Aerospace Defense Forum

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Presentation and Tour of Sunvair Aerospace

Meeting of the Santa Clarita Valley Chapter in Valencia on September 23, 2022

Please join us on Tuesday, August 23, 7:00-9:00am for networking, presentation and a tour of Sunvair Aerospace in Valencia. This is a great opportunity to meet and network with fellow SCV A&D industry executives, as well as see a large-scale landing gear operation. Sunvair has military, commercial, and business jet customers, including Boeing, Lockheed, Delta, Southwest, and Alaska.

Sunvair’s state-of-the-art 101,000 square foot facility handles the entire landing gear overhaul process under one roof. This includes Disassembly, Inspection, Non Destructive Testing, full Plating operation, Paint, Assembly and Hydraulic testing. With capacity from the largest cylinders to the smallest pistons and all the necessary machinery, equipment, and personnel in one location, they control the overhaul process from beginning to end, leading to faster turnaround times, the best quality and lower costs for their customers. They have FAA, EASA, NADCAP and AS9100 certifications.

Attendance is limited to twenty (20) attendees and members of the local A&D manufacturing community will have priority. Masks are encouraged when in the conference room. Masks are not needed during the tour.

The meeting is free for members and $30 for non-members ($40 after Septemer 16). For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to https://adfscvsep22.eventbrite.com/.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The Santa Clarita Valley chapter of The Aerospace & Defense Forum is sponsored by the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation.

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“Farnborough International Airshow Impressions & Opinions”

National Online Forum webinar on 8-9:00am Pacific Time, Wednesday, August 17, 2022

The Farnborough Airshow 2022 is the first major airshow since the COVID pandemic created havoc in the commercial air travel market place and since the conflict began in the Ukraine causing many countries to reevaluate their defense plans. As such it was a chance for our industry to come together once again face-to-face and evaluate where we are and where we are going.

Please join us at 8:00-9:00am Pacific Time on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, when David Conrad, Vice President, Business Development, PTI Technologies, Inc. will share a first-hand account from someone who attended the Farnborough Airshow 2022. Learn about some of the major challenges facing our industry as well as some of the revolutionary/evolutionary changes happening in our industry. Bring your questions and concerns for a lively discussion of the future direction of aviation and the aerospace industry.

The meeting is free for members and $25 for non-members For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to https://adfnofaug22.eventbrite.com.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

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“Three Presentations on Innovative Thinking in A&D”

AZ Chapter meeting in Phoenix on August 19, 2022

Meeting location: Spencer Fane LLP
2415 E Camelback Road, Suite 600, Phoenix, AZ 85160-4288
Meeting Date: Friday, August 19, 2022
Meeting Time: 5:30- 6:00 PM Networking
6:00-7:00 PM Presentations, 7:00-7:30 PM Networking

Please join us 5:30-7:30 pm at Spencer Fane LLP on Friday, August 19, 2022, for “Three Presentations on Innovative Thinking in A&D”.

Justin Spaulding, President and CEO of The145.com & Co-Founder of TearDowns.aero, will present “Leveraging Technology to Grow Your Shop, Inventory or Teardown Company”. Learn how to pre-buy material off of aircraft slated for teardown, effectively offer teardown companies unsolicited bids to repair components on their harvest lists, advertise commercial and regional aircraft for sale and more. This is a must attend presentation for individuals that want to learn how and where to find the data that will increase their company’s sales and profit margins.

Brock Booher, President of Volant Systems, will present “SNAPs and Old Crows: Bridging the Growing Generational Divide in Today’s Workforce”. Are you a Sensitive New Age Pilot or an Old Crow? Today’s workforce is becoming increasingly divided by generational lines. Bridging that gap will take efforts from both sides, and some guidance from leadership. Learn some techniques for guiding your organization through this change.

Whistler Cherubin, Cofounder of Trip/ IN, will present “TripIn- Travel A-Z: a French startup searching for funding”. Founded by Whistler Cherubin and Komi Sika, Trip/In is a travel companion that provides personalized and optimized information on activities available or retail choices in airports based on the time spent at a given airport. Trip/In aggregates and disseminates information to travellers regarding their travel, its preparation or conduct at airports and areas around them. It provides travellers with information regarding events, concerts, shops, stands available in transit areas; at departure and at destination. Trip/In will improve conversion using big data, artificial intelligence, offer optimized content, and serve as a communication channel between travel ports and travelers through a messaging platform.

