ALEXANDRIA, VA. - As the
government shutdown continues, the Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA)'s
58th Annual remains open for business and will provide industry leaders with
the tools they need to shape the future of ATC and aviation. The Conference and
Exposition – the largest air traffic control event in the Americas – will move
forward October 20–23.
"These are
challenging times, but challenges provide opportunities," said Peter F.
Dumont, President and CEO of ATCA. "ATCA's been delivering a place for the
air traffic community to come together for 58 years, and there is no better
time than now to do that. We will continue to deliver a top quality conference
and exhibition to our members and serve an industry that doesn't shut
down."
With constant growth and
debate on the National Airspace System (NAS), dialogue and panelists at ATCA
will focus on how to tangibly achieve future aviation goals. Conference
programming includes sequestration and its impact on aviation, ATC
corporatization, and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).
Scheduled participants
consist of the Federal Aviation Administration, Raytheon, SESAR (Single
European Sky ATM Research) Joint Undertaking, the U.S. Department of Defense,
Red Hat Inc., National Air Traffic Controllers Association, The Boeing Company,
Airbus, and others.
"Each year, Metron
Aviation is eager to attend and exhibit at ATCA's Annual Conference. The
quality of people, panel discussions, and educational seminars are
outstanding," said Rick Ducharme, Executive Vice President and General
Manager of Metron Aviation. "We use this time to meet with as many people
as possible, all in one place."
On the Exhibit Hall floor,
ATCA offers new ATC technology, recent research findings, and networking events
with exhibiting organizations on 75,000 square feet of Exhibit Hall floor
space.
The event culminates in
one of air traffic's most prestigious honors – the Glen A. Gilbert Memorial
Award Banquet. A large international contingent will recognize this year's
recipient, Patrick Ky, for his accomplishments in aviation
