Last week was the 50th Annual Minnesota Aviation Technician Conference in Brooklyn Center, MN, where close to 300 attendees, 50 exhibitors, and 150 students gathered for a day and a half of education, networking, great food, and aviation camaraderie. The Minnesota Department of Transportation Office of Aeronautics, the Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence, and the event’s advisory committee did an excellent job of organizing the event.
Cassandra Isackson, the Director of the Office of Aeronautics, welcomed the crowd and was available the entire first day to talk with attendees about the state’s aviation system.
A lot of attention was placed on students at this year’s conference. I spoke to two groups of students; high school students interested in aviation as a possible career, and students already enrolled in some of the Aviation Maintenance Technician schools in the upper Midwest.
High schoolers were given over half a day of presentations on careers in aviation by industry representatives, and on Monday evening the A&P school students toured the Delta Air Lines maintenance facility at MSP. Several companies and regional airlines were on hand to interview A&P students who were preparing to graduate.
Wayne Trom from Dodge Center, MN, was presented the coveted Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award by representatives from the Minnesota Flight Standards District Office for his 50 years of involvement in aircraft maintenance. Congratulations Wayne!
If you read my blogs and columns you have heard me say this before, get involved in your local aviation activities. It’s FUN!
Ron
