May 25, 2015
Listen to an NBAA Flight Plan podcast about the upcoming aviation symposium in Nevada.
Nevada is a state that relies heavily on aviation, especially for tourism, and that’s why U.S. Rep. Dina Titus (D-1-NV) is sponsoring the first of what she hopes will be an annual series of aviation symposiums in Las Vegas.
“Whether it is building parts, developing and testing unmanned aircraft systems, or working for a major airline, this is about jobs. This is about an entire economy,” Titus said about the Titus Aviation Symposium, which takes place June 8 at the U.S. Atomic Testing Museum.
FAA Administrator Michael Huerta is scheduled to deliver the keynote address alongside Titus. NBAA Vice President of Government Affairs Christa Fornarotto will participate in panel discussions, and the Association’s Western Regional Representative, Stacy Howard, will also attend the event.
“The symposium will bring together local business leaders and community decision-makers whose vision helps drive the state’s economy,” said Howard. “I can’t overstate the importance of having someone from Nevada’s congressional delegation, along with the FAA administrator, come to Nevada and talk about how important a growing aviation industry is to this state.”
Other scheduled speakers include: Tim Wong, of Arcata Associates; John “Jay” Neely III, of Gulfstream Aerospace; David Murray, of Learjet/Bombardier; Paul H. Feldman, with the General Aviation Manufacturers Association and Bryan Wynne from the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International.
The symposium will explore ways to attract and retain more aviation, tourism and travel businesses, and make Nevada more hospitable to companies looking for a new home. This includes: educating state residents about the value of aviation, creating a more competitive state tax environment, working closely with schools to strengthen aviation workforce skills and taking advantage of the ready-made talents of Air Force personnel from nearby Nellis Air Force Base who are transitioning to civilian life.
“By getting political and community leaders together in this forum, we can all help create new job opportunities,” Howard said.