New PDP Committee Chair Brings Expansive Vision to His Role

November 11, 2011

As the new chairman of NBAA’s Professional Development Program (PDP) Review Committee, Erik Perkins, who brings a Schedulers & Dispatchers perspective to the position, said his first priority will be to expand PDP’s current comprehensive list of course offerings to an even broader base of NBAA Members.
“While my background and heart are with the S&D community, my commitment is to the development and growth of training for all members involved in the business aviation arena,” said Perkins, who is a longtime NBAA committee member, as well as a flight coordinator with ExxonMobil Aircraft Operations in Dulles, VA.

“Inclusion in this development should not simply be limited to our pilots, maintenance, flight attendants and scheduling staff, but also should be available to our supporting organizations, such as FBOs and other industry-related functions that will help shape the future leadership in the business aviation community.”
Perkins said that under his leadership, the committee also will continue conducting scheduled reviews of the curriculum and providers to assure that course topics are current and allow the flexibility educators need to, “produce effective and targeted opportunities to our students,” Perkins said. “One aspect of our process, which I am set on expanding, is through audits to ensure that we maintain our high standards, participate with our members during the education process and provide instant feedback to the instructors,” he added.

Perkins began working with the NBAA as a S&D committee member in 2001 and joined its Training Subcommittee in 2002. He chaired the Training Subcommittee for three years, and in 2009 also began working with the PDP Review Committee.

The appointment to chairman of the PDP Review Committee was a logical next step for Perkins, who has been involved in the aviation industry since 1982.

“As a Flight Coordinator with a major industry leader, I also want to show the others that leadership within the NBAA community is not limited to pilots or mechanics but is all-inclusive,” Perkins said in discussing his appointment. “We all have something to bring to the table. For me, I bring a passion for aviation and a passion for industry training.”
The goal of the PDP is to prepare business aviation professionals for management roles within business aviation flight departments. NBAA recognizes educational providers by offering PDP approval for courses that meet defined objectives. Flight department personnel receive recognition for successfully completing PDP-approved courses.

Since its launch in January 1998, there have been more than 8,000 PDP course completions. Several PDP courses will be held in conjunction with the 2012 Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference in San Diego. For more information, contact NBAA’s Sarah Wolf at swolf@nbaa.org.