New EBAA CEO, Fabio Gamba heads the strong line up at CEPA Expo in Prague.

Tuesday 22nd November 2011

CEPA Expo 2011, the premier business aviation networking and conference event for Central and Eastern Europe taking place on 1-2 December, 2011 at the Prague Congress Centre, has attracted considerable interest among delegates and is shaping up to be a must attend event for business aviation in the CEE region.

This year CEPA Expo will welcome newly appointed European Business Aviation Association's CEO, Fabio Gamba for the first time. Gamba, an experienced aviation professional who has held senior positions at the Boeing Company and most recently, as Deputy Secretary General of the Association of European Airlines (AEA), will be using his expertise to help business aviation grow and develop its vital role in Europe. His delegates' address will highlight the challenges and successes of EBAA over the past 10 years and discuss how these lessons can be utilised to assist CEPA in reaching its main goal: connecting East and West in business aviation.

A further highlight of CEPA Expo will be the manufacturers' panel with leading companies including OEM's Hawker Beechcraft, Cessna and Bombardier having already confirmed their participation in the event. A legal panel will explore the theme of regulatory complexities and an afternoon session run by Alasdair Whyte, Editor of Corporate Jet Investor, will debate air finance and aircraft availability in the region.

Further themes will cover a variety of topics particularly pertinent to the region, including an overview of the importance of business aviation in terms of economic development; where the business aviation sector is in the commercial life cycle; and how the functioning airspace will affect future development. Panelists and delegates are also anticipated to discuss infrastructure development, Dagmar Grossmann, CEPA founder, will focus on human resource requirements and potential new business models for the region. Edwin Brenninkmeyer, CEO and Founder of Oriens Advisors will be moderating the panel of western brokers and operators which will aim to share experiences and suggest best practice. Other speakers which include David Macdonald, Director Private Jets, Air Partner; Mike Creed, Quest Helicopters; Brendan Lodge, Business Development Director, JetBrokers Europe; and Jonathan Sumner, Managing Director, Victor will join lively debate with counterparts from Eastern Europe.

The CEPA Association was formed to promote the interests of private aviation in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia and in due course, other markets including Belarus, Ukraine and Russia. CEPA builds on its worldwide experience and contacts in the aviation industry to bring together the major players and innovators in the business aviation and private aviation sectors to debate, analyse, structure, and thoughtfully consider the best way forward for private aviation in the strategic heartland of Europe.

www.cepa.aerowww.cepaexpo.com