JOIN A YOUTH PROGRAMS

from 2023 NW Aviation Conference & Trade Show

2023 NORTHWEST AVIATION CONFERENCE

Welcome future aviators and aviatrixes to the NW Aviation Conference’ we are glad you are here because, yes, you are the future of aviation and without your interest in airplanes and flying – we have no future!

Kids, 17 and under, please enjoy free admission to the event – If you’d like to lean more about a career in aviation be sure to check out the Career Forum hosted and moderated by John Swedburg, retired professor from Big Bend Community College. This forum is appropriate for high school students wanted to learn more about career options as well as graduated or transitioning career individuals. Attend the workshop either Saturday or Sunday to get all your questions answered!

Aviation Youth Programs

(AOPA Flight Training compiled list)

You Can Fly

AOPA’s You Can Fly High School Initiative supports aviation science, technology, engineering, and math programs with a forum to share ideas and best practices, the development of aviation STEM curricula, free consultation to schools, scholarship and grant support, and more. To learn more about the AOPA You Can Fly program be sure to attend the AOPA High Schools Initiative session hosted by Steve Bateman, at 3:30 PM, Saturday, February 25 in the Heritage Room.

Young Eagles

Founded in 1992, the Experimental Aviation Association’s Young Eagles program gives children age 8 through 17 their first free ride in an airplane. It is reportedly the only program of its kind, with its sole mission to introduce and inspire kids in the world of aviation. To date, the Young Eagles program has flown more than two million children with the help of EAA’s network of volunteers. www.eaa.org

Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program

The Civil Air Patrol was formed during the early days of World War II; an auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, CAP was founded December 1, 1941, to protect the nation’s shorelines from marauding German U-boats. The CAP Cadet Program is a year-round program where cadets fly, learn to lead, hike, camp, get in shape, and push themselves. Cadets must be at least 12 years old and not yet 19 years old. Cadets meet two hours per week and one Saturday per month, on average, and have opportunities to attend leadership encampments, career academies, and other activities during the summer. www.gocivilairpatrol.com

Scouting

The Boy Scouts have an aviation merit badge and the Girl Scouts emphasize STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs. Both organizations are committed to building self-esteem and exposing kids to life’s opportunities so an interest in aviation will be met with enthusiasm. In the Boy Scout merit badge program, scouts learn how an aircraft works, how to preflight and plan routes, and the types of aviation professionals, as well as strive to accomplish goals such as a flight in a general aviation aircraft or a visit to an airport or FAA facility or maintenance shop. Aviation Exploring, an affiliate of the Boy Scouts of America, introduces youth age 14 to 20 to aviation careers.

www.scouting.org www.girlscouts.org www.hillier.org www.exploring.org/aviation

Emergency Volunteer Air Corps in WA State

Since 2009, volunteer pilots in the Northwest, along with emergency services resources, have been organizing to utilize general aviation when the expected Cascadia Subduction Zone great earthquake occurs, along with a likely great tsunami. In addition, the area has a number of active volcanoes which could also cause widespread destruction.

With the awareness of the Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake potential to devastate much of the west coast, there is also the growing awareness of General Aviation’s (GA) critical role. GA has the potential to play an important role in response and recovery efforts from the northern end of California through Oregon and Washington, and all the way to Vancouver Island and British Columbia. As a result, a multilevel plan has been developed and regularly drilled.

EVAC’s Northwest Region Emergency Services Director, Sky Terry, realized that with all the waterways in the Northwest seaplanes could be of great utility, being able to get into stricken communities where roads may have washed out or been covered by landslides. With this addition of water based aviation to the land based aviation / general aviation response effort, the West Coast is developing a very robust response resource.

Sky Terry’s original plan was to ensure a better response and lessen the loss of life shortly after the Nisqually earthquake.

Stay A While

The 2023 event will be held on February 25 – 26 in the Showplex at the WA State Fair Events Center in Puyallup, Washington. Park in the Blue Lot.

Below are a few area lodging choicescontact establishments for availability:

Fairfield Inn by Marriott

202 15th Avenue SW ·

253-770-3100

Holiday Inn Express

812 South Hill Park Drive

253-848-4900

Hampton Inn & Suites

1515 South Meridian

253-770-8880

WA State Fair discount: 15% off rack rates

Best Western Premier Plaza

620 South Hill Park Drive

253-848-1500

His idea began more than 12 years ago and it has grown into what the DART program is today. Sky Terry’s main goal is to prove that general aviation is a key aspect in any disaster emergency because, of the capability of these sea/land planes to respond quickly. During 9/11, an ACA (Air Care Alliance) pilot delivered blood test kits to New York and was the first general aviation aircraft airborne after 9-11 grounded nationwide. General aviation is one of the best ways to reach a lot of people in a short time frame. The ideal future scenario, Sky Terry states would be for “the WCGARP to be accepted and adapted as a resource, for use in the County and State level disaster response.”

Sky and statewide volunteers are bringing together statewide aviation and emergency service agencies, several pilot organizations, and local authorities to work in mutual support of this effort throughout the Northwest. Learn how you can be apart of these efforts by attending an information seminar, 3:30 PM, Saturday, February 25, in the South Foyer at the NWAC in Puyallup.