUG, Unitron and Wasp.

The 2008 Aviation Industry Expo marked the first year for AMTSociety’s Annual Aircraft Maintenance Summit. Participants were able to qualify for IA renewal training and AMT Awards credit by attending educational sessions. AMTSociety attendees were also invited to attend a Golf Tournament, sponsored by Haggan Aviation, which raised more than $6,000 for the AMTScholarship program. AMTSociety’s Maintenance Skills Competition had an overwhelming number of participants, more than doubling the 2007 entries.

"The allure and excitement that was visible on the show floor in the IA Theater as well as the Maintenance Skills Competition Hangar was second to none," said Tom Hendershot, AMTSociety Executive Director. "The attendance at both of these events was overwhelming and is a great indicator of what the future will bring. We're very much looking forward to Aviation Industry Expo 2009 in Las Vegas!"

NATA’s second annual FBO Leadership Conference built upon the success of last year's event. From sessions highlighting FBOs of the future, to outrageous customer service, to NATA's Industry Excellence Awards keynoted by NFL star quarterback Joe Theismann, the 2008 FBOLC was a hit with FBO managers and executives from around the nation.

"The FBO industry is changing rapidly, with ongoing consolidations and dramatically rising fuel prices, so it's an exciting time to be in business," said NATA President James K. Coyne. "The participants in this year's line service seminar series and at our FBOLC learned a great deal and we're already looking forward to next year," Coyne added.

Aviation Industry Expo 2009 will be March 10 – 12, 2009 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information about the 2008 or 2009 Aviation Industry Expo, visit www.AviationIndustryExpo.com.

Aviation Industry Expo is owned and produced by Cygnus Expositions and is part of the Cygnus Aviation & Transportation Group, which includes the leading industry publications Aircraft Maintenance Technology, Airport Business, and Ground Support Worldwide. Cygnus Expositions is a division of business-to-business media leader Cygnus Business Media.

More coverage on the show can be found at www.AMTSociety.org and www.AMTonline.com.Cygnus Business Media reaches nearly 15 million business owners, executives and professionals annually through its portfolio of over 200 media products. Its four distinct divisions - Cygnus Publishing, Cygnus Expositions, Cygnus Interactive and Cygnus Custom Marketing - provide comprehensive, integrated advertising and marketing programs for Cygnus’ valued customers and clients. The company's leading business publications, tradeshows, conferences, Web sites, online products and custom marketing capabilities enhance brand identity, generate sales leads, and build product awareness as they strengthen customer/client relationships. For more information on about Cygnus Business Media, visit www.cygnusb2b.com.