LABACE2004 Opens Today in São Paulo, Brazil; LABACE2005 Dates Announced

Contact: Cassandra Bosco

Ṣo Paulo, Brazil, April 15, 2004 РThe 2nd Annual Latin American Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (LABACE2004) today opened at the Transam̩rica Expo Center with an Opening General Session featuring keynote speakers Anderson Markiewicz, Associa̤̣o Brasileira de Avia̤̣o Geral (ABAG) chairman, and Robert P. Blouin, National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) senior vice president, operations, who also announced dates for LABACE2005. LABACE is the only Latin American exhibition to focus exclusively on business aviation.

LABACE2004, a three-day Show held from today until Saturday, April 17, is expected to register more than 3,500 Attendees. As of April 7, LABACE2004 had registered 211 booth spaces from 92 business aviation products and services Exhibitors, an increase over 2003’s event, which featured 204 booths from 88 Exhibitors. Nearly 20 corporate aircraft are featured on Static Display at Congonhas Airport, operated by Infraero. Today’s Opening General Session included industry and regional updates by aviation leaders and the presentation of the ABAG Personalidade Emérita da Aviação Executiva Award.

This week’s LABACE also will feature Maintenance & Operations Sessions hosted by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Informational Sessions on a variety of business aviation issues, including the future of air navigation (CNS/ATM) in Latin America, IFR helicopter operations, general aviation security and safety management systems.

During the Opening General Session, LABACE Management announced that LABACE2005 has been scheduled for Thursday, March 31 through Saturday, April 2, 2005, in São Paulo, Brazil. The 2005 Show will be themed, “Catch the Momentum: Experience Business Aviation in Latin America.”

Other NBAA-sponsored business aviation Shows scheduled for 2005 are:

• EBACE2005 – Geneva, Switzerland, May 18, 19, 20, 2005
• ABACE2005 – Shanghai, China, Summer 2005
• NBAA 58th Annual Meeting & Convention – New Orleans, LA, USA, November 15, 16, 17, 2005

NBAA represents the aviation interests of more than 7,600 companies that own or operate general aviation aircraft as an aid to the conduct of their business, or are involved with business aviation. NBAA Member Companies earn annual revenues approaching $5 trillion — a number that is about half the gross domestic product — and employ more than 19 million people worldwide. The NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention is the world’s largest display of civil aviation products and services.

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