This year Alaska Air Carriers Association will be providing information on rural airport maintenance, aging aircraft and corrosion, hazardous materials changes and reporting, federal excise taxes, airport planning and maintenance, and current information on safety, human resource, legal, financial and management issues.

MONDAY, FEB. 13 Pre-conference seminar

The Medallion Foundation presents: "Aviation Safety Action Program" training. Learn about tools you can put in place to discover why incidents or accidents occur within your company. Be a part of this informative workshop. Separate registration required.

TUESDAY, FEB. 14 Pre-conference seminar

The Medallion Foundation presents: "Aging Aircraft and Corrosion." Don't miss this educational workshop on the latest proposals and potential maintenance changes. Separate registration required.

Pre-conference meetings

U.S. Postal Service officials are holding a meeting from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. regarding the Rural Service Improvement Act in the Endeavor Room. In attendance will be: Tina Campbell, transportation specialist, Postal Headquarters, Washington, D.C.; Greg Garcia, transportation specialist, Postal Headquarters, Washington, D.C.; Steven Deaton, network operations specialist, Western Area DNO, Anchorage; Debbie Castignetti, network operations specialist, Western Area DNO, Anchorage; Lance Petersen, business project leader, USPS, St. Louis, Mo.; Anastasia Holshouser, computer analyst/programmer, Sr., USPS St. Louis, Mo.

The Alaska Air Carriers Association board of directors meeting, sponsored by Acton Aviation Consulting and Training is 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Trade show set up and vendor registration is available in the Discovery Ballroom 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Governor's aviation advisory board chair, Richard Wien, and deputy commissioner, John Torgerson will host a roundtable discussion of aviation issues from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Operators are encouraged to attend this chance to provide industry input and exchange ideas with DOT's statewide officials.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 15

Registration and trade show set up will occur from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the alcove area and the Discovery Ballroom, respectively. Pick up your portfolio, sponsored by Standard Aero, your lanyards sponsored by AIG Aviation Inc., and tote bag courtesy of the Medallion Foundation upon check-in. Marsh has provided bottled water for all delegates and Lynden Air Cargo LLC has assisted by sponsoring the name tags for attendees. We thank Spernak Airways and Garmin AT for the speaker gifts, refreshment breaks today are courtesy of Rockwell Collins and Alaska Airlines, and ConocoPhillips/Shared Services Aviation for our program printing. Alaska Airlines and Frontier Flying Service Inc. has also graciously provided delegate travel and guest speaker accommodations. Our appreciation to Aero Twin Inc., Denali Alaskan Federal Credit Union, Arctic Transportation Services, Evergreen Helicopters of Alaska, PenAir, the Medallion Foundation, Marsh and Everts Air Cargo for providing volunteers to assist with our convention planning, event staffing and set-up.

The general session begins at 8 a.m., in the Discovery Ballroom, with John Anderson strumming his guitar as you arrive. A video chronology of the AACA's 40-year history will precede brief opening remarks by Karen Casanovas, executive director for AACA, and Jerry Rock, AACA president. Craig Clark, AACA past president, will recap past challenges of the association. Mary Feik, colonel for the Civil Air Patrol, will talk about the importance of passing on aviation knowledge to our youth and her extensive pictorial history in maintenance. Connie Marshall of the Small Business Administration talks about "Climbing Mount Regulation," and John Torgerson, deputy commissioner of Aviation will address the "State Airports & Maintenance Updates and Title 17" of the rural and international regulations.

Be sure to welcome our new trade show participants to the annual convention during our coffee breaks today. They are an integral part of our association's yearly success!

There will be a press conference in the Resolution Room for vendors who want to be interviewed by the local media at 11 a.m. Air carriers are also invited to this open forum of newspaper, radio and television stations.

Join your friends in the Discovery Ballroom for the "Safety Awards Luncheon" starting at 11:30 a.m., featuring key note speaker, Craig Hoskins, MS. His presentation, "Practical Solutions for Managing Safety Programs," will highlight successful techniques used in his oversight of the Aviation Safety Action Program and as an investigations/data analysis team member. A former U.S. Coast Guard officer, he is the director of flight safety for JetBlue Airways, has more than 23 years of experience in human factors training and has developed and implemented crew resource management programs for flight crews and fatigue countermeasures for the military.

The safety award plaques will be presented by Raytheon Airline Aviation Services and Pat Poe, regional administrator for the FAA. London Aviation Underwriters Inc., Aviation Insurance of Alaska, Denali Alaskan Insurance LLC, Denali Alaskan Federal Credit Union, Kelley Insurance Associates, Aviation Insurance of Alaska, Acordia Northwest and Acordia Florida have kindly sponsored the Safety Awards Luncheon.

