Air Traffic Management Leaders to Gather for the Global Performance-based Navigation Summit in September

Aviation leaders from airlines, regulatory agencies, air navigation service providers and airports will gather for two-days of educational sessions and networking events at the Global Performance-based Navigation (PBN) Summit in Seattle, Sept. 27-28, presented by GE Aviation. Now in its fifth year, the Summit has earned a reputation as a "must attend” event for anyone involved or interested in PBN implementation as a means to reduce fuel burn, emissions and operating costs while improving schedule reliability and access.

"This year’s program encompasses all the key factors PBN implementers are facing today--whether it’s PBN deployment strategies, community engagement efforts, regulatory issues or working cooperatively with ATC and other stakeholders to get the job done,” said GE Aviation’s PBN Services General Manager Giovanni Spitale. "Throughout the Summit, attendees will have the unique opportunity to share ideas, ask questions and network with other participants who are interested in accelerating PBN activities and benefits globally.”

The 2011 Summit program focuses on best practices and lessons learned when implementing a PBN program, including the panel "Global Community Engagement Efforts,” "Lessons Learned in Deploying Australia’s RNP Network,” and an air traffic control panel "How Controllers Integrate PBN Every Day.” The educational sessions concentrate on real-world topics necessary for successful PBN deployment, including "Integrating PBN into the Airspace.”

Steve Fulton, GE Aviation’s Technical Fellow kicks off the event by outlining PBN’s role in streamlining air traffic management. Wrapping up the conference is a thought-provoking panel discussion between pilots, controllers, airport officials and community activists about the essentials of working together to deploy PBN.

The 2011 Global PBN Summit will be held September 27-28 at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center on the Seattle waterfront. The early bird registration rate of $450 is available until August 1; afterwards the rate is $600.

For more program and registration information, visit www.pbnsummit.org.

Watch the Summit video news advisory http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLkjKWdJHq0

About GE Aviation

GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet engines, components and integrated systems for commercial and military aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings. GE Aviation Systems LLC, GE Aviation Systems Ltd, and Naverus, Inc. are subsidiaries of GE. For more information, visit us at www.ge.com/aviation. Follow GE on Twitter at http://twitter.com/GEAviation and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/GEAviation.

GE Aviation develops and implements technologies that provide significant economic and environmental benefits to airlines, airports and the communities they serve. GE Aviation’s PBN Services unit is a world leader in the design and deployment of Performance-based Navigation and is working with aircraft operators and air traffic management providers in China, South and Central America, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Europe to implement PBN solutions. Its RNP Services is an ecomagination qualified product. Learn more about GE’s PBN Services at: www.naverus.com.

Note to Editors:
Members of the media are welcome to attend and should contact Jennifer Villarreal.

PBN technology allows aircraft to fly precisely-defined trajectories without relying on outdated, ground-based radio-navigation signals. Independence from a fixed, ground based infrastructure, linked with the inherent precision of satellite navigation and advanced computer technology aboard the aircraft allow the creation of shorter, more consistent and more efficient flight paths. The consistency and efficiency of the new flight paths can reduce flight delays helping to alleviate costly air traffic congestion.