"It's Likely The Strongest Line-Up Of Keynote Speakers ICAS Has Ever Had"

ICAS has announced details on the three keynote presentations that will be conducted as part of its 2021 Convention, December 6-9 at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"It's likely the strongest line-up of keynote speakers ICAS has ever had," said ICAS President John Cudahy. "All three of them are excellent speakers with compelling messages that will resonate with our delegates…especially this year as our members work to recover from the challenges and deprivations of the pandemic."

On Tuesday, December 7, Captain Charlie Plumb will kick off the convention with an entertaining, motivational and inspiring presentation about his career as a U.S. Navy fighter pilot. During his 75th combat mission on May 19, 1967, Captain Plumb was shot down south of Hanoi, captured by the North Vietnamese, and held as a prisoner of war for 2,103 days before being released on February 18, 1973. His presentation on overcoming adversity and defying self-imposed limits during his time as a POW will help set the tone for the re-start and recovery of the air show industry in 2022. An active general aviation pilot and colonel in the Commemorative Air Force, Captain Plumb's life-long love affair with aviation will also provide a reminder to ICAS members about the important work they do in promoting and showcasing aviation. And his unique talents and experience as a masterful story teller will help launch ICAS' 54th annual convention.

During the Wednesday afternoon luncheon presentation, marketing and communications expert Kristin Spiotto will introduce attendees to the importance and value of telling the story of their air show business more clearly and effectively. Whether they are a performer, support service provider or event organizer, she will explain how to develop and explain marketing and branding messages in a way that cuts through the noise of the marketplace and positions products or services the way that attendees may want them positioned in the minds of their customers and prospective customers. In this session, attendees will learn how to tell their stories more clearly and compellingly to sponsors, spectators, volunteers and community leaders, and in a manner that encourages them to listen and better understand their organization.

As part of the ICAS Thursday morning annual membership meeting, skydiver, pilot and aerial adventurist Luke Aikins will share his story of jumping out of a perfectly good airplane…without a parachute. After months of planning, in July of 2016, Aikins jumped from an airplane at an altitude of 25,000 feet without a parachute or wingsuit and landed in a large net just above the ground in southern California at 120 miles per hour. The story of what he did and how he did it, is interesting, entertaining and something attendees will want to hear for themselves, but Luke's parachute-less jump and other aviation and skydiving experiences offer unique and helpful insight into why air shows and other forms of aerial entertainment continue to attract and fascinate the public.

FMI: www.airshows.aero