Ab Initio Training Conference

WATS is entirely dedicated to airline simulation and training, allowing you to discover the latest innovative training solutions for airline maintenance technicians. Supported by the training industry and subject matter experts, the WATS 2025 Ab Intio Training Conference will provide practical solutions for those day to day challenges and offer key insights into the future of the industry.

Ab Initio Conference Moderator: Paul Preidecker

Day 1 – Tuesday 8^th April 2025

0900-1030  Session 1 – Opening Remarks & Keynote Presentations (all streams)
1) TBD
2) TBD
3) Airline Manufacturer Flight Training Association (AMFTA) Panel
• Captain Jean-Michel Bigarré, President & Founder, AMFTA
• Captain Stéphan Labrucherie, Head of Flight Training Worldwide, Airbus / Director, AMFTA
• Mark Albert, Senior Director, Commercial Business & Program Management, Boeing Global Services / Director, AMFTA
• Captain Jin Yibin, Chief Engineer of Aircraft Operation Safety, COMAC / Director, AMFTA
• Captain Alexandre Toribio, Head of Flight Crew Training, Embraer / Director, AMFTA

1030-1115  Coffee Break
Sponsored by: EPST / Compass

1115-1245  Session 2 – EXPO TIME

1245-1415  Lunch

1415-1545  Session 3 – Regulation and Advocacy – What’s Next?
1) Holly Woodruff Lyons, Founder & President, HWL Aerospace Policy, LLC
FAA Reauthorization – Wins for Training / What’s Next, What’s Needed?
2) Panel discussion on achieving regulatory reforms and leveraging the focus of advocacy groups
• Lee Collins, CEO, National Flight Training Alliance (NFTA) (Moderator)
• Holly Woodruff Lyons, President, HWL Aerospace Policy LLC
• Murray Huling, EdD, Vice President Regulatory Affairs, Airline Owners and Pilot Association (AOPA)

1545-1630  Coffee Break
Sponsored by: EPST / Compass

1630-1800  Session 4 – The Need for Regulatory Reforms: Change to Support a Modern Training Industry
1) Everette Rochon, Manager, Training & Certification Group, FAA AFS-810
Part 141 Updates: Policy, Regulatory, and Operational Improvements
2) Melanie Weddle, Team Lead, Organization Designation Authorization, FAA AVS-62
Briefing from FAA Office of Organizational Designation: Is This the Answer?
3) Jeff Wolf, VP of Government Affairs, National Flight Training Alliance (NFTA)
FAA Oversight and Tech/AI-Based Solutions: Doing More With Less

Day 2 – Wednesday 9^th April 2025

0900-1030  Session 5 – Airline Partnership Programs: The Role of Marketing, Data Sharing, and Training Standards
Panel Discussion – Partnership Programs – Do They Work? Improvement Needed? What Does Success Look Like?
• Paul Preidecker (Moderator)
• Shane Kelley, Vice President, ATP Jets
• Erik Strickland, Vice President of Safety, Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Regional Airline Association (RAA)
• Dr. Lauren Burmester, Pilot Partnership Manager, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Joel Davidson, CEO, AeroGuard Flight Training Center

1030-1115  Coffee Break
Sponsored by: Moog Inc.

1115-1245  Session 6 – Applying Best Practices: From the Airlines to Ab Initio Training
1) Randy Babbitt, Former FAA Administrator
Simulation – Room for Improvement and Strategies to Get There
2) Aedrian Bekker, Aviation Psychologist, Centre for Aviation Psychology
Pilot Resilience and Peer Support: Now We Are Talking!
3) Dr. Christian Popp, Chief Strategy Officer, MINT Software Systems
Mindful Data Collection: Balancing Design and Human Interaction in AQP, EBT & CBTA

1245-1415  Lunch

1415-1545  Session 7 – Using Airline Hiring Data: Building a Better Pilot
1) Dr. Lauren Burmester, Pilot Partnership Manager, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
University Pilot Pathway Programs: A Solution to Pilot Hiring Needs
2) Eric Allen, Director, Flight Operations Training, Endeavor Air
The Feedback Loop: From the Airlines to the Ab Initio Partner
3) Mike Miller, Director, Learning Programs, Boeing Global Services
The Road to Implementation of CBTA in Early Careers

1545-1630  Coffee Break
Sponsored by: Moog Inc.

1630-1800  Session 8 – Navigating the Path to Success: From Takeoff to Landing
1) Paul Preidecker, President, National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) / North America Airline Consultant, Halldale Media
Managing the Expectations of Experience
2) Panel discussion featuring graduates of pilot training programs who share their experiences and recommendations

Day 3 – Thursday 10^th April 2025

0900-1030  Session 9 – Modern Flight Training Approach: Understanding Design, Ergonomics, and Human Factors to Improve Outcomes
1) Dan Elwell, President, Elwell & Associates / Former FAA Administrator
Leveraging Emerging Technologies and Overcoming Regulatory Roadblocks: Is There an Answer?
2) Panel discusson on new technologies in training, platform design, and innovation
• Jeff Wolf, Vice President of Government Affairs, National Flight Training Alliance (NFTA)
• Dan Elwell, President, Elwell & Associates / Former FAA Administrator
• Arthur Léopold-Léger, CEO, Elixir Aircraft
• Randy Babbitt, Former FAA Administrator

1030-1115  Coffee Break

1115-1245  Session 10 – Emerging Technologies & Flight Training: Is the Future Now?
1) Ryan Bohlander, Account Executive, ForeFlight
ForeFlight & CloudAhoy: AQP Data for Flight Training Providers
2) Dr. Scott Firsing, Founder, Scott Sky Advisors
Safety Management System: A Flight School Approach
3) Dr. Louis Osorio, Assistant Dean, School of Business, Woxsen University
Leveraging AI & Cognitive Insights to Enhance Ab Initio Pilot Training

1245  Closing Remarks