ISTAT Latin America Workshop

ISTAT is pleased to introduce a new full-day educational workshop at ISTAT Latin America on Wednesday, 7 October, providing a practical, end-to-end view of aircraft financing and leasing through legal, financial and commercial perspectives across the deal lifecycle.

Designed for commercial aviation professionals with approximately 3-8 years of industry experience, the workshop combines expert-led sessions with an interactive case study, giving participants the opportunity to apply concepts learned throughout the day.

Beyond delivering valuable professional development, the workshop supports several of ISTAT's strategic priorities, including member recruitment, airline engagement and increased participation from aviation professionals across Latin America.

Through expert-led sessions and interactive case work, participants will strengthen their ability to analyze transactions, assess risk and navigate complex negotiations with confidence. Participants will:

• Apply legal, insurance, financing and leasing concepts to understand how aircraft transactions are structured across stakeholders.
• Evaluate airline financial structures and risk factors to support informed investment decisions.
• Develop and defend transaction strategies through real-world scenarios that balance commercial, legal and financial priorities.

9:00-9:15  | Welcome 

Featuring: Priscilla Branco, ISTAT Latin America Chair 

9:15-10:15  | The Airline Angle 

Featuring: Victor Rios, Sr. Director Fleet & Procurement, COPA Airlines 

This session will focus on:  

• Fleet decision making – how network planning impacts such decision 
• Analysis between OEM order book vs aircraft from the market 
• Factors when deciding for Op leasing vs debt transactions 

10:15-11:15  | The Lessor View 

Featuring: Walter Valarezo, Head of Americas Marketing, DAE 

This session will focus on: 

• Initial draft LOI essentials 
• Maintenance reserves versus End of Lease Adjustments – when to offer and basic differences 
• Airline credit analysis/risk, macroeconomic shocks and how they affect default probabilities and lessee management 

11:15 -12:15  | Deal Structuring & Financing Instruments 

Featuring: Benoist de Vimal, Managing Director - Head of Origination Aviation for the Americas, MUFG & André de Barros Ruttimann, Head Aircraft Export Finance, BNDES

This session will focus on: 

• Commercial Debt & Export Credit 
• Capital Markets & ABS 
• Finance Leases 
• Other Credit Facilities 

12:15-13:15  | Lunch & Networking 

 

13:15-14:30  | Legal Frameworks & Cross-Border Jurisdictions 

Featuring: Carlos Sierra, Partner, Sierra LATAM & Fabio Falkenburger, Partner, Machado Meyer 

This session will focus on: 

• Lease Documentation – key legal aspects and clauses 
• Default & Recovery – practical enforcement, repossession, etc. 
• Taxation & treaties  
• Cape Town Convention 
• Aviation Insurance: hull and liability insurance, standard endorsement provisions, and claims management under active leases 

14:30-16:30  | Lessons Learned Live: Interactive Case Study Showdown 

Featuring: Anne Correa, Senior Vice President, Forecasting & Modeling, mba Aviation & Esteban Jauregui Lorda, Former CEO, Avion Express Brazil 

16:30  | Wrap-Up 

Featuring: Priscilla Branco, ISTAT Latin America Chair 

Register

---