International & Regional
Pilot Conference

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Training Solutions for Aviation Training Professionals

WATS is entirely dedicated to airline simulation and training, allowing you to discover the latest innovative training solutions for pilots. Supported by the training industry and subject matter experts, the WATS 2023 International & Domestic/Regional Pilot Training Conference will provide practical solutions for those day to day challenges and will offers key insights into the future of the industry.

Moderator & WATS 2023 Conference Chair: Rick Adams, FRAeS

Day 1 - Tuesday 18th April 2023

Pilot Conference Sponsor:


0900-1030  Session 1: Opening Remarks & Airline Flight Training Leaders Panel

(all streams)

1. Daniel Serfaty, CEO, Aptima, Inc.
Adaptive Individualized Training in Aviation

2. Airline Flight Training Leaders Panel
Moderated by Capt. Paul Preidecker

  • Kirk Limacher, Vice President Flight Operations, United Airlines
  • Jeffrey Winter, Vice President Flight Operations, JetBlue
  • Brad Lambert, Vice President Flight Operations, Frontier Airlines
  • Paul Kinstedt, Vice President Flight Operations, Republic Airways
  • Chris Broom, Vice President, Commercial Training Solutions, Boeing Global Services
  • Captain Stéphan Labrucherie, Head of Flight Training Worldwide, Airbus

1030-1115  Coffee Break

1115-1245  Session 2: Staying the Course: Regulatory Roundup

(all streams)

Continuity of safety is everyone’s goal, while integrating new aircraft types and new training technology.

1. Robert Reckert, AFS-200 Division Manager, Lee Abbott, Training and Simulation Group Manager, AFS-280 & Ben Lafargue, AQP Section Manager, Training and Simulation Group, AFS-280, Federal Aviation Administration
FAA Update – The Agency’s Strategic Approach to Major Initiatives and Training-Centric Matters such as Standardized Curriculum and Powered Lift.

2. Dr. Kathy Abbott, Chief Scientific and Technical Advisor, Flight Deck Human Factors, Federal Aviation Administration
FAA Flight Path Management Advisory Circular: Current and Future Directions

3. Peter Cerda, Regional VP for the Americas, IATA
Global and Regional Outlook for Airline Operations

1245-1415  Lunch

1415-1545  Session 3: Forging New Standards: Industry Influencers

Aircraft OEMs, ab initio flight schools, and simulationists are raising the bar on quality training.

1. Captain Jean-Michel Bigarré, Founder & President, Aircraft Manufacturer Flight Training Association
Progress Report: Aircraft Manufacturer Flight Training Association (AMFTA)

2. Captain Andy O’Shea, FRAeS, CEO, Airline Pilot Club & Ian Cooper, COO, Skyborne Airline Academy
Quality: Everyone Wins

3. Damon F. Curry, President, SISO
Status of Simulation Interoperability Standards

1545-1630  Coffee Break

1630-1800  Session 4: Are We There Yet? Evolution of eVTOL

The eVTOL concept is gathering momentum and money; training will play a crucial role in the new market’s success.

1. Colonel Don ‘Stryker’ Haley, Commander, Detachment 62, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command & Dr. Kent C. Halverson, Principal Scientist & Senior Director, Training, Learning & Readiness Division, Aptima Inc.
Training a New Generation of Pilots: Open Issues in eVTOL Pilot Training

2. Chris Courtney, Director of Advanced Air Mobility, Captain Chris Ranganathan, Chief Learning Officer, CAE Civil Aviation Training Solutions & Sergio Quito, Senior Advisor, Safety & Flight Operations, GOL
The Intricacies of Training for the Take-Off of eVTOL

3. Miguel Cara’, Head of Business Development Americas & Luiz Mauad, VP Services & Operations Solutions, Eve Air Mobility (Embraer Group)
Eve’s Vision on Training for eVTOL

1800-1900  Networking Reception

Day 2 - Wednesday April 19, 2023

0900-1030  Session 5: Going the Distance: Sustainability in Aviation Training

The civil aviation sector is increasing efforts to decrease carbon emissions; how can the training community help achieve global goals?

1. Dr. Eva Maleviti, Program Coordinator, MS in Sustainability in Aviation & Aerospace & Dr. Bettina Mrusek, Department Chair, College of Aviation, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Sustainable ATO – Flying to Net Zero

2. Michael Vercio, Senior Vice President, Simulation Systems, FlightSafety International
Navigating Climate Change Risks Through Cutting-Edge Training & Device Technologies

3. Dr. Nick Wilson, Associate Professor, Aviation, University of North Dakota
Feasibility of Electric-Powered Aircraft in Collegiate Aviation

1030-1115  Coffee Break

1115-1245  Session 6: Demographics, Biometrics and Automation

Boomers are on the way out; can Gen Z take over in the cockpit?

