Jetrader - November/December 2009 - 9

Q&A John Vitale President, International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading AT THE ISTAT 26TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE, held several months ago, John Vitale of AVITAS was introduced to the members as the association’s newest president. So that the members may get to know their president a little bit better, here is a brief conversation with John, who became the ISTAT president during a very challenging time but still sees the association moving onward and upward. Jetrader: How long have you been an ISTAT member, and how did you initially get involved with the association? John Vitale: My first ISTAT meeting was in 1992 in Orlando, Fla. I was working with McDonnell Douglas Finance Corporation at the time, and we were members, and I joined MDFs finance arm from the marketing group. I’ve been a member ever since. J: What positions have you held on the board? JV: I was the vice president last term and prior to that I was secretary. J: What is your vision for the remainder of your tenure as president? JV: Well, major plans for expansion for were curtailed, certainly, because ISTAT is very sensitive to our budgets just like our members are. We at the board take the budget extremely seriously, and very, very little, if anything, is done without someone asking the question, “is this the right use of our members’ money?” We’ve sort of curtailed some of our expansion plans—doing another airshow, other receptions, other member benefits—and we decided to hunker down in case we suffer another blip in revenues and make sure that the Society remains strong through this. We want to focus more on things that might help those in turmoil, both companies that are having difficulty and individual members, some of whom end up losing their jobs in these times. How can we help them? First and foremost, though, is ensuring that we remain strong and implement cost controls to ensure that the members don’t see cost increases. J: What is your long-term vision for ISTAT? JV: We’re still light, in my mind, on focusing on international, or the “I” in ISTAT, and that’s been a board initiative for several years now—to encourage and expand our international participation. I was heartened to see the two board slots that were opened be filled by non-U.S. members; that’s an excellent sign that we’re achieving better balance in our membership, and it’s reflected in our board structure. The second main strategic thrust that we are pursuing is to increase airline membership, and that is extremely difficult in down times, because it’s difficult to do even if you subsidize their membership. It’s difficult for them to get budgets or approvals to attend meetings and participate. J: What do you feel is the most important part of ISTAT’s mission? JV: The most critical thing has always been, and continues to be, providing network opportunities—a forum for discussion of industry issues. It’s not always focused on, but ISTAT has not traditionally taken, for example, an advocacy role in industry issues; that is not the purpose of ISTAT. Rather we choose to provide a venue for discussion and facilitate that discussion so that the industry can thrive and prosper. J: When you’re not working, what occupies your time? JV: I’ve been playing a bit more tennis lately than I have in years past, and with a 12-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy, that keeps me occupied most of the time. A few years ago, I got certified as a soccer referee, and youth soccer is a passion of mine, since I don’t have a player’s skills or coaching knowledge—I’m a student of the game, and this is a way I can participate. J: The World Cup is only 200-something days away. JV: That’s right! Jetrader 9

Jetrader - November/December 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Jetrader - November/December 2009

Jetrader - November/December 2009
A Message from the President
Contents
Calendar/News
Q&A: John Vitale
Aircraft Financing in 2009: A Retrospective
Details from Dubrovnik
By the Numbers
Racing in Reno
Aircraft Appraisals
From the ISTAT Foundation
Aviation History
Advertising Index
Jetrader - November/December 2009 - Jetrader - November/December 2009
Jetrader - November/December 2009 - Cover2
Jetrader - November/December 2009 - A Message from the President
Jetrader - November/December 2009 - 4
Jetrader - November/December 2009 - Contents
Jetrader - November/December 2009 - 6
Jetrader - November/December 2009 - Calendar/News
Jetrader - November/December 2009 - 8
Jetrader - November/December 2009 - Q&A: John Vitale
Jetrader - November/December 2009 - Aircraft Financing in 2009: A Retrospective
Jetrader - November/December 2009 - 11
Jetrader - November/December 2009 - Details from Dubrovnik
Jetrader - November/December 2009 - Racing in Reno
Jetrader - November/December 2009 - 14
Jetrader - November/December 2009 - Aircraft Appraisals
Jetrader - November/December 2009 - 16
Jetrader - November/December 2009 - From the ISTAT Foundation
Jetrader - November/December 2009 - 18
Jetrader - November/December 2009 - Aviation History
Jetrader - November/December 2009 - 20
Jetrader - November/December 2009 - 21
Jetrader - November/December 2009 - Advertising Index
Jetrader - November/December 2009 - Cover3
Jetrader - November/December 2009 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTR0011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/ISTS0208
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com