Published by Shelbi Tierney on Tue, Feb 17, 2015
Next Generation of Aviation Professional
Preston Mayes
Aviation Flight Science
Having the opportunity to represent Western Michigan University and the College of Aviation internationally was something I had the privilege of experiencing recently. I, along with three other students at the College of Aviation, attended the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) conference at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) headquarters located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
The trip started early in the afternoon on a Wednesday in December right before final exam week was to start. We packed up the car, a Ford Focus, and were prepared to take the 10-hour journey into Canada for the conference. The trip started with a few hiccups: running out of gas just before crossing the bridge into Canada, being heavily questioned while crossing the Canadian border, and to top it all off, a heavy snowstorm that made the drive rather treacherous and leaving us to question whether or not we were going to make it. The quick 10-hour drive developed into a 14-hour journey that put us in Montreal around 4:00am instead of the projected midnight time slot we were expecting.
The conference was set to begin the following morning at 8:00am, so we each got about 3 hours of sleep that first night. The morning was tough at first, getting our shirts ironed, ties tied, and notepads ready, but what the day had in store for us, we would have never imagined. For those who have never attended a conference before, they are set up in a way that allows for a good amount of networking; coffee breaks every hour or two, lunch periods, and even more coffee breaks that promote communication with others in attendance. The great thing about this conference that I was looking forward to, more than others I had attended in the past, is that it was specifically targeted toward students and young professionals both in the aviation industry as well as those who will be entering the industry in the future.
Day one began with coffee and a continental breakfast compliments of a sponsor of the event. Following that, the opening remarks and the first presentation was underway. The NGAP conference had about 400 in attendance this year, of which about half were students, or N-GAPs, as we affectionately began calling ourselves. The first presentation was something I will never forget for the rest of my life. I was anticipating a slideshow along with some industry economics, and information about new technologies perhaps, but what I was witnessing was nothing close to that. The first guest speaker for the event is the current director of the Montreal Science Center; she is a former Canadian Astronaut, and has spent many hours in orbit on the International Space Station.
Witnessing what she had to share was one of the most inspiring moments I’ve ever experienced. One distinct quote of hers that I think will stick with me for a long time followed her telling us about her time on the International Space Station, she said, “Looking down at the little blue marble in all of the blackness, and realizing that’s the only place I have hope to return to...” This quote was also relating to how far the aviation industry has come, and the potential the future has and the impact the NGAPs have on the industry. The session ended with a few questions from members of the audience calling on her life experience with relation to getting children interested in aviation. Her words brought silence to the room, and following the event, I was lucky enough to get a photo with her and the other students who I was attending the event with from WMU. Following that session, we broke into a coffee break and the day resumed with presentations and networking. The day ended with a speed-networking event, which left NGAPs the opportunity to speak with industry professionals including air traffic controllers, pilots, maintenance technicians, and airport administrators.
The following two days were more focused on group sessions, which provided more of an open discussion between the ones presenting, and the members in the audience. This was unique because it provided interaction with not only the NGAPs but also the other industry professionals in attendance who have valuable information to share and add to the session. One of the great parts about traveling to conferences like this at ICAO and other places throughout the world is also being immersed in another culture and speaking to people who are also interested in aviation.
The event was full of relevant information and interesting points of view from many industry professionals from all over the world. I would highly recommend attending events like this if your schedule allows, they are very informative and beneficial for any student at the College of Aviation or NGAP looking to enter the aviation industry.