The most important aspect to maintaining Army aviation through today's cost-cutting environment is ensuring that communication lines remain open between the Army and its industry contractors.
And that's why it's important for groups like the Tennessee Valley Chapter of the Army Aviation Association of America to offer forums where the government and industry can come together to discuss issues, challenges and the future of Army aviation, said chapter president Gary Nenninger.
Each year, the chapter hosts the Joseph P. Cribbins Aviation Product Symposium in Huntsville to stimulate dialogue among industry executives, senior government officials and military leaders concerning the many challenges in support of Army aviation's war fighters; and to build on past symposium discussions on how industry and government can work together to maintain the current standard of Army aviation excellence.
"The primary purpose of the symposium, from its beginning (38 years ago), has been to discuss support of U.S. Army aviation and the aviation Soldier, and to encourage solutions to support problems with an objective of increased aviation readiness," Nenninger told conference attendees during opening ceremonies.
The theme of the 38th annual event, held Feb. 8-9 at the Von Braun Center, was "Enabling the Future while Performing Today." The symposium consisted of individual and panel presentations focused on the challenge of sustaining operations, maintaining, resetting and modernizing equipment in a declining budget environment; and various bridging strategies for modernizing aging aviation equipment and sustaining the industrial base. There was also an exhibit area where both government organizations and industry representatives displayed aviation-related products.
"The challenge we face is supporting our combat operations and modernizing our aviation systems under severe economic restraints," Nenninger said. "Meaningful and continuous dialogue between government and industry personnel is essential. Hallway discussions are encouraged."
Even in an environment of sustaining combat operations, and resetting and modernizing the aviation fleet while working with austere budgets, the aviation association's members are fully in support of the "heroic efforts performed daily by our Soldiers, and aviators in particular. Whether they are deployed or recovering at home stations, these young men and women deserve our admiration and highest levels of support," Nenninger said. "Our motto is 'We Serve Because We Care.'"
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