1. Lindsay Grant, Principal, Oliver Wyman
How the Pilot Shortage is Changing the Pilot Workforce

2. First Officer Samantha Bryan, Lead Human Factors Team Member, ALPA-International / United Airlines First Officer
Automation Versus Pilot Manual Flying Skills

3. Naila Ayala, PhD Candidate, Developmental Visuomotor Neuroscience Lab, Waterloo University
What the Future Holds for Eye-Tracking in the Cockpit

1245-1415  Lunch

1415-1545  Session 7: Alphabet Overload; AQP, CBTA, EBT

No matter how you label it, flight training should be about competency

1. Dr. Douglas Farrow, Senior Partner, Nuovo Advisors
Clearing the Confusion About AQP, CBTA and EBT

2. Tony Shen, President, Wayman Aviation Academy
Flight School CBTA/EBT Implementation

3. Vin Parker, Director of Learning and Development, Flight Operations Training, Republic Airways
AQP, CBTA and Resilience Engineering

1545-1630  Coffee Break

1630-1800  Session 8: Delivering on Data

Too much data? What’s relevant, and how do we translate it into training effectiveness and efficiency?

1. D. Richard Meikle, Executive Vice President Operations and Safety, FlightSafety International & Luke Bowman, Product Director, GE Digital, Aviation Software
Symbiotic Fusion of Simulator and Aircraft Data

2. Scott Nutter, Principal & Dr. Paul Gay , Performance Engineer, Touch & Go Solutions
The Flywheel Effect – Turning Data into Results

3. David Coward, VP and GM Training Services, L3Harris Commercial Aviation
The Evolution of Data in Pilot Training

1630-1800 BREAKOUT SESSION: The Cadet Experience: It All Starts Here

Training an airline pilot requires time; the flight school foundation is critical to future career success. WATS presents a new focus on airline-focused training organizations.

1. Captain Philip Adrian, CEO, MPS
Training the Next Generation Through Next-Generation Training

2. Paul BJ Ransbury, CEO, Aviation Performance Solutions (APS)
Flight School Upset Training

3. Captain (Ret.) Peter Wolfe & Captain (Ret.) Randy Hamilton, Professional Aviation Board of Certification
Enhancing Preparation for Flying Careers

Day 3 - Thursday 20th April 2023

0900-1030  Session 9: Startle, Conflict, Fatigue & Resilience

(Pilot & Maintenance)

When things go wrong – personally or in the aircraft – how can pilots learn to cope and respond appropriately?

1. Captain Ping Lee, Chief Pilot, Human Factor CRM Team, EVA Airways
Startle and Resilience

2. Jordan Wareham, Sr. Director Regulatory Compliance / 119 Director of Safety, Spirit Airlines & Eric A. Olson, CEO, EMO Advisors, Inc.
Generating Essential Conflict: How Creating Resilience Strategies Against Destructive Conflict Increases Operational Safety

3. Norman Macleod, Organisational Human Factors, Davidson:McKay
What FRMS Cannot Tell You – Pilot Fatigue and Mental Health

1030-1115 Coffee Break

1115-1245 Session 10: AI, the Cloud and VR/XR in the Training Matrix

(all streams)

Will ChatGPT and the Metaverse take over aviation training? What’s the reality?

1. Dr. Julian Abich IV, Senior Human Factors Engineer, Quantum Improvements Consulting
Improving the Probability of XR Adoption for Training

2. Dr. Robert ‘Bob’ Thomas, Assistant Professor and Chief Ground Instructor, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Developing and Testing of a Virtual Reality Aviation Illusion Trainer

3. Sebastian Lozé, Unreal Engine Business Director, Simulations, Epic Games
Deploying Training and AI-based Scenarios on the Cloud

1245  Closing Remarks

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“One of the biggest and best training events for the industry. Great opportunity as well to connect with professionals and vendors.”

“Halldale conferences are the Central Nervous System of the airline training industry. From the big ideas born in the minds of thought leaders to the hands that implement transformational changes, Halldale facilitates invaluable communication between stakeholders in all segments of the industry.”

“A platform at which all involved in Airline training can hear the challenges and successes across all facets of the industry – an invaluable forum for like-minded people to gather at.”

“Great opportunity to acquire knowledge with the best SME in the industry and also to share experiences.”

“I have been coming to Halldale events now for over 10 years and have found them to be excellent in the quality of networking and industry players in attendance.”

“The TOP event for Cabin Crew Training professionals in order to be updated on the latest trends, technologies and methodologies.”

“Another superb aviation conference from Halldale, I look forward to next one.”

“Very good event to meet with relevant stakeholders in the aviation training industry.”

“Brilliant event. Well organised and informative.”