Annual Conference
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The 2023 Annual Conference has concluded. Thank you to the participants, speakers, sponsors, and support that made the event an incredible success. Those who attended should check the Digital Companion for materials and references; the broader public should stand by for updates on what happened when the maintenance community came to the nation’s capital.
See you next year: March 12-15, 2024
March 14-17, 2023
Sponsors | Event Information
Arlington, Virginia and Washington, D.C. with Livestream Options for Online Participants
Experience the maintenance community’s premier event. Join ARSA members and invited guests from around the world to engage governments, network with peers and improve the state of the aviation world.
Sponsors
Platinum
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Gold
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Silver
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Supporter
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Contributors
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Event Information
Executive to Executive Briefings: Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Industry executives participate in meetings with senior executive branch officials organized by ARSA. Participation is limited to annual conference sponsors, with the number of slots available to each sponsoring organizations dependent on level of support.8:45 a.m. | Coffee and Light Breakfast
9:00 a.m. | Introductory Briefing
10:00 a.m. | Scott Kennedy, Director, Office of Transportation & Machinery, U.S. Department of Commerce
10:45 a.m. | Break
11:00 a.m. | Richard Yoneoka, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Affairs, U.S. Department of State
12:00 p.m. | Annie Petsonk, Assistant Secretary for Aviation & International Affairs, U.S. Department of Transportation (Invited)
12:45 p.m. | Lunch/Midday Break
2:00 p.m. | Cierra Mitchell, Division Chief, Division of Industry Recognition, Analytics & Promotion, U.S. Department of Labor
3:00 p.m. | Break
3:15 p.m. | Roundtable Wrap Up & Discussion
Legislative Day: Wednesday, March 15, 2023
After a morning of briefings and policy updates. Legislative Day participants meet with members of Congress as well as office and committee staffers to connect the impact of the maintenance community to each state and congressional district. The day will include ARSA's release of its Annual Global Fleet & MRO Market Assessment, produced by Oliver Wyman, as well as the presentation of the association's Legislative Leadership Award.7:30 a.m. | Registration & Breakfast
8:00 a.m. | Welcome & Introductions
8:15 a.m. | It's All About Your Industry and Your Company
Find out what’s at stake in Washington for your company and your industry, where things stand, and what you can do to impact the process.
9:00 a.m. | Engaging for Effect
Industry colleagues share insights and lessons learned from their companies’ engagement with government.
Josh Krotec, Senior Vice President, First Aviation & 2023 ARSA President
Etain Connor, Director, Community Affairs, FEAM Aero
Bob Arnett, Vice President, Earp Aviation Repairs
9:45 a.m. | Break
10:00 a.m. | Congressional Staff Panel
House and Senate Aviation Subcommittee staff discuss the 2023 FAA reauthorization process and substance.
11:oo a.m. | Advocating a Broader Agenda
There are general business groups advancing a broader agenda. Vehicle for engagement with elected officials via local Chambers, access to subject matter experts, support for broader business goals.
Katarina DeFilippo, Director of Legislative Affairs, Aerospace Industries Association
Jarrod Thompson, Vice President, Legislative & Regulatory Policy, Airlines for America
Sterling Wiggins, Senior Director, Transportation, Infrastructure, and Supply Chains, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
11:45 a.m. | Buffet Lunch Served
12:00 p.m. | Release & Presentation of Global Fleet & MRO Market Report by Oliver Wyman
Livia Hayes, Director, Oliver Wyman CAVOK
Madeline Stelle, Technical Analyst, Oliver Wyman CAVOK
1:00 p.m. | Adjourn for transition to Capitol Hill for meetings with members and staff.
TBD | Presentation of ARSA Legislative Leadership Award (Special Invitation Only)
4:00 p.m. | Symposium Registration Open (for non-Legislative Day attendees)
5:30 p.m. | Ice Breaker Reception
7:00 p.m. | Special Invitation Dinner
Annual Repair Symposium: Thursday, March 16, 2023
The centerpiece of Conference week, ARSA convenes a full day of substantive panel discussions covering key regulatory compliance and business issues.7:30 a.m. | Registration & Breakfast
8:00 a.m. | Welcome & Introductory Remarks
ARSA is the voice of the global aviation maintenance industry. How the association advocates your interests with legislators, regulators, and the media sets the stage for corporate growth. Information on how advancement of the industry’s collective interests enables individual companies to shine more brightly.
