June 09, 2010
SIUC hosts Corporate/General Aviation Career Day
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- With approximately 638,000 corporate and general aviation jobs in the country, the career possibilities do not end with flying commercial airliners or military aircraft.
High school students will be able to explore the numerous aviation-related opportunities later this month during Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Corporate Aviation/General Aviation Career Day at the Southern Illinois Airport.
The ninth annual event, set for Saturday, June 26, is open to current eighth-grade and high school students. The career day runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and is free, although students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the airport.
Openings are still available. Go to aviation.siu.edu/careerdays/ for more information or to register. The first 75 participants receive a free T-shirt.
Media Advisory
Reporters and photographers are welcome to cover the SIUC Corporate Aviation/General Aviation Career Day. Planes will begin arriving at Southern Illinois Airport, west of Carbondale, at about 8 a.m. Personnel from corporate and general aviation companies, along with SIUC aviation personnel, will be available for interviews. Members of the media may also wish to attend the various presentations on aviation careers that begin at 12:30 p.m. For more information, contact David A. NewMyer or Lori Robertson at 618/453-8898.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of SIUC aviation.
The event includes tours of the University’s aviation facilities at the airport, in addition to meeting SIUC aviation students, faculty, staff and alumni to answer questions.
Corporate and general aviation aircraft brought in by SIUC aviation alumni will begin arriving at the airport between 8 and 9 a.m. General aviation refers to all flying except for military and the airlines.
There are approximately 229,000 general aviation aircraft in the United States. Only about 10 percent of the of the nation’s approximately 5,000 airports provide service to airlines, leaving the remaining number for general and corporate aircraft, according to David A. NewMyer, chair of the Department of Aviation Management and Flight.
The University’s nationally recognized aviation programs -- aviation flight, aviation management, and aviation technologies -- are part of the College of Applied Sciences and Arts.
The itinerary for the day is:
- 8-9 a.m. -- Check-in. Arrival of students, parents and chaperones, and arrival of visiting corporate and general aviation planes at Southern Illinois Airport.
- 9 a.m. -- Group photo on the main ramp.
- 9:05-11:45 a.m. -- Introductory flights for the first 40 participants and tours of SIUC’s aviation facilities.
- 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. -- Complimentary lunch provided by SIUC aviation and Southern Illinois Airport Authority in main terminal.
- 12:30-1:45 p.m. -- Panel discussion on aviation career tracks and opportunities with corporate and general aviation professionals, along with information on SIUC’s aviation programs, Aviation Technologies Building, room 146.
- 2 p.m. -- Meet at the SIUC Student Center for a walking tour of the campus. Bus transportation will be available for those who want to ride to the campus. Others are welcome to drive their own vehicles.