Birthday

August 17: Bruce Flesher

Wedding Anniversary

August 18: Ivan and Sue Docker
August 19: Peter and Debbie Denooy

So what do you do when the airline cannot guarantee on Friday morning that they can get you back to Edmonton any faster than by booking you on the next available flight on Monday morning? You stay three more days in Hot and Humid Panama City, with hotel and meals paid for by Mexicana Airlines. So, after leaving the Riande Continental Hotel at 5:30 AM, I returned there 5 hours later and fellow Rotarian Migueel Franco, GM of the hotel, booked me in so fast that most staff in the hotel had not even noticed I had left. Now I had lots of time to plan in more detail the trip in January 2010 to visit Panama and handout wheelchairs and enjoy this interesting country. 

On Saturday I spent the day at the Coronado resort, a 60 year old huge, secure development of houses near the beach. I played a round of golf, viewed the equestrian center, where 107 horses are stabled, and inspected the beach resort. The Riande Continental has an arrangement with the resort for their guests, which includes transportation (about 1 hour one-way), use of all the facilities at no charge, and no green fess for the golfing! A trip to Coronado Resort will definately be included in our trip in January.

Check out the hotel and the resort at http://www.hotelesriande.com/

P.S.  I did not run into Steve Harper in Panama City, but I did address the Rotary Club of Panama on Thursday.

Peter

     Aerospace and Defence is no small player in the Alberta economy, employing some 5,000 personnel within 200 companies, and revenues of $1.3 billion annually.  Forty percent of this revenue stream is in the export market.

     The five existing niches within A&D are:  1)  Robotics and Unmanned Vehicle Systems - This unit derives some $787 million (Canada wide) in a $40 billion dollar industry, and is expected to generate revenues from commercial sales which could account for 50% of A&D's total revenue by 2018......2)  Defence Electronics - Twelve Alberta firms create some $264 million in revenues, of which 60% is exported.  At risk is the loss of qualified personel to the energy and IT sectors......3)  Space Science and Aerospace Geomatics - Do $200 million in revenue, of which 75% is exported.  Much of the research is sent to the U.S. for commercialization, and this needs to be changed......4) Manufacturing, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul - Generates $493 milion in revenues.  Is the largest unit in terms of staffing with some 3,500 highly qualified engineers and technicians, and........ 5) Logistic Support to the Military - Four of the most important military bases in Canada are located in Alberta, those being Cold Lake, Edmonton, Wainwright, and Duffield.  Military spending is expected to remain constant. 

     The two most critical challenges to A&D are research and development (R&D) costs, and recruiting, training and retaining qualified personnel.  Much of the space research is being lost to the American marketplace for commercialization. To grow the A&D industry in Alberta will take strong co-operation and promotion with the Federal, Provincial and Local sectors, with active participation with the academic world, industry, research and other related industries.  One industry that Dave stressed to the club was the manufacturing sector, stating there is potential for those involved in manufacturing to interact with A&D.

     The revenues of Aerospace and Defence are projected to grow to $17-$25 billion in the year 2026, a substantial jump from the current $1.3 billion.  Potential firms looking to come to Alberta include such big names as Boeing and Locheed Martin.  With this industry employing highly qualified personnel, and the industry growth seen as "green" growth, the future looks bright for A&D.

     Thanks to Dave Peace for an insightful presentation!                                                                  

Wheelchair Delivery in Panama

End of January 2010

Let's go to a Rotary Convention......

2010                  Montreal, Canada
2011                  New Orleans, USA
2012                  Bangkok, Thailand
2013                  Lisbon, Portugal
2014                  Sydney, Australia