AOPA Aviation Summit Events

Exhibit Hall

One of the many highlights of the AOPA Aviation Summit is the exhibit hall floor. There are so many products and services made available to pilots of all ages; it’s easy to spend hours walking the floor. For your pilot accessory needs, the exhibit hall will include products like headsets, flight bag gear, jewelry, clothing, aircraft cleaning and maintenance products, avionics, and more.

Don't miss the AOPA Store (located in the 600's aisle of the Exhibit Hall Floor) for AOPA and Summit 2011 merchandise.

Check out the 2011 AOPA Aviation Summit Exhibitors!

Women's Wing hosted by Women in Aviation, International

Booth #1146, Exhibit Hall, Connecticut Convention Center

Visit Women's Wing to get answers, get connected, and get inspired! Meet and mingle with other women in the industry and enter to win daily prize drawings.

Women's Wing Schedule of Events

Thursday, September 22, 2011

1:45 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Book Signing: “Letters Home 1944-1945: Women Airforce Service Pilots”, Author Bee Haydu, Women Airforce Service Pilot (WASP)

Friday, September 23, 2011

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.Behind-the Scenes Movie Presentation: “Breaking Through the Clouds: The First Women’s National Air Derby”, Heather Taylor, Executive Producer, Archetypal Images

3 p.m. - 4 p.m. Book Signing: “Flight Emergency: Take the Left Seat in Eight Interactive Flight Emergency Scenarios”, Author Reya Kempley

Saturday, September 24, 2011

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. FAQ: Strategies for Getting Hired, Judy Tarver, Vice President, FltOps.com

Controllers' Corner hosted by NATCA

Booth #1152, Exhibit Hall, Connecticut Convention Center

Meet Controllers one-on-one and get your questions answered!

AOPA Store

The AOPA Store hosts a great collection of souvenirs to help you remember your trip to the AOPA Aviation Summit including caps, t-shirts, jackets, and the AOPA Holiday Ornament.

Daily Hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Thursday and Friday), 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Saturday)

Book Signings (Located in the AOPA Store:)

Thursday, September 22, 11 a.m. - 11:30a a.m.

Dale Brown, A Time for Patriots

Friday, September 23, 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

LeRoy Cook, 101 Things To Do With Your Private Pilot’s License, Flying Light Retractables, and Caravan: Cessna’s Swiss Army Knife with Wings

Saturday, September 24, 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Paco Chierici,Producer of the action documentary Speed and Angels DVD

Erik Hildebrandt, Photographer and Author, Fly Navy – The First Century of Naval Aviation, Front and Center

Airportfest:

After making its debut in 2009 at the AOPA Aviation Summit in Tampa, Airportfest is one of the “must see” features of Summit. Airportfest combines a one-of-a-kind static aircraft display with so much more!

Airportfest is open all three days of Summit.

Make the trip out to Hartford-Brainard Airport and see all that Airportfest has to offer:

• Nearly 100 aircraft on display
• Daily hot air balloon inflate and launches (weather permitting)
• Live music on the AOPA Main Stage from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. brought to you by the Flying Musicians Association
• Enjoy concessions served by Hartford's Black-Eyed Sally's BBQ
• Public Benefit Aircraft
• Aircraft manufacturers offering demonstration flights
• AOPA Learn to Fly Center
• Special Guest speakers
• Fun aviation activities for adults and kids

…and much more!

AOPA Learn to Fly Center

Get information on learning to fly, including how AOPA programs can help you accomplish your flight training goals. Talk with flight instructors and get answers to all of your flight training questions. Take the controls of a full-motion Redbird FMX flight simulator. Plus, introductory flights are available for the special price of $72 in recognition of AOPA’s 72 years of protecting the freedom to fly. A free pilot logbook and first flight certificate will also be given with each introductory flight.

Airportfest Transportation

Complimentary round-trip bus transportation departs from the Connecticut Convention Center approximately every 30 minutes to Airportfest. Sorry, there is very limited car parking available.

Airportfest Shuttle Service Hours:

Thursday and Friday: 8:45 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Saturday: 8:45 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Rock 'n Rally at Airportfest

Don’t forget your ticket to AOPA’s Rock ‘n Rally! Taste the local Hartford cuisine, rock to the sounds of “Out of Touch” Live Band, watch hot air balloons aglow and mingle amongst the aircraft display with fellow aviation lovers to Rally and show your support for General Aviation.

Complimentary shuttle transportation will be available from the Connecticut Convention Center, beginning at 4:45 p.m. to the Rock ‘n Rally event at Airportfest (Hartford-Brainard Airport). Complimentary return shuttle transportation will begin at 7 p.m. at Hartford-Brainard Airport to the Crowne Plaza, Hampton Inn/Suites, Hartford Plaza, Hilton, Homewood Suites, Marriott and Residence Inn hotels. Sorry, there is very limited car parking available.

Airportfest Volunteers Needed!

