May 21, 2021
Around the country, business aviation groups and organizations are hosting events designed to introduce the next generation of workers to the business aviation industry, and the career opportunities it holds.
The North Dakota Aviation Career Expo, recently held at the Fargo Air Museum at Hector International Airport (FAR) in Fargo, ND, and presented by North Dakota Aviation Association (NDAA), brought together high school and college students, ages 16-22, to learn about career paths in the aviation industry and available scholarships from industry leaders, exhibitors and guest speakers.
“One of our biggest struggles in outreach to the next generation is accessibility,” said Darren Hall, Fargo Jet Center vice president – marketing. “Most of our business aviation industry lives and works behind an eight-foot security fence that says, ‘keep out.’ It’s up to grassroots efforts like this event to reach into the community and connect with students to show them real-world opportunities often right in their backyard.”
Justin Stimpson, aviation department manager for RJL Aviation said that the general public tends to be more familiar with aviation career opportunities.
“It’s critical that advocacy groups continue to push business aviation into the spotlight so students can see what’s out there,” he said. “Here in Fargo, we have multiple pilot and maintenance professional positions open, and a growing [unmanned aircraft systems] sector. If we can continue to promote business aviation, hopefully, we can convince the younger generation that it is a rewarding career.”
“NBAA is thrilled that NDAA has chosen to stimulate interest in aviation career path options with their first annual ND Aviation Career Expo’” said Kristi Ivey, CAM, NBAA’s northern mountain regional representative.
“On the NBAA Jobs Board, I am seeing many exciting job openings for pilots, maintenance professionals, schedulers, dispatchers and beyond – including in innovative areas such as advanced air mobility and UAS,” she said. “Aviation career fairs are critical to replenish the next generation of professionals in our industry because many of these students have never been exposed to the career opportunities that business aviation offers.”
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.