Aviation Week and Toulouse Aeronautics / Space Industry Announce 2003 Symposium.

Business & Aerospace Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 28, 2002

The aerospace capital of Europe, Toulouse, France, was announced today as the site for a new Aviation Week leadership event promoting innovation, productivity and quality in the global aviation, aerospace and space industries.

The Aviation Week-Toulouse Symposium will be produced in partnership with the Toulouse Aeronautics and Space Industry, with direct participation and communications support by Airbus Industrie, Alcatel Space, Astrium, the City of Toulouse, the Regional Council of Midi Pyrenees, the General Council of Haute Garonne and the Toulouse Chamber of Commerce, plus dozens of the region's aerospace suppliers, universities and government agencies.

It will establish a venue for idea-exchange and learning among global technology, business and operations leaders with an emphasis on connecting European and North American aviation, aerospace and space executives throughout their supply chains. The event will debut March 11-13, 2003 at the Pierre Baudis Congress Center in Toulouse.

"Toulouse is at the heart of European aeronautical and space activities. So our City is well-qualified to host an international event that will permit the world's leading specialists to meet and exchange ideas and opinions concerning themes that are common to aeronautics and space," said Alcatel Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Pascale Sourisse. "Commonality between these two industries is frequently encountered; techniques and technologies employed are closely similar, the problems encountered are often of the same type, and harmonious cooperation is essential in domains such as navigation, communications, and many others. Drawing on the professionalism and experience of its organizers, Aviation Week and The McGraw-Hill Companies, this symposium promises to be a resounding success."

The Aviation Week-Toulouse Symposium will be developed to stimulate new ideas, solve problems and set an agenda for global industry leadership and growth. It is being designed to appeal to a wide range of aerospace management at all levels of the supply chain in every industry sector -- commercial, military and space.

"The past decade has seen Europe develop as a model for successful business cooperation, innovation and growth in aerospace," said Aviation Week Executive Vice President/Publisher Kenneth E. Gazzola. "In partnership with the aeronautics and space leaders of Toulouse, we are proud to establish this new forum for promoting ideas and action that will strengthen industry relationships across the Atlantic and around the world."

Program dimensions will address the technology, business and operational challenges that aerospace leaders will face in the 21st Century. Key topics are expected to include:

- Cross-border alliances and organizations

- Six-Sigma quality

- Lean Manufacturing

- Supply-chain management

- Information Management/IT

- Advanced air and space technology applications

- Engineering management

- Joint ventures

"This new event will capitalize on the resources of Toulouse, one of the world's most dynamic centers of technological and manufacturing excellence, to ensure a valuable, solutions-based educational and networking environment for the leading-edge executives who attend," said Mayor of Toulouse, Phillippe Douste-Blazy.

Included in the event will be an educational program to attract student participation and inspire young people to pursue aerospace and space careers. The program will be developed jointly by Aviation Week's The Next Century of Flight education and outreach initiative, TAM and Toulouse area universities.

"Over the past years, Toulouse has become one of the world's greatest aerospace industry capitals. Most suppliers, especially from the USA, do a lot of business here. The Aviation Week Conference in Toulouse is therefore a most welcome initiative which we fully support," said Airbus Chief Executive Noel Forgeard.

To reach the maximum audience of aerospace professionals around the world, the event will be produced on multiple media platforms, including print, electronic and broadcast/webcast.

"Toulouse is a natural location for this event, being both the home of an Astrium centre of excellence and a major European focus for the aeronautic and space industries, which are increasingly interrelated in the development of technologies such as navigation and telecommunications. I am confident that McGraw Hill's participation at this symposium will ensure its success," said Antoine Bouvier, CEO of Astrium.

Aviation Week Conferences & Exhibitions is the professional education and events arm of the Aviation Week division of The McGraw-Hill Companies. With nearly 50 products and services and an audience of more than 1 million professionals and enthusiasts, Aviation Week is the largest multimedia information provider to the global aviation and aerospace industry. Its web portal, www.AviationNow.com, offers the industry's most reliable and comprehensive real-time news, professional information and e-business features.

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, BusinessWeek and McGraw-Hill Education. The Corporation has more than 350 offices in 33 countries. Sales in 2001 were $4.6 billion. Additional information is available at www.mcgraw-hill.com.