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Diverse speakers headline CIA Expo 2017 Toronto!

The 2017 CIA Expo in Toronto is rapidly coming together and this year’s agenda promises to give attendees worthwhile insights into a variety of aviation and aerospace careers.


March 2, 2017  By Matt Nicholls

Wings and Helicopters magazines have lined up a select number of key industry leaders on both the rotary- and fixed-wing sides of the industry to help shed more light on career options. Individual speakers and mentors will also provide attendees with a sense of where the industry is headed and share plenty of real-life examples to illustrate just what to do – and what not to do – in a chosen professional pursuit.

The Toronto CIA Expo is set for Saturday, April 22 at the bustling Jazz Aviation Hangar in Mississauga. The price of the event is $65 and includes all aspects of the education program, hangar tours, lunch, parking and more. The hangar on Airport Rd. is accessible from downtown Toronto via Union Pearson Express to Toronto Pearson Airport Terminal 3. The Jazz hangar is a short walk from there. For more information see www.careersinaviation.ca/expo.

“I’m looking forward to the event this year and am honoured to be speaking to young adults seeking more knowledge about the dynamic aerospace industry,” notes Tim Huppler of Montreal’s AeroConsult. Huppler will be delivering the aerospace address in the afternoon. “There aren’t a lot of events that focus on aviation and aerospace specifically, where the entire day explores these fields. This opportunity is very special and exclusive.”

Huppler specializes in aircraft program management, supplier management and aircraft system propulsion. He spent 16 years with Bombardier Aerospace in the development of its C Series commercial aircraft program (CS100 and CS300) and another 18 years with iconic Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) on the PW100 program and PW150 program for the Q400. He holds a mechanical engineering degree from Bath University in the U.K.

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Huppler joins an impressive list of speakers covering a broad range of disciplines including commercial aviation, business aviation, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), ground operations, flight attendants, MRO and completions, rotary wing operations, fixed base operations, business aviation charters and more. 

The event also boasts numerous networking opportunities to give attendees the chance to mingle with representatives from colleges, universities, flight schools and other aviation and aerospace vendors to attain a better grasp of what it takes to make it in this business.

And perhaps the best part of the event is it takes place in a live aviation venue – the bustling Jazz Aviation LP hangar in Mississauga, where both Jazz and Air Canada aircraft are meticulously worked on daily to ensure they are fit to fly and ready to connect Canadians from coast to coast.

Jazz operates more flights and flies to more Canadian destinations than any other carrier. As an integral part of Air Canada’s strategy and North American market presence, Jazz provides service to and from many smaller communities in Canada and the United States under the brand name Air Canada Express. The Jazz fleet consists of Bombardier Dash 8, CRJ and Q400 NextGen aircraft. Jazz is also very active in developing young pilots with its Jazz Aviation Pathways Program, an education and training program for young pilots. Several colleges and flight schools are partners in the program. 

Rest assured during the Expo there will be birds in the hangar, and tours of the aircraft are included in the price of admission. The Jazz hangar also has an intriguing parts management and distribution system, which will also be on display. It’s a breakthrough in parts distribution technology that shouldn’t be missed.

“We are thrilled to host this event and showcase some of the things that Jazz is all about,” notes Steve Linthwaite, vice president of flight operations at Jazz and the keynote speaker for the Expo. “With the number of retiring pilots and other professionals in a variety of aviation and aerospace sectors over the next few years, it is imperative to continue to educate and replenish the pipeline of new aviation and aerospace leaders. Events like this certainly help ignite the passions of young people seeking to soar.”

Some of the other speakers on the roster include:

Contessa Bishop, Q400 captain, Jazz Aviation; Class 1 flight instructor
Contessa is a passionate aviator who has been promoting women in aviation for years. She is co-chair of the 2017 Canadian Women in Aviation Conference at SAIT in Calgary and is passionate about developing young pilots.

Sam Longo, AME, A&P, president, AME Association of Ontario
A designated AME and A&P, Sam is one of the most respected MRO professionals in Canada. The president of the AME Association of Ontario and former professor at Toronto’s Centennial College, he is an accomplished educator and long-time aircraft maintenance junkie.

Ewan Tasker, regional manager of air investigations, Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB)
Ewan has more than 25 years of civil aviation experience. He joined the TSB in 2008 and is now the regional manager of air investigations, based out of Richmond Hill, Ont. Since joining the TSB, he has participated in numerous investigations, as both an operational team member and investigator-in-charge.

Stan Kuliavas, vice president, sales and business development, Levaero Aviation
Stan is the vice president of sales and business development at Levaero Aviation. He is responsible for all aircraft sales and marketing, and also oversees the planning and execution of the growth strategy of the company. A licensed pilot and graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Stan has nearly a decade of aviation experience, and OEM product involvement.

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