AVIATION WEEK to Honor Outstanding Achievements in Aviation, Aerospace and Defense at 51st Annual Laureates Awards

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- AVIATION WEEK, the largest multimedia information and services provider to the global aviation, aerospace and defense industries, will recognize exceptional strategy, heroism and leadership at the 51st Annual Laureates Awards on March 4, 2008, at 6:30 p.m. in the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC.

Hosted by AVIATION WEEK, in conjunction with Platinum Partner Breitling and Emerald Partners Booz Allen Hamilton and Northrop Grumman, the Laureates Awards is the industry's premier event, acknowledging the innovation, vision and exploration of current and future leaders in aviation, aerospace and defense, such as Mauricio Bothelho, Chairman, Embraer, who will receive the Philip J. Klass Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Philippe Bonay, General Manager, Breitling USA, will present the Breitling Award for Aviation Heroism to The British Royal Navy Sea King Helicopter Crew, for a life-saving, 11-hour cave rescue on July 3, 2007. Crew members include Lieutenant Commander Matt Shrimpton (RN), Royal Marine Captain Damien "Daisy" May, Lieutenant Tim Barker (RN), Petty Officer Aircrewman Julian "Bungi" Williams (RN), and Sergeant Mark White (RAF). Mr. Bonay will also award Breitling watches and Tomorrow's Leader" awards to four armed services cadets: U. S. Naval Academy Midshipman 1/C John Hesling; U.S. Coast Guard Academy 1/C Joel Kurucar; U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet First Class Joseph Robinson; and U.S. Military Academy CDT Christopher Westrom.

Individual and team honorees who epitomize the values and visions of the global aerospace industry in the categories of Aeronautics/Propulsion, Business/General Aviation, Commercial Air Transport, IT/Electronics, Military, Operations, and Space, will be announced at the black-tie awards ceremony, where they will receive accolades from industry pioneers and thought leaders from around the world.

"AVIATION WEEK is honored to recognize these exceptional men and women, who have demonstrated their commitment to excellence as leaders, students and heroes," said Tom Henricks, President, AVIATION WEEK. "As we acknowledge their accomplishments, we are reminded of the great impact a single act or lifetime of bravery, integrity and service can have on our industry and community."

Complete coverage of the Laureate Awards will be available in the March 17 issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology. For more information, including nominees or photos from past events, or to RSVP, visit http://aviationweek.com/conferences/laumain.htm or contact Liz Hinkis, Sponsorship Sales Manager, at (212) 904-4263 or elizabeth_hinkis@aviationweek.com.

About AVIATION WEEK

AVIATION WEEK, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, is the largest multimedia information and services provider to the global aviation, aerospace and defense industries, and includes the publications Aviation Week & Space Technology, Defense Technology International, Business & Commercial Aviation, Overhaul & Maintenance, ShowNews, Aviation Daily, The Weekly of Business Aviation, Aerospace Daily & Defense Report and the World Aerospace Database. The group's website, http://www.aviationweek.com, offers the industry's most reliable news, information, search and online community tools. Premium content services include the Aviation Week Intelligence Network, an integrated business tool for managers, business developers, buyers and technical professionals, and MRO Prospector, a unique web-based suite of data and tools for business development and benchmarking in maintenance, repair and overhaul. The group also produces prominent conferences, exhibitions and management forums around the world.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands including Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2007 were $6.8 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com.