ATCA ANNOUNCEMENT March  15,  2007  

Students to Play Big Role at Air Traffic Control Association 51st

Technical Conference and Exposition in Atlantic City  

ATCA President, Pete Dumont, has invited the FAA Air Transportation Centers of Excellence (COEs) to participate in a  "Student Employment Networking" and ATCA familiarization opportunity at the Technical Symposium in Atlantic City on May 9 and 10.

 The ATCA Technical Symposium is attended by a significant number of the COE academic and industry partners and affiliates.  ATCA is also including outreach activities to attract both targeted local high schools and area colleges and universities.

Dumont said, "We would like to attract those students interested in potential internships, co-op assignments, and full-time employment opportunities with organizations serving the aviation community." To help us attract such students, the usual conference registration fee will be waived for all college students with proper identification. That will in turn permit them free and unencumbered access to both industry and government exhibitors and topical technical sessions led by some of the world's recognized aviation leaders.  

Student Participation

This is ATCA's second formal student invitation intended to encourage academic institutions and young aviation professionals to attend its conference and stimulate recruitment efforts through the national COE university network as well as with local colleges and universities.  Patricia Watts, National Program Director for FAA Centers of Excellence, said, "A key objective of this initiative is to facilitate interviews with our many mutual industry members and to direct students to HR representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Security Administration, and the Department of Commerce, and others" 

Pete Dumont, added, "It is important that we involve the future leaders in our industry as early as possible in their careers."  Program information for student participation in the conference, including registration, is posted and updated on the ATCA Website at http://www.atca.org

Dr. Patricia Watts, is fielding requests concerning student participation in the conference; she's available at (609) 485-5043 or patricia.watts@faa.gov

Exhibit Participation

ATCA is encouraging those in the Delaware Valley (NJ/PA/NY/MD/DE ) to participate in this effort. Universities and their corporate affiliates may obtain exhibitor information and space from Gail Hanline, ATCA's Director of Conference Services at 703-299-2430 or gail.hanline@atca.org