Business Aviation Safety Summit 2026 Exhibitor List

Richard Hill is Chief Marketing Officer at DEFENDERS. Richard is responsible for delivering marketing strategies and initiatives that grow core and emerging direct marketing channels. Previously Richard served 11 years at Tribune Company creating one of the fastest-growing direct response agencies. He also served in executive roles in the brand advertising and publishing industries. Mr. Hill is active in the non-profit community serving on the Make-A-Wish Board of Directors, as well as supporting The Gladney Center for Adoption.

Captain Richard de Crespigny was at the controls of a Qantas A380 on November 4, 2010 when one of its engines failed dramatically, severely damaging the aircraft. He and his flight crew successfully brought the airliner back to Singapore and landed it safely with no injuries or fatalities.

John S. Duncan, deputy associate administrator for Aviation Safety at the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), will be the opening keynote speaker at Flight Safety Foundation’s 64th Business Aviation Safety Summit (BASS) in Denver. Duncan, who is the co-leader of the organization within the FAA that is responsible for setting, overseeing and enforcing safety standards for all aspects of the aviation industry, is scheduled to speak on Thursday morning, May 2, the first day of the two-day BASS 2019. “We are extremely grateful and excited that John has agreed to open BASS 2019,” said Dr. Hassan Shahidi, president and CEO of the Foundation. “His more than 30 years at FAA, plus his experience as a corporate and airline pilot before that, gives him a unique perspective from which to address the challenges facing the aviation industry broadly, and business aviation specifically, today.” Duncan joined FAA in 1986 as an aviation safety inspector and has held a number of management and leadership positions. In his current role as deputy associate administrator, he leads an organization that oversees all aspects of aviation, including airlines, manufacturers, repair stations, mechanics, pilots, flight attendants and air traffic controllers. From Sept. 1, 2013, to July 21, 2018, Duncan was executive director of FAA’s Flight Standards Service, where he oversaw the development, coordination and execution of policies, standards, systems and procedures; public rules, regulations and standards; and program plans that govern the operations, maintenance and airworthiness of all U.S. civil aircraft. Duncan has worked as a flight instructor, chief pilot, corporate pilot and air carrier pilot, and holds an air transport pilot certificate with commercial privileges in seaplanes and gliders.

Today’s commercial transport pilot has transitioned from being an active handling pilot to a supervisor of highly reliable automated systems with built-in redundancies. He will explore the pros and cons of automation in aviation and the importance of a 'back to basics' training approach.

Chow has more than 30 years of experience in airline and engineering and maintenance operations, and has held numerous management, executive and board positions with Singapore Airlines and related companies and joint ventures.

Kotil, who has published a number of scientific articles and research papers, has a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and experience in academia and industry. During his career, he also worked at Turkish Airlines (THY), where he served in a variety roles. While at the airline, Kotil served on the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Board of Governors, as well as on the boards of the Association of European Airlines, Turkish Technic and Sun Express, among others.