Beyond the Runway – Why General Aviation Means Business
Titusville, FL June 28, 2010.—The Florida Aviation Trades Association (FATA) introduced a new program at their Annual Conference & Trade Show held June 14 – 16, 2010 at the Renaissance Resort, World Golf Village, St. Augustine. “Beyond the Runway, Why General Aviation Means Business”, was an idea developed by Executive Director, Paula Raeburn. “Our industry is very good about sharing our story with each other but we still need to improve on how we tell our story to the non-aviation community,” explained Raeburn.
Contacts were made with the business communities in the Jacksonville and St. Augustine areas and they received invitations to a free breakfast and program that would explain what products and services aviation offers them and why it is important to the economy of the area and how the local airport in an integral part of that economic thumbprint.
The program consisted of a panel of area aviation companies, the airport and business owners who explained what their products and services bring to the area. What we take for granted was news to this group of people. Over forty people from the non-aviation community attended the morning program. The audience also included conference attendees who were encouraged to engage with the guests during breakfast and at the break that followed and talk about their role in general aviation. Attendees told us they learned many things about the industry they did not know and we are confident some might become customers and just as important, advocates for our industry. FATA is developing an advocate program for the non-aviation industry to keep them informed and involved.
Moderator, Rob Mark, CEO, CommAvia, acted as moderator for the panel discussion. Our panelists included, Ed Wuellner, Executive Director, NortheastRegionAirport at St. Augustine; Michael Lukowski, UniversityAirCenter, Gainesville; George Robbins, Vistage Florida Group; Colonel Art May, St. Johns County Sheriffs Office and Sgt. Jason Caban, St. Johns County Sheriffs Office and Greg Church, Angel Flight SE.
This outreach program will continue at the next FATA Annual Conference and Trade Show, June 13-15, 2011 at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, Florida.