The meeting is free for A&D Forum, AZTC, and Americans Aerospace Cluster members and $30 for non-members until August 12, $40 thereafter. Guests may attend two chapter meetings for free. Register at https://adfazaug22.eventbrite.com.

Click here for more information about and to join The Aerospace & Defense Forum.

The meeting is hosted by Spencer Fane LLP.

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“The Reckoning Continues: An Economic Outlook”

Los Angeles Chapter virtual meeting on August 11, 2022

It’s no secret that we face numerous challenges at the moment… continuing supply chain disruption, a third year of pandemic impacts on the economy, a war in Europe and other geopolitical issues, employers struggling to find resources and consumers feeling the pang of inflation has individuals, businesses and investors wary about the future.

Are there any bright spots? What does the near-term future hold for consumers and businesses?

Please join us online on Thursday, August 11, 2022, 8:00–9:00am Pacific Time for the Los Angeles Chapter’s August meeting featuring Jeff Korzenik, Chief Investment Strategist for Fifth Third Bank. Jeff will share some insights on the post-pandemic economy: how the markets are reacting and what to expect, sector growth including manufacturing, and the workforce challenge.

Topics that Jeff will specifically address include…
• Which Breaks First, the Economy or Inflation?
• The Narrow Case for Continued Growth
• The Labor Challenge
• Prepare for the “K-Expansion”

Jeff is a frequent guest on national news programs, and you do not want to miss this presentation. You will come away with insight that will help your company and/or your clients navigate the current landscape and be better prepared for the future.

The meeting is free for members and $25 for non-members. For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to https://adflaaug22.eventbrite.com/.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The Los Angeles Chapter of The Aerospace & Defense Forum is hosted by Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Mitchell and sponsored by Moss Adams and Fifth Third Bank.

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“Supply Chain Challenges in the Next Super Cycle”

OC Chapter meeting in Irvine on August 4, 2022

Please join us in Irvine on Thursday, August 4, (Networking and Breakfast: 7:00-7:30am & Meeting: 7:30–9:00am) when panelists George Ferguson (Senior Aerospace, Defense and Airline Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence), Dana Stephenson (VP, Aftermarket & Customer Support, Aerostructures, Collins Aerospace), Marzel Neckien (President, W Machine Works), and Alex Krutz (Moderator) (Managing Director, Patriot Industrial Partners) will discuss the outlook across the aerospace & defense supply chain.

Alex Krutz of Patriot Industrial Partners will lead a panel that will discuss the challenges, uncertainties and opportunities facing suppliers as Boeing and Airbus look to ramp-up production. George Ferguson from Bloomberg Intelligence will provide an industry perspective on the supply chain. Dana Stephenson from Raytheon Technologies will highlight issues confronting the Tier 1 supply chain. Marzel Neckien will provide perspective from the Tier 2/3 supplier perspective.

Topics covered will be production plan outlook, demand volatility, the labor situation, inflation and persistent issues remaining after COVID 19 industry changes. This panel discussion will be beneficial to all companies in the A&D supply chain.
Dialogue will be open and informative covering all segments and Tiers of the supply chain.

The meeting is free for members and $30 for non-members ($40 after July 28). Non-members may guest twice for free. Click here for more information and to register to attend the meeting.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The Orange County chapter is hosted by Moss Adams.

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“Lessons Learned: Rapid Product Development from Commercial-to-Military-to-Dual Use”

OC Chapter meeting in Irvine on June 2

Please join us in Irvine on Thursday, June 2, 7:30–9:00am (breakfast 7:00-7:30am) when Brian Riese (CEO & President, Phenix Solutions) and Mark Zimmerman (CTO, Phenix Solutions), the founders of Phenix Solutions, will provide real-world “Lessons Learned: Rapid Product Development from Commercial-to-Military-to-Dual Use.” Oregon-based Phenix Solutions has developed a super-heavy weight, rotor lift, Jet-A fueled military drone in an unbelievably short timeframe. In technical terms, it’s a long-range, 3,000 MTOW Coaxial Rotor Remote Piloted Aircraft. The drone is successfully being flight tested by the US military, but in the end it will be a dual-use aircraft. Phenix has successfully obtained continued government funding on an accelerated basis during the highly condensed aircraft development process.

The meeting is free for members and $30 for non-members ($40 after May 26). Non-members may guest twice for free.  Click here to register to attend the meeting.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The Orange County chapter is hosted by Moss Adams and sponsored by Chubb and Bolton & Company.

