ALTA's (Latin America and Caribbean Air Transport Association) Aviation Crisis Preparedness Conference, designed to educate and arm executives with the crucial tools and information necessary to prepare and implement crisis preparedness plans specific to the aviation industry, is slated to take place September 10 - 11, 2008, in Miami, Florida contiguous with its Aviation Law Americas Conference to be held September 11 - 12, 2008, at the same location.

"This is a must-attend event for anyone associated with aviation industry crisis preparedness, crisis management and crisis response efforts," said ALTA Executive Director Alex de Gunten. "We as an industry must be prepared to effectively respond to and manage a vast array of crisis situations. After all, it's not a matter of IF a crisis will occur, but WHEN."

An impressive dossier of speakers has already been confirmed, including leading experts on crisis preparedness and crisis management issues specific to the aviation industry, including:

• Jerry Hendin, Managing Partner Alliance Public Relations
• Alan May, Managing Director AON
• Larry Ganse, COO Copa Airlines
• Elizabeth Verdier, Crisis Communications Boeing
• Ed McLaughlin, Executive Vice President FEI Behavioral Health
• Steve Lott, Communications IATA
• Robert Jensen, President Kenyon Worldwide Disaster Management
• Bruno Ardito, Director Corporate Relations LAN Group
• George Snyder, Senior VP Safety & Security Marsh
• Marco Franca, Vice President Latin America PR Newswire
• Enrique Beltranena, CEO Volaris
• Greg Phillips, National Aviation Safety Consultant to Willis Global Aviation
• Jeremy Shebson, Barlow Lyde and Gilbert
• Sean Gates, Gates and Partners
• Jaime Daily, Lima Airport Partners
• Marc Henderson, Media Relations Manager, Miami-Dade Aviation Dept.
• Luiz Claudio Aguiar, Legal Director, TAM Linhas Aereas
• Richard Gimblett, Partner Barlow, Lyde and Gilbert
• Edmundo Olivares, Legal VP, Aeromexico
• Susana Mantilla, General Counsel, Avianca
• Juan Carlos Mencio, General Counsel NA, LAN
• Javier Christlieb, Legal VP, Mexicana de Aviacion
• Eduardo Iglesias, Legal VP, TACA
• Carlos Sierra, Partner, Abogados Sierra & Vazquez SC (ASV)
• Nancy Young, VP Environmental Affair, ATA / Air Transport Association
• John Balfour, Partner Aviation Group, Clyde & Co. - Beaumont & Son
• Michael Holland, Partner, Condon & Forsyth
• Jeffrey Shane, Former under Secretary, US DOT/US Dept. of Transportation
• Anita Mosner, Partner, Holland & Knight LLP
• Carlos Grau, Director Government & Industry Affairs, IATA
• Dr. Ricardo Mezzera, Partner, Estudio Mezzera
• Joanne Young, Partner, Kirstein & Young

The two-day agenda encompasses the key aspects of aviation crisis preparedness and management, including what to expect when a crisis hits, case studies and lessons learned from previous incidents and accidents, operational implications - dealing with governing investigating authorities during a crisis, crisis communications and dealing with key stakeholders and media, legal requirements and implications associated with an accident investigation, managing risk and maintaining operations during a crisis, crisis communications and a media training workshop, among other topics.

Attendees include anyone associated with aviation industry crisis preparedness and crisis management efforts, including: airlines, airports, civil aviation authorities, aviation industry executives, contingency planners, corporate communications and public relations consultants, crisis response products and services suppliers, emergency response executives, insurers, government agencies, legal counsels, and safety and security executives.