NEW YORK,  -- More than 5,500 aviation industry professionals, military officials, and government executives will convene on April 15-17, 2008 during AVIATION WEEK's 13th annual MRO 2008 Conference & Exhibition in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the Broward County Convention Center to explore the future of aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul. The event will include an unparalleled exhibition hall with more than 500 MRO product and services suppliers, and will be co-located with two popular AVIATION WEEK conferences, MRO Military and Interiors.

The theme of MRO 2008 is "Efficient, Safe & Green." During three days of intensive sessions and workshops, industry leaders will share their insights on how to cut expenses and reduce the companies' carbon footprint, while also maximizing safety and efficiency.

MRO Military and AVIATION WEEK Interiors will be co-located with the MRO 2008 Conference & Exhibition. MRO Military will convene leaders from all four U.S. military branches to discuss ways to improve the sustainment of fighter, rotor wing, airlift tankers, and electronically complex aircraft. AVIATION WEEK's newest conference, Interiors, debuts with an in-depth look at current trends, such as in-flight entertainment options, economy-plus cabins, and how professionals are using green materials and technologies to improve fuel efficiency and reduce energy costs.

"Green aviation has rapidly matured from a buzz word to a new generation of specialized processes, policies and design elements," said Tom Henricks, President, AVIATION WEEK. "As an astronaut, I saw how thin Earth's atmosphere appears from space. Protecting our natural resources is a global imperative, and aviation professionals face a constantly evolving regulatory and technological landscape, especially in the maintenance, repair and overhaul sector. As the largest and most important MRO event in the world, AVIATION WEEK's MRO 2008 Conference & Exhibition will bring together the brightest engineers, airline executives, and MRO professionals to discuss the latest developments and best practices, so participants can propel our industry toward a greener future."

MRO's program includes keynote presentations by Richard Anderson, CEO, Delta Airlines; Montie Brewer, President and CEO, Air Canada; and Bill Diffenderffer, CEO, Skybus Airlines. Other prominent speakers include representatives from:

    AAR Corp.                                Air Transport Association
    Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies          Airbus
    ACTS                                     Alitalia Servizi E&M
    AeroStrategy LLC                         Ameco Beijing
    Air Canada                               Bearing Point
    Air France Industries                    Boeing Co.

    Continental Airlines                     GE Aviation
    Delta Air Lines                          Innovest Strategic Value Advisors
    DEPFA First Albany Securities LLC        Lufthansa Technik
    DLS Associates                           National Business Aircraft Assoc.
    FAA                                      NetJets Aviation
    FedEx Express                            Oliver Wyman Cavok

    OppenheimerFunds                         Triumph Airborne Structures, Inc.
    Pratt & Whitney Global Svc. Partners     United Services
    RW Aviation Advisors                     University of Tennessee
    Skybus Airlines                          UPS Airlines
    Team SAI, Inc.                           US Airways
    TIMCO                                    VEM

MRO 2008, MRO Military, and Interiors are presented by AVIATION WEEK, the largest multimedia information and services provider to the global aviation, aerospace and defense industries. Additional information and online registration are available at http://aviationweek.com/conferences/mromain.htm, or by calling +1-800-240-7645 or +1-212-904-4483.

MRO is produced by AVIATION WEEK Conferences & Exhibitions and Overhaul & Maintenance, in association with Oliver Wyman Cavok. The International Air Transport Association is the event's international partner. Delta TechOps, Goodrich, Honeywell and United Services are gold sponsors. Silver level sponsors are ACTS, Aerotech Holdings, Alitalia Servizi Engineering & Maintenance, American Airlines Maintenance Services, Avio-Diepen, Heico Aerospace, Stork Fokker, Spirit Aerosystems, and Triumph Group, Inc. Bronze level sponsors include AAR, IAI Bedek Aviation Group, Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., Oracle, Sabena Technics TAT Group, Snecma Services SAFRAN Group, Team SAI Consulting Services, TIMCO Aviation Services, and Volvo Aero. Airline support is provided by ABX Air, American Airlines, Atlas Air, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Northwest Airlines. The reception sponsor is SAP. MRO Military is produced by AVIATION WEEK Conferences & Exhibitions and Overhaul & Maintenance. Defense Technology International is the media sponsor. AVIATION WEEK Interiors is produced by AVIATION WEEK Conferences & Exhibitions and Overhaul & Maintenance. Regent Aerospace Corporation is a silver sponsor.

Source: aviation week