Education Session Descriptions
Note: Sessions subject to change. Bookmark this page and check back frequently for updates and speakers.

Morning Executive SummiT Series

	Monday, 8 September - 09:00 - 10:00 Keynote Speaker: David Barger, Chief Executive Officer, JetBlue Airways Corporation As Chief Executive Officer, David (Dave) Barger leads JetBlue’s charge to bring humanity back to air travel and to establish JetBlue as a new standard in the airline industry for service, performance and innovation. Click here for complete bio
	Tuesday, 9 September - 09:45 - 10:45 Keynote Speaker: Richard Cook, Chairman, The Walt Disney Studios As chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, Richard Cook oversees all aspects of the development, production, distribution and marketing for all live-action and animated films released under the Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures and Miramax banners worldwide. Click here for complete bio
	Wednesday, 10 September - 08:30 - 09:30 Keynote Speaker: Robert Crandall The Wall Street Journal has called Robert L. Crandall, former Chairman and CEO of AMR Corporation and American Airlines, “the man who changed the way the world flies.” During his 25-year tenure at American Airlines, Crandall led the Company to making various innovations, which revolutionized the travel industry. Click here for complete bio
	Thursday, 11 September - 08:30 - 09:30 Keynote Speaker: Jean Taschereau, PMP, Founder, ObjectiV Concepts, Inc. Jean Taschereau is a PMP Certified Project Manager, natural leader and authority in project management methodologies specifically related to Inflight Entertainment (IFE) projects. Click here for complete bio

Wake up and be inspired and informed! Each morning of the Conference begins with an “Executive Summit” session—a series of candid and thought-provoking keynote addresses featuring high-profile industry executives (airlines, airframers, IFE/cabin interiors suppliers, media companies) identifying their companies’ top-level concerns—and sharing their strategic visions for the broader Airline-Inflight industry. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn where the major players are directing their capital investment and R&D—and what key market trends they’re banking on!

Critical IFE ‘Basics’—Operations
Sunday, 7 September - 15:30 - 16:30
Speakers: Bryan Rusenko, Crest Digital; Sue Pinfold, Spafax; Christine Ringger, Swiss International Air Lines; Linda Palmer, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Non-Theatrical
LBCEC, Level 2, Room 203

This session is an absolute “must” for those relative newcomers to the IFE industry and those wishing to re-enforce the fundamentals. This session guides you through all the operational dynamics and key relationships driving the business of IFE. A panel representing the various sectors of the IFE industry (airlines, content distributors, hardware/systems providers, A/V labs, service suppliers, etc.) will explain the basic processes, the roles/responsibilities, and the chain of decisions and procedures that lead finally to the delivery of IFE to passenger.

Airlines and IFE supplier companies, this session should be “required coursework” for your new hires and transfers into the IFE and IFE-related departments. Cabin Interiors Suppliers, this session is a perfect chance for you to learn “the nuts and bolts” of the IFE industry and new opportunities for coordination of your products and services.

Attendees will learn:
• Who does what, when, and how across all the critical operational/decision cycles
• Valuable “best practices” at each key stage of IFE Operations
• Important emerging concerns – like content licensing/distribution, regulation, technical standards, social issues

Making WAEA Work for You: Member Services, Resources, Programs, Participation
Monday, 8 September - 13:00-13:55
Speakers: Richard Owen, WAEA Executive Director; Erin Schuck, WAEA Associate Director/Director of Education and Industry Standards
LBCEC, Level 2, Room 203

In this session, we’ll detail all the WAEA members-only programs, from educational events to content markets, from the latest industry news to online resource libraries, from awards programs to member discussion forums, from premier networking events to exclusive marketing/sponsorship opportunities – all designed to give you and your company a year-round competitive edge. You’ll also learn about the WAEA’s efforts to address the larger industry issues, including the creation of “standards” and “best practices” designed to increase operational and technical efficiencies, cost-savings, and quality. And we’ll outline the various regulatory issues and challenges facing the IFE industry and how your Association is responding. Finally, we’ll show you how you can participate in WAEA committees and governance and help shape the future of WAEA … and your leadership role in the IFE industry!

