WATS 2011

WATS 2011

19 - 21 April

World Aviation Training Conference and Tradeshow
- Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, Orlando, Florida

Hot on the heels of a spectacular WATS 2010, it’s already time to be planning for WATS 2011. The World Aviation Training Conference & Tradeshow – WATS 2011 – will land in Orlando, Florida on April 19 at the Rosen Shingle Creek resort. 

The best way to know what you can expect next year is to see what went on at WATS 2010 in April. That's when more than 900 aviation training executives, decision makers and regulatory personnel from 391 companies, 93 airlines, and 48 countries took part in the biggest aviation training show this year.

Exceptional networking opportunities, extraordinary speakers, and exciting new technologies were the order of the day at this year’s WATS. 

Attendees met colleagues, suppliers, and customers in the 40,000 square-foot exhibition hall that featured the latest products and services of 60 of the top training companies, suppliers and manufacturers in the industry.  

They heard FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt urge airlines to sponsor organizational cultures that foster professionalism through the establishment of safety management systems (SMS) within their own management structures – and they participated in their choice of more than 60 other presentations given in the four WATS Pilot, RATS Pilot, Maintenance and Cabin Crew conference streams. 

The SCSI Cabin Safety Symposium and the WATS Cabin Training Conference and merged this year, making it the only dedicated safety and training conference of its kind. 

WATS hosted three professional associations that held their own conferences, classes and meetings at WATS including the RAA Training Committee, the FAA NSP, the Aviation Industry Computer Based Training Committee (AICC), and both ATA Pilots and Maintainers. The RAA ran a WATS Breakout session that covered an overview of the anticipated impact of pending legislation that would affect U.S. regional carriers. 

WATS 2010 presenters represented a wide cross-section of the aviation industry, from other aviation associations and organizations to regulatory agencies, airlines, training providers and academia – including the Air Line Pilots Association, the Association of Flight Attendants, FAA, ICAO and Transport Canada. 

They gave an in-depth look at current and future regulatory issues, industry best practices, safety, security, and the latest developments in training technologies and curricula.

Executives from Delta, Southwest, United, Skywest, Mesaba, Compass, Expressjet, Mandala and Czech Airlines gave presentations from an airline perspective, And training providers – including CAE, Thales, Boeing Training, Oxford Aviation Academy, Delta Connection Academy and others – talked about the latest in training solutions 

On the extensive show floor, several exhibitors announced new products and services during the course of the WATS event. Rockwell Collins announced the first delivery of its new advanced Edge 737 NG Full Flight Simulator (FFS) to the Pan Am International Flight Academy’s North American training center in Miami. Air Campus announced its plan to open its Air Campus Simuflite Center international aviation training facility at the Lyon-Saint Exupery airport in Lyon, France, which is scheduled for an April 2011 debut. And SimJet announced and displayed its new tactile Airbus A320 procedures trainer.

WATS was a spectacular event – so good, that all training industry personnel should plan on attending WATS next year.  Mark your calendars now for WATS 2011, April 19 – 21 in Orlando, Florida.

WATS News -  In the run up to the show we produce a monthly newsletter which gives you the latest show news, announcements of speaker confirmations and details of the social networking opportunities.  To receive a copy of WATSNews please subscribe by clicking here.