Associate member meeting and elections occur at 1:30 p.m. in the Voyager Room.

Introductions by Karen Casanovas, a look back at the Alliance for Safety by Richard Harding, PenAir, and FAA remarks by regional administrator Pat Poe head up the Alliance for Safety, which starts at 1:30 p.m. in the Discovery Ballroom. Nicolle Mode of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) will provide the "Safety Intervention Study Results," followed by a presentation by Dr. Jim Liska on "Pilot Ethics and Risk Management." Learn about "Air Traffic: Flight Service Outsourcing" by Judy Heckel; the "Wide Area Augmentation System" program, Sue Gardner's "Weather Cameras and Capstone Statewide Implementation," and Alaska's "Unmanned Aerial Vehicles" by Greg Walker of the Poker Flats Research Facility. Close the day with a roundtable discussion by industry members and government officials regarding the Alliance for Safety's collaborative successes.

At 6:30 p.m. in the Discovery Ballroom stroll on over to the "Opening Night Premier" reception sponsored by PenAir, Jardine Lloyd Thompson LLC and United States Aviation Insurance Underwriters (USAIG). Vendors will have the chance to promote their products and services, while you join others relaxing in the backlot (trade show), and enjoy the great entertainment. Also, take time to view and bid on the items for the silent auction, with bids closing on Friday, Feb. 17 at 10 a.m.

THURSDAY, FEB. 16

Start your day with top executive decision-makers at the "Producers Continental Breakfast" in the trade show's location, the Discovery Ballroom, from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. sponsored by Honeywell Aerospace. Registration is available in the alcove area near the Discovery Ballroom from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Two sessions start at 8 a.m. "Don't Be Lost in Space: WAAS Update" with Dennis Parrish, ConocoPhillips Shared Services Aviation, and Bob Richmond's legal session "My Plane Has Just Crashed, What Do I Do Now?" Next, a session for owners, supervisors and upper-level management, "Change: How to Make it Happen" by Karen Kirk of Synergistic Solutions will address techniques to implement a better understanding of human reaction to change and how to move your team or organization through the process successfully. Also at 10 a.m., "Maintenance Regulatory Update for Part 135" by Ric Peri of the Aircraft Electronics Association is one break-out session your maintenance people won't want to miss!

Today's refreshment breaks are sponsored by Alaska Airlines and Warbelow's Air Ventures.

Through the generous sponsorship of Arctic Transportation Services and Crowley Marine Services we present panelists captain Warren Metzger retired chief pilot of Alaska Airlines and his son, Warren Jr., Wilfred and Lee Ryan, and Mike and Brien Salazar during the "Screenwriters Luncheon." This discussion will be moderated by Bob Jacobsen, president of Wings of Alaska, will engage the audience as the aviators recap their years in the industry and offer their thoughts on the future of aviation.

Don't miss the trade show hours from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Discovery Ballroom. Support our vendors - many travel great distances to meet our Alaskan business owners.

"New Mandates for Part 135" will be covered by Ric Peri, then learn more about "Using Group Benefits to Retain Employees" by New York Life specialists Jacky Otto and Digby Cook. Concurrently being held at 3 p.m. is the presentation "Hazardous Materials 229 Changes / Incident Reporting" by Gary Meaders of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Attend the general membership meeting and 2006-2007 board of directors elections in the Whitby Room at 4:30 p.m. Directly following the elections, a new board meeting will be held to name the AACA's officers.

For those of you operating Cessna aircraft, catch Steve McNew's presentation about "Cold Weather Operations" from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Endeavor Room.

FRIDAY, FEB. 17

Join other promising actors at the "Casting Call Continental Breakfast" in the Discovery Ballroom. Enjoy coffee, tea, juices and other baked goods with our sponsors Aero Twin Inc. and Cessna Aircraft Co.

From 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., two excellent financial experts will be available to answer questions and offer advice. Bob Ward, senior, vice-president of Piper Jaffray, will offer suggestions in "Preparing Your Financial Flight Plan" in the Voyager Room. Ward will take the mystery out of financial planning and offer a clear process to ensure you are on the right path. Nel Sanders-Stubbs, vice president of Conklin & deDecker, will communicate her knowledge about "Federal Excise Taxes - Introduction, Obtaining Refunds & Credits and Audits" in the Quadrant Room.

Also at 8 a.m., Steve McNew of Cessna Aircraft Co., will again present "Cold Weather Operations" in the Adventure Room, and in the Endeavor Room, Ric Peri, vice president, industry and government affairs for the Aircraft Electronics Association, holds "Part 145 Maintenance Program Training" for repair station personnel.