You will learn:
• What products and resources are available to you as an association member
• What WAEA is doing to promote and protect the interests of the IFE industry
• How to get involved in WAEA programs and leadership
• Who within the organization you can approach to get answers to your questions
• How members can get involved in committees, AGM, events, etc.

Critical IFE Basics—Technology
Monday, 8 September - 15:00 - 15:25
Speaker: Ken Brady, Thales, Thales Avionics, Inc.
LBEC, Level 2, Room 203

This session is an absolute “must” for those relative newcomers to the IFE industry and those wishing to re-enforce the fundamentals. This session guides you through all the operational dynamics and key relationships driving the business of IFE. A panel representing the various sectors of the IFE industry (airlines, content distributors, hardware/systems providers, A/V labs, service suppliers, etc.) will explain the basic processes, the roles/responsibilities, and the chain of decisions and procedures that lead finally to the delivery of IFE to passenger.

Airlines and IFE supplier companies, this session should be “required coursework” for your new hires and transfers into the IFE and IFE-related departments. Cabin Interiors Suppliers, this session is a perfect chance for you to learn “the nuts and bolts” of the IFE industry and new opportunities for coordination of your products and services.

Attendees will learn:
• Who does what, when, and how across all the critical operational/decision cycles
• Valuable “best practices” at each key stage of IFE Operations
• Important emerging concerns – like content licensing/distribution, regulation, technical standards, social issues

Legislative Issues and IFE - Update/Debate
Monday, 8 September - 17:00-17:55
Moderator: Daniel Callahan, Pace Communications
Speakers: Chris Babb, Delta Air Lines; Trudy Storey, Qantas Inflight Entertainment; Representative, Motion Picture Association of America
LBEC, Level 2, Room 203

Choosing the appropriate blend of IFE content for a vast audience ranging from toddlers to seniors – and spanning countless cultures, nationalities, and tastes – can be daunting. Adding to the challenge has been the increased public scrutiny, including the introduction of US legislation that would require US airlines to provide “child-safe viewing areas” within the aircraft cabin shielded from “violent inflight programming” shown on overhead screens. Is this trend a blip in public opinion? What would be the impact of such legislation on the airline and IFE industries? Should the IFE industry play a role in establishing guidelines for mature, violent, or potentially offending content? What other measures are under consideration? In 2007 the WAEA established the Family Friendly Flights Act Task Force to help guide the industry’s response to these public concerns. Then, you’ll join a panel of leaders from the WAEA Task Force and other industry experts (airlines, content distributors, content service providers) to debate the many sides of this difficult and volatile issue.

You will learn:
• The very latest on the progress of H.R.3676
• The details of the public and political landscape surrounding this kind of legislation

Maximizing PAX Usage
Tuesday, 9 September - 13:00-13:55
Speakers: Panel Discussion
Cedric Rhoads, Panasonic; Paul Dillman, IFE Alliance
LBCEC, Level 2, Room 203

As airlines begin to offer passengers an expanding “cafeteria” of IFE content and activities – including 100s of hours of on-demand programming, vast digital music libraries, dozens of single- and multi-player games, Internet browsing, office applications, e-mail and SMS – a variety of new questions have emerged surrounding passenger-usage data, pricing structures, business models, and revenue sharing. How much pax-utilization data (e.g., programs viewed, games played, websites visited, e-mails sent) is actually being offloaded and analyzed? Is this data being used to fine-tune the offering and to present to advertisers/sponsors to justify Ad rates? Are advertisers growing concerned about “clutter” and competition for the passenger’s attention? Are there new revenue opportunities associated with airline co-branded Internet Web-portals and E-mail clients? To what extent is connectivity (Internet browsing, e-mail) drawing passengers away from traditional IFE and reducing PPV revenue? Can airlines expect sizable take-up rates if they begin to charge for previously free IFE (audio/video channels, video games)? Can airlines participate in revenue-sharing from inflight shopping to inflight gaming? In this session we’ll tackle these and other new questions and learn where the new IFE-revenue opportunities and pitfalls lie.