8:30 a.m. | Session 1: Keynote Address – Billy Nolen, Administrator (Acting), FAA
9:00 a.m. | Break
9:15 a.m. | Session 2: Opening Salvo – Conversations with the Regulators
International aviation safety agencies will provide updates on the regulations, policies, and procedures of importance to the global aerospace sector.
Dan Elgas , Acting Deputy Director, Policy and Innovation Division Aircraft Certification Service, FAA
Robert Ruiz, Director, Office of Safety Standards, Flight Standards Service, FAA
Jeffrey Phipps, Chief, Operational Airworthiness (AARTN), Transport Canada Civil Aviation [In person]
Lawrence Josuá Fernandes Costa, Continuing Airworthiness Certification Manager, Department of Flight Standards, ANAC Brazil [Online]
Gustavo Lima Carneiro, Civil Aviation Regulation Specialist, Department of Flight Standards, ANAC Brazil [Online]
Ludovic Aron, Washington Representative, EASA [In person]
Karl Specht, Principal Coordinator Organisation Approvals, EASA [Online]
Neil Williams, Head of Airworthiness, Policy & Rulemaking, United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority [In person]
12:30 p.m. | Lunch with Special Guest – James Viola, President & CEO, Helicopter Association International
An ally trade association leader shares thoughts on what true industry collaboration looks like and how the partnership between ARSA and HAI serves both memberships.
2:00 p.m. | Session 3: Young at Heart
A discussion about various ways to tap into the interest of students and introduce aviation pathways, including non-aviation examples and points from the two congressionally mandated committees investigating career development.
Paul Lukas, Teen Program Executive, Connecticut Yankee Council, Boy Scouts of America
Alison McHugh, Vice President, Safety & Quality, FEAM Aero
Sean Torpey, Executive Director for National Engagement and Regional Administration, FAA
3:00 p.m. | ARSA Quiz Show
3:30 p.m. | Break
4:00 p.m. | Session 4: Making the Old New Again
How can repair stations leverage new tools to repair legacy designs while keeping up with advancing needs of newer fleets? Using the plain language of parts 21 and 43 to manage pressures and make good on opportunities presented by “emerging” technology.
John Riggs, Director of Airworthiness, Chromalloy
Robert Roedts, Vice President of Aircraft Solutions, Columbia Helicopters
Sarah MacLeod, Executive Director, ARSA
5:00 p.m. | The Club Lounge Happy Hour
Member Day: Friday, March 17, 2023
ARSA's leadership briefs members on the state of the association as well as goals and priorities for the coming year. Participants then close out the event by choosing from one of several concurrent breakout sessions.8:00 a.m. | Annual Membership Meeting & Breakfast
9:30 a.m. | Break
10:00 a.m. | Breakout Sessions
Participants may select from the two following options.
Workforce Workshop – Open discussion and applied examples tying together career development policy, resources, the work of the Department of Transportation's Youth Task Force and Women's Advisory Board, and participant experiences with company programs.
Pragmatic SMS – Presentation from the Aircraft Electronics Association on constructing and documenting SMS-style programs for small businesses.
12:00 p.m. | Conference Ends
In-Person
All substantive and social activities were hosted at the Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City in Arlington, Virginia. Legislative Day participants will head to Capitol Hill for meetings with congressional offices as appropriate.
Livestream
The majority of conference events were available to livestream registrants and "Conference Ambassadors" (free online access given to a contact identified by in-person participants) via a Vimeo web-player embedded into a page on ARSA.org.
