On 18 and 19 September 2006, a two-day Kick-Off Meeting of the CESAR integrated project (Cost Effective Small AiRcraft) was held in Prague in Congress Centre. More than 100 guests representing 39 firms from 14 European countries took part on the meeting. The kick-off meeting was opened by the speech of Mr. Milan Holl who is the CEO of VZLU and the president of the Czech Association of Aviation Manufacturers (ALV CR).

Mr. Holl pointed out that it was ALV which initiated this unique project. CESAR is in fact the first large project aimed at the category of smaller commercial aircraft for 5 up to 15 passengers, supported by the EU. He expressed his full confidence to the coordinating team led by Mr. Karel Paiger and belief that the project will be managed properly. He thanked all participants who took part in the preparation of the project proposal and in the contractual negotiations. He also thanked DG Research Aeronautic Unit of the European Commission for its positive and fair approach during the first talks on the possibility to include the research theme aimed at small commercial aircraft in the 6th Framework Workprogram. Mr. Holl reminded all participants that an extraordinary economic and administrative discipline is expected from them to run this challenging project smoothly and effectively.

Mr. Paiger then took a floor and started the meeting agenda comprising general sessions and parallel sessions devoted to particular technical work packages. During the two day meeting participants acquired a lot of information about project organization, project management bodies, reporting, budgeting, requirements of the European Commission and many other project aspects. Participants made use of this opportunity to meet personally their co-participants and they also discussed in more detail the project work. The whole meeting agenda was accomplished successfully.