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“The Drone as First Responder: A Tour at the Santa Monica Police Department”

Los Angeles Chapter meeting and tour on May 20, 2022

The Santa Monica Police Department has a long history of utilizing aircraft in support of its law enforcement operations. Starting in 1929 with a two-seater, radial engine Kari Keen Sioux Coupe 60, the department has endeavored to utilize the advantages of having an eye in the sky to support the officer on the ground. That pursuit continues today with the deployment of unmanned ariel systems and the operational philosophy of utilizing a Drone as First Responder (DFR). DFR is a transformational method of policing that has demonstrated the ability to increase officer and community safety by reducing overall police response times and providing information to potentially de-escalate emergency situations.

This operation utilizes a sUAS (drones) on the roof of the police station, ready to take off at moment’s notice with a sworn police officer controlling that sUAS with a remote teleoperation software suite that allows the use of large high-definition monitors and access to additional technologies. The sUAS has a powerful on-board camera that streams HD video back to the department’s real-time operations center where the teleoperator, who is a trained critical incident manager, to “virtually” arrive on scene first, sometimes minutes before officers arrive on scene, and provide responding public safety personnel with the critical information necessary to appropriately respond to emergent calls for service and emergency situations.

The Santa Monica Police Department implemented its DFR program in November of 2021 and immediately realized the benefits of this technology. The ability to get a UAS on scene rapidly, to any call, has drastically reduced response times, provides real time livestreaming for officers and supervisors and allows de-escalation by having an experienced officer preview and advise responding field units on the actual conditions they are responding to. The DFR concept has changed the nature of “first response”, from relying on second and third hand information to operating with a real time level of situational awareness unimaginable in 1929.

Please join us on Friday, May 20, 2022, for a tour of the Santa Monica Police Department’s DFR facilities and a presentation by Barry Brennan, Founder and President of Flying Lion Inc., who will discuss the company’s role with the SMPD DFR Program. This DFR Program tour will demonstrate how SMPD is utilizing sUAS technology to significantly enhance public safety and the capability of first responders in Santa Monica.

Agenda for the session…
• Introductions and presentation
• Break into two or three groups for tours of…
> DFR Air Support Officer Office
> Rooftop DFR Landing Zone
• Back to the conference room for follow up discussion

The meeting/tour is limited to 20 attendees and is free for members and $25 for non-members. For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to https://adflamay22.eventbrite.com/.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The Los Angeles Chapter of The Aerospace & Defense Forum is hosted by Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Mitchell and sponsored by Chubb, Bolton & Company Insurance Brokers, Moss Adams, and Fifth Third Bank.

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“Supply Chain: Procurement and The Hidden Costs in Outsourcing”

National Online Forum webinar on 8-9:00am Pacific Time, Wednesday, May 18, 2022

In the aviation industry, purchasing departments spend approximately 70 to 80 percent of revenues on procurement. Additionally, 62% of companies experience unforeseen expenses or hidden costs in the procurement process. One of the top challenges for companies is accurately assessing total costs, making total cost analysis a vital issue in addressing the challenges of total cost of procurement when outsourcing.

Please join us at 8:00-9:00am Pacific Time on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, when Dr. Tuly Badillo, Associate Professor, Supply Chain Management, Broward College will cover the identification of hidden costs specific to MROs and discuss Activity Based Costing as one of the solutions to Total Cost Analysis.

The meeting is free for members and $25 for non-members For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to https://adfnofmay22.eventbrite.com.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

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“Value Drivers for your Business in M&A”

National Online Forum webinar on 8-9:00am Pacific Time, Wednesday, April 20, 2022

There are many factors that affect the value of an aerospace and defense (“A&D”) business in an M&A transaction. And value isn’t simply the headline price – what other factors go into a successful transaction for a seller?

Please join us at 8:00-9:00am Pacific Time on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, when a panel of William F. Capps (Moderator) (Partner, Chairman, Corporate Department, Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP), Alyssa Morrisroe (Panelist) (Managing Director, FON Investment Banking), and Andrew D. Williamson (Panelist) (Managing Director, Calabasas Capital discusses what factors are considered in an M&A transaction, with topics including:
• How much is market-driven and how much is company-specific?
• Does positioning a company for sale require operating differently on a day-to-day basis?
• What are A&D-specific factors to consider?
• What do acquirers look at in assessing an opportunity? Do sponsors look at operations significantly differently?
• Are there major pitfalls that can be avoided?
• When should a company start thinking about preparing for an exit?
• Steps that can be taken today to maximize options and value down the road

The meeting is free for members and $25 for non-members For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to https://adfnofapr22.eventbrite.com.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.