WAEA Technology Committee Report: Critical New Regulations, Guidelines, and Best Practices
Tuesday, 9 September - 15:00-15:25
Speakers: Victor Hernandez, IFE Services USA; Bryan Rusenko, Crest Digital; Rich Salter, Lumexis Corporation
LBCEC, Level 2, Room 203

Wondering what the WAEA Technology Committee (TC) has done for you lately? Learn what the TC has done and is doing to: streamline the content distribution process, establish technical solutions for mandated “IFE captioning”, create “best practices” for the IFE system selection/implementation process and update existing standards to accommodate portable IFE players, new wireless protocols, high-definition content and much more. Working together, airlines, systems/hardware manufacturers, seat manufacturers, content distributors, service suppliers, labs, the IFE industry can establish much-needed efficiencies, economies, and advances. But your participation, your opinions, and your input are crucial! Don’t miss this session!

You will learn:
• Critical IFE technical, regulatory, and operational challenges being actively addressed by the WAEA TC.
• What your colleagues are experiencing in these areas of the industry

Over the next one to three years, which consumer portable devices and platforms (e.g., notebook computers, portable video players, PDAs, MP3 players, mobile phones, hand-held games) will outpace the others… and accompany your passengers onboard? What “hot” new products and features are just ahead? To what extent has converging media –allowing the user to stream content, browse the Internet, send text messages, capture and send photos/video on the fly– transformed “communications” into “entertainment”? We’ll compare the demographics and take-up rates and discuss whether passenger-carry-on devices are creating greater competition or greater demand and opportunities for next-generation airline-provided IFE. We’ll look at the projected roll-out for the various wireless communications protocols and platforms destined for portables. And you’ll get update about the consumer electronics industry’s recommended practice intended to facilitate disabling and enabling of transmitters in wireless devices and provide common symbols and terminology.

You will learn:
• Trends in portable devices both on the ground an in the air

2008 may go down in the IFE history books as the year of connectivity! Whether its high speed Internet deployment, data delivery options, or onboard
cell phone trials, years of investment and research are converging in the IFE marketplace. If it’s happening today, or being evaluated for tomorrow’s
use, these leaders are making the informed decisions on next steps in connectivity. Noted industry journalist Brendan Gallagher, editor of Inflight Online, will moderate this “Town Hall” style forum. As an attendee, you will help guide the discussion as the panelist’s speak out about the topics and trends affecting the deployment of connectivity. So bring your questions and opinions, challenge our experts and look forward to some lively and productive dialogue!

You will learn:
• The competing technologies and stages of deployment
• Business models for connectivity ROI - revenue generator or expected service?
• How IFE content delivery and management will change
• Regulatory hurdles that may hinder widespread deployment

Managing Seat/IFE Integration—From Concept to Delivery
Wednesday, 10 September -13:00 - 13:55
Speakers: Kevin Luschei, Boeing; Brian Crossman, Thales, Alex Pozzi, B/E Aerospace, Inc.
LBEC, Level 2, Room 203

As airline seats and IFE systems/hardware become increasing complex and interdependent, the need for a robust and painstaking integration plan has become absolutely critical. In this session, we’ll examine in detail the essential stages, responsibilities, and milestones across the full timeline of seat/IFE project management from initial meetings and early seat design through the key decision cycles and IFE hardware/platform definitions to final design, manufacturing, testing, certification, and installation. We’ll identify what both seat and IFE suppliers need in terms of technical specifications (physical dimensions, cabin architectures, ergonomics, wiring/harnesses, connector retention, weight, power requirements, heat, installation procedures, etc.) … and when this data is needed to meet the planning/production cycle. When it comes to seat/IFE integration, a single late decision could mean severe bottlenecks. A single missed step could mean disaster in costly redesigns and installation delays. This is a “must” session for seat suppliers, IFE equipment manufacturers, airlines, airframers, cabin designers, cabin project engineers, component/cabling suppliers, cabin equipment installers/retrofitters, and all companies involved at any stage of seat/IFE integration!

