Rider Jet Center Draws About 1,100 to Aviation Expo

Rider Jet Center hosted about 1,100 high school and college-age students at the 20th annual Aviation Education & Career Expo in Hagerstown, Md., on Nov. 6. The full-service Fixed Base Operator has hosted the event for the past three years. About 65 vendors met students from across the mid-Atlantic region, while sponsors provided just under $300,000 in scholarships. Organizers called it the largest event of its kind in the mid-Atlantic.

Aviation Career Options

The event used part of a hangar for presentations and vendor booths, giving students opportunities for one-on-one consultations. This year’s “Dreams with Wings” theme covered careers including pilots, engineers, technicians and drone work.

“Rider Jet Center is very proud to host the annual Aviation Career Expo. I am personally pleased that we are giving young people exposure to aviation-related careers, while also helping students financially to reach their educational goals.”

Drone Training Scholarships

The Unmanned Safety Institute offered two scholarships this year, both $4,500. One supported a remote operator pathway, while the other covered a small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) maintenance technician scholarship.

“If there’s a use for an aircraft, there’s probably a use for a drone now in that industry. Every industry has some type of application, whether it’s inspection work, surveying, public safety, photography, videography, things like that.”

Recruiting Future Aviation Workers

Employers and industry groups also attended to recruit employees and interns. Representatives from Chantilly Air Jet Center sought candidates for roles including pilots, mechanics, line service technicians, customer service representatives, accounting professionals and scheduler/dispatchers.

The National Business Aviation Association and Greater Washington Business Aviation Association were among the organizations introducing students to business aviation. Nimble, an aviation safety management consultant, attended on behalf of client and expo sponsor Paragon Aviation Group.

A Community Aviation Event

Local elected officials attended the opening exercises and recognized the expo’s role at Hagerstown Regional Airport. The event brought together students, scholarship sponsors and aviation employers to help young people explore aviation careers.