There were around 500 pilots, give or take, and about 250-300 of their spouses, significant others, or flight attendant girlfriends (no, I'm not kidding).
It was a great time, the swag was cool, the food was awesome (lots of different cheeses, hummus and pita bread / chips, a token nod at carrots and celery for something healthy, chicken fingers, beef burgougnoine (sp?), and some really awesome crab cakes with bearnaise sauce, plus the 2 open bars with just about every alcohol imaginable (I had to j/s, so couldn't partake, but many people did).
There was a VERY brief presentation by Kuwitzky and Hilman (plus our comm chair spoke briefly reminding people that we weren't there to discuss the SLI). Kuwitzky made the joke that if anyone wanted to settle the SLI matter right then and there, they brought a Wii and a plasma TV set up by the stairs and would challenge any AAI pilot to golf. I don't know if anyone took them up on it, but a few people did play.
It was downstairs in the open "reception" area as soon as you walk in. It was standing room only which, in that space, for anyone who's been there, is a pretty dang large room. They handed out a booklet that I haven't had a chance to really dive into yet. It was an IROPS day in ATL, several SWAPA volunteers didn't make it in, but there were still about a dozen guys/gals answering questions. I left about 7 trying to j/s home and didn't get out. When I left the airport for the hotel about an hour and a half ago, it was 11 and the party was still going with guys just getting off of trips texting buddies there saying "come on out" and they were heading over.
Thanks to SWAPA for organizing such a great event. Rumor has it there will be similar events soon in MKE and MCO. Definitely feeling the LUV from SWA... :beer: