Managing Director, Deutscher Hubschrauber Verband e.V.

Dr. Frank Liemandt is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in the aviation industry. With a strong background in strategy, marketing, public relations, and governmental affairs, he has played pivotal roles in various organizations, contributing significantly to their success. With over 20 years of experience in PR, Sales, Marketing, and Politics, Dr. Liemandt has held leadership positions in international companies and projects. Since 2014, Dr. Liemandt has specialized in advising SMEs, associations, and public clients, with a primary focus on aerospace, as well as pharma and forestry industries.

Currently, Dr. Liemandt serves as the Managing Director and Spokesperson for the German Helicopter Association and is a member of the umbrella organization EHA (European Helicopter Association). Additionally, Dr. Liemandt works as the Show Director for EUROPEAN ROTORS – The VTOL show and safety conference, representing EHA. 

Fabian “Fabi” Riesen is the founder and CEO of Loft Dynamics

The maker of the first and only virtual reality (VR) pilot training devices with regulatory approval. Before Loft Dynamics, Fabi spent over two decades as an engineering technical leader at Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO), earning the company’s prestigious Pioneer Award for his innovations. During that time, Fabi constructed simulators as a hobby outside of work. With a background in electrical engineering and a lifelong passion for flying, Fabi recognized the need to enhance the safety, realism, and accessibility of pilot training globally and built a simulator to achieve that goal.

In 2014, Fabi combined virtual reality and motion platforms to create a cutting-edge VR simulator from the ground up, in his living room. By 2016, Loft Dynamics (formerly VRM Switzerland) was born, debuting a qualified VR Robinson R22 FNPT II simulator before releasing its EASA-qualified FTD Level 3 VR simulator, the Airbus H125. Today, leading manufacturers, airlines, operators, schools, and organizations around the world use the company’s VR simulators, including the Federal Aviation Administration, Los Angeles Police Department, Airbus Helicopters, Air Zermatt, Helitrans Norway, Heli Austria, and many others.

In addition to receiving his Electrical and Software Engineering and Transmission Technology degree from Zurich University, Fabi obtained an executive MBA in Business Administration from Kalaidos University of Applied Sciences. Fabi enjoys spending time with his family and exploring the Swiss mountains in his spare time. He recently climbed the 48 summits of the Swiss Alps, all exceeding 4000 meters. Fabi also holds a private pilot license for fixed wing (PPL(A)) and is in the process of obtaining the helicopter equivalent (PPL(H)).

Pilot - Airbus BO105 Pylon Aviation Helicopter

With over 30 years of aviation experience with more the 10,000 flight hours Scott's aviation expertise spans a significant number of different subject areas and skills. Scott has acquired more than superficial knowledge about many different aviation fields such as manufacturing, ground and flight test, certification, training, sales, international operations, and a number of helicopter unique application skills to include helicopter aerobatics.

With flying over 35 different makes and models of helicopters and more than 100 fixed wing aircraft coupled with over 20 years in the aerospace manufacturing industry Scott has developed unique skill in evaluating the correct aircraft for the mission and customer. Scott's aircraft sales ability is enhanced with vast experience in flight-testing the leading manufactures, NVG certification flight test and high speed envelope expansion of the MD520N Notar. Scott was the first pilot issued a helicopter pylon air-racing license to currently being one of only three FAA licensed helicopter aerobatic pilots in the world. Flying a wide variety of fixed wing aircraft as well from the Citation Sovereign, Citation 525, Phenom 300, Lear 25, P-51D Mustang, Grumman FM2 Wildcat and the Curtiss P40.

Scott's company Pylon Aviation is a Airbus Authorized Distributor for the US and Canada. As well as being member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and The International Counsel of Air Shows as an Aerobatic Competency Evaluator (ACE)

President Swiss Helicopter Association & National Councillor

Martin Candinas, President of the Swiss Helicopter Association & National Councilor, has been a Swiss politician (Die Mitte, formerly CVP) and former Grand Councilor in Graubünden. Serving as a National Councilor since 2011 and President of the National Council in 2022/23, he brings extensive experience to his roles. Additionally, he has been the President of the Swiss Helicopter Association since 2016. With a background in social insurance and sales, he's currently a part-time sales specialist at Helsana. Candinas is known for his advocacy in regional, social, and transportation policies.

Pilot & Owner Bluehawk GmbH, Ex-CEO Air Zermatt

With over three decades of experience in the aviation industry, Gerold Biner is a seasoned helicopter pilot and engineer. He holds extensive certifications and has amassed significant flight hours, including numerous rescue missions and sling operations. As the former CEO of Air Zermatt AG, Gerold has demonstrated strong leadership and expertise in both operational and managerial capacities. He is also recognized for his contributions to helicopter safety and training standards, collaborating with organizations such as the Swiss FOCA.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Gerold is an avid adventurer, engaging in heliskiing expeditions and participating in mountain rescue efforts globally. As a published author and former president of ICAR, he remains dedicated to advancing aviation safety and alpine rescue practices.