Do you want to be a part of Airportfest?Volunteer at the 2011 Aviation Summit! AOPA needs the help of volunteers September 21 - 25 to assist parking over 1,000 aircraft that will fly into Hartford-Brainard Airport for Summit and Airportfest. Volunteers will also help direct the flow of traffic and people, and provide general guidance at Airportfest. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how AOPA manages the show by volunteering today! Click here to volunteer.

Keynotes

Thursday Keynote: The Future of Aviation

8 a.m. - 9 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center

Join AOPA President Craig Fuller for this two-part conversation about the technology and policy that will change the way you fly. First, special guest David P. Hess, president of Pratt & Whitney, will talk about the innovations that have transformed aviation and offer a preview of some of the exciting new developments in the works. Then Craig Fuller is joined by a team of AOPA experts to talk about key initiatives that will affect your flying and your wallet, including the tug-of-war going on in Washington, D.C.; state efforts to raise revenue from pilots; AOPA’s work to build the next generation of aviators; and pressures that are reshaping the GA industry.

This session is free, no registration required.

Friday Keynote: Meet the Administrator

8 a.m. - 9 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center

No single agency has more influence on how we fly than the FAA. Hear directly from FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt as he answers the questions pilots are asking—questions about funding, priorities, regulatory policy, the role of general aviation in the national transportation system, and more. Administrator Babbitt will share his perspective on the state of general aviation today and talk about the FAA’s focus for 2012 and beyond in an in-depth conversation with AOPA President Craig Fuller.

This session is free, no registration required.

Saturday Keynote and Pancake Breakfast: Working Together to Ensure Our Future

8 a.m. - 9 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center

The pilot population has been steadily declining for decades—we need to know why and what we can do about it. AOPA President Craig Fuller and EAA President Rod Hightower will share the stage and their ideas about opening aviation to a new generation of pilots. Get the inside scoop on scholarship and other incentive programs from AOPA and EAA, our ongoing work to lower the student pilot dropout rate, the EAA Young Eagles program and more in this informative and inspirational conversation.

Paid ticket includes breakfast. Breakfast is a plated meal and will be served promptly at 8 a.m.

Seminars

Thousands of pilots attend AOPA Aviation Summit each year with a specific goal in mind: Become a better, safer pilot. The educational seminars at Summit offer multiple opportunities for pilots to learn from the experts on safety tips, stick-and-rudder techniques, aircraft ownership, and more. Many of the Air Safety Institute’s popular Safety Seminars also are showcased during the event.

Click on the links below to find more information on daily seminar topics and speakers:

• Seminar Schedule
• Seminar Speaker Listing
• Seminar Descriptions

Seminar and Exhibit Hall Advanced Registration Rates: AOPA Members $55, Non-Members $70 (per day)

AOPA Live

Tune in online for a piece of the action

Do pilots make better CEOs? Why is general aviation on the NTSB’s “Most Wanted” list? What can you learn from the health challenges of the astronauts? Join us in person or tune in to AOPA Live for answers to these questions and more from industry experts, AOPA staff, and special guests. AOPA Live will stream video from the show Sept. 22 through 24, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. daily. Keynote presentations will be rebroadcast at 1 p.m. each day.

Cuba Gooding Jr. promotes ‘Red Tails’ on AOPA Live

Get the scoop on Red Tails, a George Lucas movie set to debut in 2012, from one of the stars, Cuba Gooding Jr. Gooding and AOPA President Craig Fuller will talk about the movie, which pays tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen, on AOPA Live at 11:45 a.m. Eastern on Thursday, Sept. 22.

Don’t miss a minute of AOPA Live! Check out the schedule!

Social Events

AOPA Aviation Summit is host to exciting social events throughout the day and evenings each day of Summit. Have you ever wanted to dine with an an aviation notable? Or, get an up-close look at a WWII B-29 Superfortress? AOPA Aviation Summit Social Events has something for everyone. To learn more about the events taking place during Summit, click here.

Non-Pilot Activities

Siteseeing Tours

For those traveling to Hartford for Summit and looking for something besides aviation, try one of the group tours offered by AOPA:

Noshing in New York City

Thursday, September 22, 2011

9 a.m., tour departs Connecticut Convention Center; 4 p.m., tour returns

To "gnosh" is to snack essentially, and that is what this day is about! Your guide will be giving you a fascinating tour of Manhattan. Stops may include all or some of the following places: World's most famous "deli" - Zabar's - on the Upper West Side, Greenwich Village for a stop on Bleecker Street (sometimes referred to as "Little Little Italy"), Lower East Side stops at Kossar's Bialy Bakery, Chinatown, and Manhattan's last Little Italy - Mulberry Street.

