Lumley Aviation Center Holds First Career Expo
Published 04.04.2008
The aviation program at Pennsylvania College of Technology held its first-ever Aviation Career Expoon Thursday at the Lumley Aviation Center. Ten companies attended with the intent of hiring Penn College graduates and interns. Representatives came from as far away as Michigan and Georgia.
Employers attending the expo were Keystone Helicopter, Coatesville; Schweitzer Helicopters, Horseheads, N.Y.; Piedmont Airlines, Salisbury, Md.; Air Wisconsin Airlines, Appleton, Wis. (Philadelphia base); Sterling Helicopter Inc., Croydon; Gulfstream Aerospace, Savannah, Ga.; Duncan Aviation, Battle Creek, Mich.; Helicopter Foundation International, Alexandria, Va.; The Pennsylvania State University, University Park; and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Trenton, N.J.
Approximately 75 aviation students attended presentations and browsed the exhibits. Students left the event with assorted gratuities like keychains and tote bags. Most importantly, many students departed with employment applications and promises of future interviews. During the morning, Bristol-Myers Squibb conducted interviews for an internship position this summer. Recruiters commented that, "students were very motivated," and both the "faculty and students were great."
Eighty percent of the exhibitors had multiple openings and all reported that they would enjoy attending again next year. Aviation Career Expo organizer Thomas D. Inman, associate professor of avionics, reported that, "We expect significant growth among exhibitors for next year's event."
Some of the Aviation Career Expo participants remained after hours to participate in the Aviation Program Advisory Committee. During that meeting, several committee members reported that there are multiyear backlogs of aircraft orders due to industry growth, and that there is a shortage of qualified aviation maintenance technicians throughout the industry.
( Photos and information provided by Thomas D. Inman, associate professor of avionics)