Key figures:
16'500 Flight Hours I 4'800 Rescue Missions I 109'000 Landings (133 Landings above 6'000 m) I 280'000 Sling Missions

Vice President, Sales and Marketing for North America, Airbus Helicopters, Inc.

Treg Manning is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in the aviation and aerospace industry. He currently serves as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Airbus Helicopters North America. In this role, he oversees sales and marketing operations for the commercial helicopter market in the United States and Canada.

Before joining Airbus Helicopters in 2011, Treg held the position of Senior Vice President of Business Development at Air Medical Group Holdings. He also spent nearly a decade at Bell Helicopter Textron, where he held various senior roles, including Executive Director of North America Sales and Executive Director of Strategic Marketing. Treg began his career in the healthcare sector as an EMS paramedic and dispatcher, which eventually led him to the aviation industry after a personal experience with an air medical team.

He holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Texas Tech University and an MBA from Baylor University, along with an Executive Management Certificate from Fisher College of Business at Ohio State University​.

Chief Operating Officer, Edelweiss

David Birrer has been the Chief Operating Officer at Edelweiss Air since March 2021, overseeing strategic and operational flight operations.

Before this role, he served as the Managing Director and Accountable Manager at Lufthansa Aviation Training Switzerland AG for four years. David held senior positions at Swiss Aviation Training AG from 2009 to 2017 and has a decade of international experience in engineering, project management, marketing, and strategy in the radio and TV broadcast industry. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and Communication Technology from Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, a Postgraduate degree in Industrial Engineering, an Executive MBA, and has completed the Advanced Management Programme at Harvard Business School.

Innovator, CEO & Owner Heli Austria Group

Co-Founder & Managing Partner at UP Partners

Ben Marcus is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of UP.Partners, building and investing in technology companies that are Transforming the Moving World. The firm, founded in 2020, partners with entrepreneurs, corporations, and governments to help move people and goods cleaner, faster, safer, and at lower cost – on the ground, in the air, at sea, and in space.

In 2022, with co-founders John Kuolt and Katelyn Foley, Ben spearheaded the launch of UP.Labs. UP.Labs partners with large corporations to build startups that solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges. In 2014, Ben co-founded AirMap, the world’s leading airspace management platform.

Ben is an FAA-certified Airline Transport Pilot and Flight Instructor with 5,000 hours of flight experience in more than 100 types of airplanes, seaplanes, gliders, and helicopters. He started his career as a flight instructor and flight test engineer.

Director ICAI - Interdisciplinary Center for Artificial Intelligence, OST – Eastern University of Applied Sciences

Vice President Research & Technology, Loft Dynamics

Guido is leading the ICAI at OST, which he also founded. With the financial support of Innosuisse, his academic team created the early Loft Dynamics technology. Today, he also serves as the Vice President of Research & Technology at Loft Dynamics.

Guido earned his Ph.D. 1996 from Northwestern University in Evanston. He founded the Internet Communication Business Unit for 3Com in Chicago, which he co-led as CTO. Today, Guido has been back in Switzerland for over 20 years, serving as a professor, first at HSR and now at OST.

Guido has received 22 awards, including the IEEE Signal Processing Society Best Paper of the Year Award and the 3Com Inventor of the Year Award. He is named as an inventor on 70 patents, has published the book "Rate-Distortion Based Video Compression," and is a co-author of 76 academic publications with a Google Scholar h-index of 56.

Co - Founder and CEO Dufour Aerospace / Pilot

Thomas is a pilot with over 12'000 hours of flight experience and 4'000 rescue operations. He has extensive management and aviation expertise. His career has included several management board positions as CEO and CFO for both entrepreneurial and multinational companies. Thomas was CEO of the Swiss based Sotax Group, a world market leader in pharmaceutical testing instruments. He is a professional commercial helicopter rescue pilot with Air Zermatt, and a fixed-wing, IFR-rated and a passionate aerobatic pilot. He has also published a book about implementation of operations management manual and operation manuals concepts under EASA guidelines. Thomas holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, a Master’s degree in Finance, and an MBA from the University St. Gallen.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) - Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich

Martin Sturzenegger is a business economist and marketing professional from Zurich, Switzerland. With a career spanning over two decades, he has held significant leadership roles in various industries, contributing to the growth and development of prominent organizations. Until the end of 2021, Sturzenegger served as the CEO of Zurich Tourism for nearly nine years, where he played a pivotal role in promoting Zurich as a premier tourist destination. Following this tenure, he assumed the position of CEO at Säntis-Schwebebahn AG, overseeing operations for over a year, before transitioning to his current role.

In April 2023, Sturzenegger took on the role of CEO at Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich (IPZ) located at Dübendorf Airfield, the largest platform of its kind in Switzerland. At IPZ, his focus is on fostering collaboration between academia and industry, aiming to facilitate innovation and research partnerships. Under his leadership, the park has embarked on its journey to become a hub for scientific advancement and technological innovation.

He holds a Master of Business Administration from The University of Manchester, along with a Master of Advanced Studies in Strategic Design from ZHdK Zürcher Hochschule der Künste.