Emergency Response Professionals Gathered to Focus on the Future of the Industry

(February 13, 2003), Potomac, Maryland -- Rotor & Wings EMERGENCY RESPONSE 2002 Conference and Exhibition, held December 11-13 in Jacksonville, Florida, attracted more than 700 registrants from such end-user rotorcraft sectors as airborne law enforcement, airborne firefighting, search and rescue, emergency medical services, and many more.

Participants at the event have declared it the place where they were finally able to make contacts with organizations and agencies they were never able to meet before.

Captain Lee Benson, a senior pilot of the Los Angeles County Fire Department since 1981, said, Every year, this conference confers many worthwhile opportunities for networking and sharing practical information with my peers and colleagues in the 'first responder community. Thats why my fire department will lend its aircraft and expertise to help make this show even bigger and better in 2003 in Long Beach."

Major Steve "Elroy" Colby, a Combat Rescue Helicopter Pilot with the U.S. Air Force, said, This is the best show of its kind that I have ever participated in. It serves a valuable public function."

As the conference has grown, it has evolved from a strictly helicopter related venue, to incorporate aspects of land and water based emergency response equipment and topics. According to Ron Bower, President, Bower Helicopter Inc., "It only makes sense that this conference would move in this direction. Very few rescue missions are strictly an air or ground or marine mission. Almost all are a mixture of an air search followed by a ground unit or marine unit rescue or even a ground search followed by an air rescue ... and almost inevitably, multiple public service agencies are involved. This is the only conference I know of that brings all these elements and agencies into a single room to discuss tactics, strategy and equipment."

More than 60 major corporations and organizations supported the event. They included Sikorsky Aircraft, Eurocopter, Bell/Agusta Aerospace Company, MD Helicopters, AgustaWestland, Breeze-Eastern, Air Methods Corporation, Boeing, FLIR Systems, General Dynamics, Goodrich Corp., Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, U.S. Customs, Civil Air Patrol and the U.S. Navy.

Bill Tuttle, corporate spokesperson and public relations manager for exhibitor Sikorsky, said, Weve always supported this conference. We feel that its in the interests of the rescue community, and in our own interests as a company, to help this wonderful conference grow and succeed."

The majority of the companies that participated in EMERGENCY RESPONSE 2002 have already signed up to participate again November 18-20, 2003 in Long Beach, California.

To come join us and help make a difference in the emergency response community by participating in EMERGENCY RESPONSE 2003, contact Mercedes de la Cruz: phone: +1-301-354-1828; Fax: +1-301-340-7136; E-mail: mdelacruz@pbimedia.com.
For information about the show visit www.emergencyresponse2003.com

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