We are proud to have Alaska Airlines and Last Frontier Air Ventures as sponsors of today's refreshment breaks.

Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau human resource director Jacquelyn Hoflich gives you "Secrets for Hiring Top Talent in an 'It's All About Me' World" at 10 a.m. in the Quadrant Room. For owners and managers, FAA's John Duncan gets you acquainted with the "Part 135 System Safety Tools" and advises you of the upcoming programs for 135 operators.

Key note speaker Randy Zahn, generously sponsored by the Medallion Foundation, will give first-hand stories of his Vietnam experiences as a "Snake Pilot." His book, by the same name, recounts his service as a 19-year-old U.S. Army attack helicopter driver with Charlie Troop, 1/9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Zahn, a graduate of the U.S. Army Aviation School, will delight you with his adventurous tales, captivating photos and video in his presentation "Duty, Honor, the World." He has flown more than 50 different types of aircraft, both fixed and rotary-wing, worked in 27 countries and is featured on the Military Channel's special Vietnam episode "Goin Back."

Your last opportunity to meet with the exhibitors in the Discovery Ballroom is from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Be there to purchase products and finalize those deals you've been talking about all week long.

Following lunch, SkyVantage Corp. president Cory Robin and vice president Joshua Leavitt hold a session entitled "Technology: Automating Alaska's Airline Transportation System."

Starting at 1:30 p.m. in the Endeavor Room will be presentations about the Rural Service Improvement Act by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics and the Office of Standardization and Training.

What is the Medallion Foundation? How do I participate? What do I need to know to meet the Shield requirements? How do I implement a process with specific emphasis on incorporating system safety attributes into a small or large organization? How do I meet the progressive internal and external evaluation program? Here's your chance to get your answers to these questions during the "Medallion Foundation Overview of the Five-Star Requirements /Auditing System" panel discussion held 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. in the Quadrant Room.

If you attend only one social function all week, you will need to make it the "Red Carpet Gala" from 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. in the Discovery Ballroom. Dinner will be served from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., followed by a presentation of scholarship, business and aviation awards. Then, get ready to groove to the sounds of Soul Crackers. No gothic, funky techno, hip hop music here - just a fun dance band with great vibes!

This celebrity event is brought to you by Coastal Helicopters Inc., Wings of Alaska, Yakutat Coastal Airlines, Temsco Helicopters Inc., Pacific Airways, Alaska Seaplane Service, NorthStar Trekking, AirSure Limited, Northern Air Cargo Inc., Everts Air Cargo, Caledonian Insurance Group, Rediske Air Inc., Richmond and Quinn, Taquan Air and Seawind Aviation. Wear your formal attire or dress like your favorite actor or actress. With fabulous fire, featuring prime rib, assorted pastas, salads and desserts, it will prove to be the event to be seen at on our Alaskan Hollywood and Vine set. Look forward to an upscale night you won't want to miss! Those in the know tell us it will be as close to the aero-dynamic LAX night club in Tinseltown as you can get. All party-into-the-night aspiring celebs won't be disappointed as you prepare for take-off onto the dance floor. Join us! The doorman might be greeting the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn or Mae West. Be sure to park those limos close to the red carpet or you might get mobbed by the paparazzi.

Make time to contribute to the Air Carriers Scholarship Fund for aviation students by bidding on auction items, (some of the prizes include round-trip tickets on various airlines, cruises and hotel stays). To raise more funds for next year's scholarships, pose your fellow Hollywood "bad boys" by the worn-out woman scarred by not paying her federal excise taxes. To avoid being forced to take your photo with Miss Non-Compliant, purchase your Martha Stewart Country Club tickets in advance, where you can be playing golf on the green instead of shelling out some.

SATURDAY, MARCH 5

Don't miss the "Post Production Brunch" as you view the Fur Rendezvous Grande Parade staging area above the frenzy. This year's parade theme "Alaska Heroes and Legends" celebrates more than 70 years as part of the Fur Rendezvous festival. Join us for your final act and some fabulous food as you watch the action from 14 floors up. The excitement is right below on Fifth and Sixth avenues - so go outdoors to view the floats, take in the carnival rides or see the grand prix auto race, then come back in for a warm-up! Many thanks to Evergreen Helicopters of Alaska Inc. and Frontier Flying Service Inc. for sponsoring this event!

The ending scene as we fade out in our Hollywood-scripted conference will be the AACA committee meetings in the Quarterdeck from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

The Alaska Air Carriers Association staff looks forward to celebrating with you at our 40th Annual Convention and Trade Show. See you at Alaska's premier commercial aviation event!