NBAA Shows Students How Business Aviation Works

January 21, 2014

A group of college aviation students and educators recently visited NBAA’s Washington, DC headquarters to learn about career opportunities in business aviation, and how industry advocates work with legislators and regulators for the industry’s betterment.

The students visiting NBAA comprised one of four teams participating in the 23rd Annual University Aviation Association (UAA) “Aviation Policy Seminar.” Students and faculty members from UAA-member institutions visited NBAA as part of a week-long seminar to get an overview of how associations, industry and government work together to establish aviation policy.

UAA, whose members include more than 100 accredited colleges and universities, is a nonprofit organization that plays a pivotal role in the advancement of degree-granting aviation programs that are designed to meet the ever-changing needs for professionals in all segments of aviation.

Jay Evans, NBAA’s director of professional development, hosted this year’s UAA session at NBAA headquarters.

”NBAA has always had a good relationship with UAA, which presents a career seminar each year at our convention, and this ‘policies seminar’ is a good way to maintain that relationship and make college students aware of the internships and scholarships available through NBAA, as well as developing an understanding of how business aviation works,” Evans said.

Following presentations by Doug Carr, NBAA vice president of regulatory and international affairs, and Mark Larsen, senior manager of safety and flight operations, the visiting students and faculty had an opportunity to ask NBAA staff members wide-ranging questions about the aviation industry.

UAA Executive Director Carolyn Williamson said the meeting with NBAA officials also was helpful in providing faculty members a chance to learn about current hot topics in aviation and refresh their curricula.

Alanna Johnson, a sophomore at Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina, is an aviation science major who wants a job in air traffic control, but she said this trip to Washington, including the visit to NBAA, has opened her eyes to other career possibilities.

In his remarks, Carr noted, ”This is the best time in decades to enter aviation,” Carr noted, ”There are many new career opportunities. Don’t dismiss any potential opportunity.”