News Archive
AOPA Expo ’99 in Atlantic City celebrates what’s new, honors 60 years of aircraft owners and pilots standing tall
AOPA Expo ’99 comes to the Northeast again this year as AOPA’s massive convention and trade show in the new Atlantic City Convention Hall welcomes some 450 exhibitors, 70 display aircraft, and 10,000 pilots and family members October 21-23.
“We return to Atlantic City to celebrate both the sixtieth anniversary of AOPA’s founding in the Philadelphia area and our active advocacy of new technology for general aviation’s next century,” said AOPA President Phil Boyer. “This AOPA Expo—just 10 weeks before the year 2000—will be our call to get ready for the future.”
The Atlantic City, New Jersey, venue—home of the FAA’s Technical Center—will again emphasize new navigation and ATC systems for the future. General sessions each morning will examine key issues facing general aviation. On Thursday, October 21, a panel of top industry officials will address the modernization of the FAA and the air traffic control system.
A special retrospective will highlight the Expo Opening Luncheon October 21 as AOPA retraces its roots to the five Philadelphia-area aviators who founded the organization at suburban Wings Field in 1939. Special honors are planned for longtime AOPA members. Charter members (who joined AOPA within one year of May 1939) will be AOPA’s guests at the luncheon.
Friday morning, October 22, FAA Administrator Jane Garvey will face the AOPA membership and respond to pilot questions. The Saturday morning “Team AOPA” session will feature top association management on the issues and programs AOPA is pursuing.
AOPA Expo will feature three action-packed days and more than 90 hours of seminars for pilots, plus spouse activities, social events, and special activities including a Friday evening Halloween party.
Educational seminars will include “Aeronautical Decision Making,” “Defensive Flying,” “GPS Operations for IFR Pilots,” and a “GPS for VFR” session. Regulatory issues will be covered in “FAA Enforcement,” “FAR Refresher,” and “How to Survive a Ramp Check.”
John and Martha King will discuss “How to Avoid an Unwanted Adventure,” and Dr. Ian Fries describes “How to Save Your Life in an Aircraft Accident.” The Flying Physicians Association will discuss “High-Altitude Operations,” and aviation humorist Rod Machado will deal with the ever-important “Reducing Cockpit Stress Between the Sexes!”
The Aeromedical Training Institute will present sessions on “Situational Awareness” and “Spatial Disorientation.” There will be a number of medical sessions, including “Hear It From the Federal Air Surgeon’s Office” and “Flying After 50.”
There will also be a session with AIR’s Kit Darby on “How to Become a Professional Pilot” and one by the Air Care Alliance on “Flying to Help Others.” For the adventurer, there’s “Flying the Alaska Highway.”
The Air Safety Foundation’s famed Pinch-Hitter course for spouses and frequent passengers will be offered free of charge to Expo-goers registered for seminar attendance. Limited seating is first come, first served.
Atlantic City International will be the host airport, with full services for arriving aircraft and ground transportation to Expo. Bader Field will be largely devoted to the Expo aircraft static display.
Bader Field will have no services whatsoever and little parking for transient aircraft. Other airport options include Ocean City, Hammonton, and Woodbine, New Jersey. Pilots should secure ground transportation arrangements at those airports in advance.
For more information on AOPA Expo ’99, call 888/GO-2-EXPO or visit the AOPA Web site.
Special fly-in procedures apply. For details, see the AOPA Web site or FAA notam.
99-3-040
August 23, 1999
