8th Annual Aviation Summit and Showcase | National Chamber Foundation

April 2009
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8th Annual Aviation Summit and Showcase:
Carrying Business Toward the Future

Wednesday, April 29, 2009
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Washington, D.C.

The National Chamber Foundation and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce hosted the 8th Annual Aviation Summit. This year’s event focused on aviation’s importance in a period of economic uncertainty, examining how it is not only an important industry as a sector of our economy, but also essential to all other sectors of the economy as an efficient and reliable means of travel and transport. Speakers covered a variety of topics and policy points, but each placed an emphasis on several key issues, including the pressing need to implement Next Generation technologies and the importance of developing alternative fuels and more efficient equipment to reduce emissions.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Donohue kicked off the event by highlighting the lack of aviation funding in the recent economic stimulus package. Said Donohue,

“Aviation has become something of a forgotten industry…The economic stimulus package, which contains significant funding for infrastructure, sets aside relatively little funding for aviation projects…The airline industry is not asking for-nor is in need of-a bailout. Even in these difficult economic times, with fewer passengers and less cargo, airlines are surviving by reducing capacity and cutting costs. Instead, what this industry needs is a shared commitment from the federal government to build a globally competitive, technologically advanced aviation system.”
Watch Donohue address the summit

Other keynote remarks were delivered by:

The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportationaddressed the attendees and answered extensive audience Q&A. In his remarks, the Secretary addressed several key issues including the vital need for improved aviation infrastructure and the implementation of NextGen technologies. He also discussed how to pay for NextGen, suggesting a possible fund similar to the Highway Trust Fund but designed for aviation needs.
Watch Secretary LaHood’s remarks

Wolfgang Mayrhuber, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Executive Board, Deutsche Lufthansa AG explored the importance of global partnerships in his remarks to the audience. Mayruber, chairman and CEO of Lufthansa AG, discussed the need for global collaboration between airlines to push key needs like improved infrastructure, global safety standards, flexibility to consolidate, and important Open Skies agreements.
Watch Mayruber’s remarks
Read Mayrhuber’s Op-Ed in Aviation Daily (pdf)

Frederick W. Smith, Founder, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, FedEx spoke about the “Big Ideas” that will guide the industry toward the future, including revolutionary navigation technologies. He also announced FedEx Corporation’s “30 by 30″ initiative, which commits an increase in use of alternative fuels made from non-edible plant material, so that by the year 2030 thirty percent of all fuel FedEx uses will be from these alternative sources.
Watch Smith’s remarks

Other confirmed speakers included:

Craig Fuller, President and Chief Executive Officer, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
Doug Parker, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Airways
Robert Sturgell, Former Acting Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration
Nancy N. Young, Vice President, Environmental Affairs, Air Transportation Association of America

View the agenda (PDF)

US Airways Chairman and CEO Doug Parker briefly commented on the difficulty airlines have had achieving profitability and then conducted a question and answer session with Jamie Baker, managing director of J.P. Morgan equity research. Parker mentioned several impediments to profitability, including a fragmented commercial system, difficult labor relations, and potentially harmful government policies preventing success.
Watch Parker and Baker’s conversation

Carol B. Hallett Award
Craig Fuller, President and CEO of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, presented the Honorable Carol Hallett with an award named in her honor. AOPA sponsored the Carol B. Hallett award, which recognizes outstanding leadership and significant contributions to the aviation industry. Hallett, who is of counsel to the Chamber and a leading voice on aviation issues, has held a number of distinguished positions in her career, including commissioner of the U.S. Customs Service under President George H.W. Bush, president and CEO of the Air Transport Association, and ambassador to the Bahamas under President Ronald Reagan.

Listen to an audio interview with confirmed speaker Ed Bolen, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Business Aviation Association about what he thinks are the critical issues facing the aviation industry over the next year.