Jetrader - Winter 2016 - 16

ISTAT Europe:
Ascending to New Heights
Attendance exceeds expectations
as members reunite in Barcelona

I

By Cody Smith

ISTAT's direction mirrors the aviation
industry's growth: up. ISTAT has grown to
having over 4,000 members, a variety of
events across the globe and concrete industry impacts in the form of such initiatives
as the ISTAT Foundation, the Appraisers
Program and more. It then came as no
surprise when ISTAT Europe 2016 once
again saw all-time high attendance, hosting more than 1,300 members at the Hotel
Arts Barcelona.
Held 25-27 September, ISTAT Europe drew
everyone from some of the biggest names in
the aviation industry to relative newcomers.
The first day began early with the debut of
the ISTAT Foundation Cycling Tour (more
on pages 14-15). Running concurrently was
the Codorniu Winery Tour. Both events gave
members opportunities to meet and connect
in an informal setting before the formal
start of the conference. The ISTAT NewGen
Event was held at the neighboring Hotel
Pullman Barcelona Skipper and provided new
aviation industry professionals the opportunity to connect with each other ahead of
networking sessions with industry veterans.
The Welcome Reception closed the first day
despite some rain interrupting the outdoor
portion. Members packed inside with hands
firm, business cards ready and spirits high.
Marc S. Allinson, ISTAT president, introduced the second day's proceedings.
"ISTAT is a by members, for members
association, and we are so thrilled about

the growth we've seen since ISTAT Europe
2015," Allinson said. He also took a brief
moment to honor the recently deceased Joe
Sutter with a moment of silence. Allinson
finished with a preview of ISTAT EMEA
2017, which will be held at the Edinburgh
Conference Centre in Scotland.
Up next was The Economists session,
which featured a "who's who" of economic
experts. While Brian Pearce, chief economist
at IATA, and Peter Morris, chief economist
at Ascend, argued that the global economy
may take a hit in the next few years, Adam
Pilarski, Ph.D., senior  vice president and
head of consulting, AVITAS,  Inc., took a
more uplifting stance.
"Normally I am the one who thinks doom
and gloom, but I don't think we are headed
downward just yet," Pilarski said.
In terms of doom and gloom, the "Engine
Trading" panelists discussed the changing
tide of the engine trading industry and its
potential negative outcomes.
"There's more sophistication, more
uptick and more sophisticated buyers and
devices," Bryson Monteleone, marketing
director, Tailwind Capital Partners, Inc.,
said. Panelist Jon Sharp, chief executive
officer and president, ELFC, took the idea a
step further and claimed that such sophistication is contributing to the decline of the
traditional engine trading business model.
"This business model is getting dangerously close to extinction," Sharp said.

16 The official publication of the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading

Robert Agnew, ISTAT Europe Committee
member, gave the day's Concluding Remarks
before two networking events closed out
the second day of the conference. The
ISTAT Women's Networking Reception,
in conjunction with the International
Aviation Womens Association, enabled
women members the chance to connect.
The Cocktail Reception at Opium immediately followed.
The final day packed in more heavily
attended sessions and networking events.
Adam Pilarski returned to the stage to give
a Keynote Address, which analyzed the U.S.
2016 presidential election and the future of
globalization and rational thinking.
"There's a move from experts to the
will of the people," Pilarski said. "Overall
there's a worldwide movement from globalization and toward simple solutions."
The Large Aircraft Manufacturers session once again hosted Boeing and Airbus
in the form of George Metcalf, managing
director, and Mark Pearman-Wright, Head of
Corporate & Investor Marketing - Customer
Affairs respectively. Douglas Runte, managing director and head of aviation research,
Deutsche Bank, moderated.
"This is the first time in ISTAT Europe
history where one manufacturer said something nice about another manufacturer,"
Runte joked after Pearman-Wright congratulated Boeing on its 100-year anniversary
during the Airbus intro. Tensions dissolved
Jetrader - Winter 2016

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