Cost: $79 with $30 cash back for food upon boarding the bus

To make reservations contact Amber Hasler at 1-800-229-4879 ext. 638 or e-mail her at amberh@dattco.com

Mohegan Sun Casino Tour

Friday, September 23, 2011

8:30 a.m., tour departs Connecticut Convention Center; 3:45 PM, tour returns

Enjoy a day trip to Mohegan Sun Casino, one of the world’s most amazing destinations with some of New England’s finest dining, retail shopping, live entertainment and sporting events. Individuals will receive a Casino bonus of $15 food or retail and three $5 bets at the Wheel upon arrival at Mohegan Sun (bonus subject to change without notice)

Cost: $22

To make reservations contact Amber Hasler at 1-800-229-4879 ext. 638 or e-mail her at amberh@dattco.com

Non-Pilot Educational Sessions

Your Path to Pilothood: Flight Training FAQs

This seminar is free, no registration required

If you've ever dreamed about learning to fly, don't miss this opportunity to get unbiased answers to prospective pilots' most frequently asked questions. Find out how to save time and money, overcome common obstacles, and access free student support resources. And attendees can enter to win a free introductory flight!

Presented by: JJ Greenway, Chief Flight Instructor, Director of Flight Training Initiatives, AOPA Air Safety Institute
Jennifer Storm, Director of Flight Training Initiatives, AOPA

Saturday, September 24, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center

Saturday, September 24, 2 p.m. - 3 p.m., Airportfest

Pinch-Hitter

Paid registration is required for this seminar

Would your non-flying companion rather be a participant than a passenger? Could he or she step up to the plate in the unlikely event that you became incapacitated? This two-hour seminar covers need-to-know information on using the radio, navigating, and even landing the airplane in an emergency.

Presented by: Susan Parson, Editor, FAA Safety Briefing

Thursday, September 22, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center

Friday, September 23, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center

Saturday, September 24, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center

Additional Non-Pilot Activities

Even if you aren't a pilot, there are many things for you to do at the AOPA Aviation Summit. Take this opportunity to learn all you can about the exciting world of general aviation. Activities include:

• Airportfest is free to attend and full of activities for non-pilots including a flight simulator!
• Sign up for an introductory flight at the AOPA Learn to Fly Center at Airportfest.
• Explore the city of Hartford. To learn more about Hartford, click here.

Other Aviation Groups

AOPA is pleased to welcome to following groups who are hosting a meeting in conjunction with the AOPA Aviation Summit:

AOPA Airport Support Network Volunteer Meeting

Friday, September 23

2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Hartford Marriott Downtown - Ballroom B

More Information: Open to all ASN Volunteers and those who want to learn more.

AOPA Political Action Committee (PAC) Summit Donor Luncheon

Thursday, September 22

12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m.

Hartford Marriott Downtown - Ballroom A

Aviation Green Alliance Forum: Breakthroughs that will change the future of GA

Friday, September 23

10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Hartford Marriott Downtown - Capital 2

More Information: Amazing breakthroughs in materials, propulsion, fuels, construction methods and electronics are happening on almost a weekly basis that guarantee a dramatic change in the future of GA. With electric airplanes and alternative fuels, the emergence of China as a major GA force and voice and thought recognition technologies, and new aircraft prototypes without wings and propellers, along with virtual copilots, it is certain that there’s a really good chance that your next airplane may not look or operate like aircraft have for the last 50 years.

Internationally known futurist and aviator John L. Petersen, who keynoted at Summit 2010, will lead you through a rapid, but fascinating tour of the leading edge of the future of aviation – a comprehensive picture that you won’t find anywhere else – and you won’t want to miss. This Lindbergh Foundation sponsored presentation will highlight how new breakthroughs will make flying easier, cleaner, more efficient . . . and maybe even cheaper.

Cessna Advance Aircraft Club

Friday, September 23

3 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Hartford Marriott Downtown - Capital 1

Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association (COPA)

Saturday, September 24

1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Hartford Marriott Downtown - Capital 1

Flight School Association of North America (FSANA) Meet and Greet

Thursday, September 22

3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Hartford Marriott Downtown - Capital 2

More Information: The Flight School Association of North America (FSANA) invites you to join us for an update on what is new at FSANA. This will include an open forum discussion. The recently released flight school accreditation program will be covered along with updates on AeroCamp and other FSANA programs.

The room assignment for this event is the Capital 2 meeting room located on the third floor of the Hartford Marriott. FSANA looks forward to seeing many of our members and all those interested in learning more about FSANA and the “Business of Flight Training”.

Flight Training Magazine CFI Roundtable

Saturday, September 24

10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Hartford Marriott Downtown - Conference Room 7

Flight Training Magazine Student Pilot Roundtable

Saturday, September 24

2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Hartford Marriott Downtown - Conference Room 7

Flying Musicians Association Meeting

Thursday, September 22 and Friday, September 23

3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Hartford Marriott Downtown - Conference Room 7

GA Owner Opinions Wanted for Hartford Dinner Discussion

Panelists are wanted for an avionics feedback forum during the Hartford Summit. Owners will receive dinner and a $100 Visa card. Interested? Call Delve at 800-647-4217 (12pm-8pm EST) and ask about the avionics forum. You’ll be asked a few questions and, if qualified, will be invited to attend.

International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians (IFFR) Annual Meeting, Americas Section

Friday, September 23

12 p.m. - 2 p.m.

Hartford Marriott Downtown - Conference Room 5

Ninety-Nine's Annual Breakfast