You will learn:
• Stages of IFE implantation and seat integration
• Technical specs needed when planning
• Timelines

Beyond Pax Satisfaction to Pax Well-Being
Wednesday, 10 September - 15:00 - 15:25
Speaker: Dr. Carole Lieberman, MD, Shrink on Board
LBEC, Level 2, Room 203
With increasing flight cancellations, delays, and congestion at airports, combined with continuing security fears, reduced inflight services, and “tighter quarters” in the cabin, stress levels among airline passengers have never been higher. In response to this, next-generation aircraft cabins and interiors have utilized space/design, colors, textures, and lighting to subtly create a more soothing “cocoon-like” atmosphere. Likewise, airlines and IFE programmers have begun to look beyond what their passengers want in entertainment to what their passengers may need for their emotional and physical well-being. Does the industry have a responsibility to avoid IFE content that may contribute to stressful psychological conditions in the cabin? Learn and discuss the answers to these and other new questions facing the industry!

You will learn:
• What kinds of IFE content, features, and interfaces help give the passenger a greater sense of control, comfort, and familiarity and dispel the feelings of anxiety, confinement, and depersonalization.
• To what extent should IFE content include programs offering instruction and advice on specific passenger inflight issues, like: inflight etiquette, relaxation techniques, fear of flying, jet-lag, flight-sickness, deep-vein thrombosis, etc.

Solving the New Challenges of Digital Content Delivery
Wednesday, 10 September - 17:00 - 17:55
Speakers: Wade Hanniball, NBC Universal; Dee Brady, British Airways; Scott Ralston, Thales Avionics, Inc.
LBEC, Level 2, Room 203

Even a few years into the process, the transition to digital IFE continues to generate significant growing pains for the inflight industry, particularly for the delivery of digital content. With the rapid advent of new and proprietary hardware platforms (portables, head-end servers), emerging media formats/types (high-definition, real-time/downloaded content), advancing data-transmission protocols (fiber-optics, WiMax, satellite), the “original” concerns surrounding digital content security, multiple encodings, longer timelines, and higher costs have re-emerged. In this session, an expert panel (representing content suppliers, content integrators, embedded/portable IFE systems suppliers, A/V labs, airlines, and airframers) will discuss the evolving “content delivery infrastructure” and how it can address these recurring concerns and challenges. Should the industry rely on “Standard” encodes and procedures for the various platforms and will market forces ensure compliance? Get the answers to this and other pivotal questions!

You will learn:
• The most efficient protocols as content moves from the content provider to the aircraft headend … and from the headend to the passenger seat.
• The “sensitive” links in the delivery chain
• How we can we realize the shortened timelines and economies of scale promised by digital delivery

IFE Closed-Captioning Rule —An Industry Solution For Your Urgent Consideration
Thursday, 11 September - 13:00 - 13:55
Speaker: Kathleen Blank Riether, senior attorney, U.S. Department of Transportation; Omar Guerrero, senior attorney, U.S. Department of Transportation
LBEC, Level 2, Room 203

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) proposed Rule mandating closed-captioning for all IFE programming could mean enormous new equipment and content-production costs and complications for airlines and IFE suppliers. Fortunately, an industry solution is “on the table” that could greatly simplify compliance and potentially reduce these crippling new costs. Based on a process developed by Panasonic Avionics (in cooperation with airlines, studios, service companies, and labs), a proposed WAEA Closed-Captioning Standard is under formal review by the WAEA Technology Committee. The Standard would establish an “open source” non-proprietary, multi-language compliant file format for “streaming” captions and subtitles separately from the actual program content – allowing passengers to turn captions on/off as desired. This standardized approach could eliminate much of the additional time and expense associated with producing closed-captioning and the “intrusion” factor associated with always-on text display. However, this standard cannot move forward without your participation at this pivotal discussion! The DOT is expected to issue this Rule (with final terms anticipated this year) and it will apply to both US carriers and non-US carriers landing in the US. Without an Industry Standard, the cost of compliance to your company could be a devastating. You literally can’t afford to miss this session!