April 20, 2005
SIUC's aviation career day set for April 23
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Corporate aircraft from several companies will be on display Saturday, April 23, during Southern Illinois University Carbondale's annual spring Corporate Aviation/General Aviation Career Day.
About 100 high school, community college and non-traditional students – potentially the largest number ever in the event's four-year history – are expected to tour the University's aviation facilities at Southern Illinois Airport, as well as the main campus. The students will receive introductory flights in SIUC aircraft and current SIUC aviation students, faculty, staff and alumni will serve as tour guides and answer questions.
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Media Advisory
Reporters and photographers are encouraged to cover the aviation career day. Planes will begin arriving at Southern Illinois Airport, west of Carbondale, at about 8 a.m. Tours of SIUC's aviation facilities and introductory flights will start about 9 a.m. The media is also invited to the various presentations on aviation careers at 12:30 p.m. in Lawson Hall, Room 171. For more information, contact David A. NewMyer or Lori Robertson at 618/453-8898.
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Students, along with their parents, are expected from as many as seven states -- Maine, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri and Illinois – to learn more about one of the nation's leading aviation programs.
Corporate aviation companies and other firms expected to bring in aircraft include Midwest Aviation, Inc., Abbott Laboratories Inc., St. Louis-based Air Net Inc., and Jack Henry & Associates, Inc., in Monett, Mo.
Interest in aviation careers remains high, said David A. NewMyer, chair of the aviation management and flight program. "For us to potentially have 100 students visit is remarkable," he said. "We are very happy with that."
Of the more than 2.2 million jobs in aviation-related fields, 638,000 are in corporate and general aviation, said NewMeyer. General aviation refers to all flying except for military and airlines, he said.
There has been an increase in the number of corporate-related flights since 9/11, according to NewMyer. A primary reason is because of convenience to executives who don't have as many issues related to security as with passenger travel, and the availability to fly into smaller airports, he said.
"The jobs are there, there is no doubt about that," NewMyer said, "and we have been very fortunate in terms of our students getting employed."
SIUC is an industry leader in program value when including available internships and job placement opportunities. The department now has internship agreements with eight airlines.
The itinerary for the day is:
- 8-9 a.m. – Students, parents and chaperones arrive at the Southern Illinois Airport main terminal.
- 9 a.m. – Tours of SIUC's aviation facilities and introductory flights in SIUC aircraft.
- 11:15-11:45 a.m. – Lunch.
- 11:45 a.m. – Group photos on the ramp.
- Noon – Depart from main terminal via bus to SIUC main campus.
- 12:30-2 p.m. – Presentations on aviation career tracks and opportunities, and presentations on SIUC's aviation program, Lawson Hall, Room 171.
- 2-2:45 p.m. – Tour of SIUC campus.
- 3 p.m. – Return to Southern Illinois Airport.
Providing a high quality undergraduate education is among the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, the blueprint for the development of the University by the time it celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2019.