Platinum – $10,000
Notation in all publicity, marketing and periodicals (e.g., the hotline, Dispatch, ARSA team email signatures, conference attendee contact list, specific email alerts to association contacts), recognition in event materials and from the podium, specific thank you in ARSA periodicals, ten hours of free online training, complimentary registrations for three (3) participants in the Executive to Executive Briefings as well as three (3) in Legislative Day, and free livestream access for personnel unable to attend in person. At the Platinum Level, sponsors may select one of the following to specifically support (may not reflect current availability for 2023):- Online Conference Experience
- Executive to Executive Briefings
- Legislative Day – All Day
- Annual Repair Symposium – Ice Breaker Reception
- Annual Repair Symposium – Club Lounge Happy Hour
- Congressional Directories/Resources
2022 Platinum Sponsors
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Gold – $7,500
Notation in all publicity, marketing and periodicals (e.g., the hotline, Dispatch, ARSA team email signatures, conference attendee contact list, specific email alerts to association contacts), recognition in event materials and from the podium, specific thank you in ARSA periodicals, five hours of free online training, complimentary registrations for two (2) participants in the Executive to Executive Briefings as well as two (2) in Legislative Day, and free livestream access for personnel unable to attend in person. At the Gold Level, sponsors may select one of the following to specifically support (may not reflect current availability for 2023):- Legislative Priorities Brochures/Resources
- Digital Companion/Electronic Materials
- Legislative Day – Continental Breakfast
- Legislative Day – Congressional Briefing and Luncheon
- Annual Repair Symposium – Continental Breakfast
- Annual Repair Symposium – Luncheon with Special Guest
2022 Gold Sponsors
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Silver – $3,500
Notation in all publicity, marketing, and periodicals (e.g., the hotline, Dispatch, ARSA team email signatures, conference attendee contact list, specific email alerts to association contacts), recognition in event materials and from the podium, complimentary registrations for one (1) participant in the Executive to Executive Briefings as well as one (1) in Legislative Day. At the Silver Level, sponsors may select one of the following to specifically support (may not reflect current availability for 2023):- Nametag Lanyards
- Hotel Room Keys
- Annual Repair Symposium – Coffee Break (5)
2022 Silver Sponsors
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Supporter – $2,500
Notation in all publicity, marketing, and periodicals (e.g., the hotline, Dispatch, ARSA team email signatures, specific email alerts to association contacts), and recognition in event materials and from the podium.2022 Supporter
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Contributor – $500 to $2,499 (or equivalent support)
Notation in some publicity, marketing, and periodicals (e.g., the hotline, Dispatch), and recognition in event materials and from the podium.2022 Contributors
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ARSA's block of rooms at the Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City is closed. The hotel hosts most of the activities related to the ARSA Conference and is convenient to the Metro as well as Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA), so participants may inquire directly regarding additional availability. Those seeking other options may consider these hotels (there are no ARSA-related specials or promotions at these locations):
Embassy Suites by Hilton Crystal City National Airport – 1393 South Eads Street
Residence Inn Arlington Capital View – 2850 South Potomac Avenue
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Washington DC – Crystal City – 300 Army Navy Drive
Crowne Plaza Washington National Airport – 1480 Crystal Drive
Hampton Inn & Suites Reagan National Airport – 2000 Richmond Highway
Radisson Hotel Reagan National Airport – 2020 Richmond Highway
Holiday Inn National Airport/Crystal City – 2650 Richmond Highway
First bestowed on Leo Weston himself in 2005, the Weston award honors an instrumental figure in ARSA's birth by recognizing individuals who embody his commitment to the industry's safety and success. The symposium provides a venue for association members and invited guests from around the world to network and discuss issues that matter to the aviation maintenance industry. It is the perfect time to respect the history of the repair station community and honor the good works of those who support it.
Weston and his wife Bernadette in 2017.
Click here to learn more about the award.
For information about the 2022 Weston Award honoree David Latimer, click here.
The Ritz-Carlton
The site of all substantive and social gatherings related to the ARSA Conference. The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City follows the Marriott International "Commitment to Clean." The guidance includes protocols and elevated practices and can be found at whattoexpect.marriott.com/waspc.
Virginia
With the exception of any Legislative Day meetings held on Capitol Hill (scheduled individually by participants), the entirety of the Annual Conference takes place in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Guidance related coronavirus protocols can be found at www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/protect-yourself.
Washington, D.C.
No Annual Conference activities open to general participation take place in Washington, D.C. Conference attendees going into the city for business or personal reasons should consult coronavirus.dc.gov for policy and guidance related to the pandemic.
U.S. CDC
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, both Arlington County (the location of the Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City) and Washington, D.C. are classified as "medium" for community transmission. See county-by-county assessments and guidance at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.
Going Livestream
If any in-person registrant wishes to opt out of participation because of personal health concerns (including illness) they may switch to livestream access at any time. Access to the livestream is available to all participants via the Digital Companion, a password-protected webpage for participants to access the agenda, speaker information and presentation resources.
Click here to go to the album.
Materials and Recordings
The Digital Companion (the much discussed online resource for event materials and resources, to which access information has been sent to attendees via email and was provided from the lectern on each day) has been updated with PDFs of all presentations as well as links to additional resources discussed during the event. It also includes an attendee directory (in the “General Resources” area) and information about accessing raw livestream recordings (hint: they are in the same place the livestream was).Additional content produced from livestream recordings will be made available as appropriate.
