Northwest Aviation Conference & Trade Show Gears Up Next Month

Now in its 41st year, the event is part trade show, part career fair, and part social event that provides an opportunity for the aviation community to come together in a central location.

The event, which runs February 22-23, is held at the Washington State Fair Events Center in Puyallup, south of Seattle and east of Tacoma. Many pilots opt to fly to the event, parking their aircraft at Pierce County-Thun Field (KPLU) or Tacoma Narrows Airport (KTIW).

This year, the list of vendors includes aircraft manufacturers, nonprofit aviation organizations and clubs, airports, fly-in destinations, pilot suppliers, avionics and aircraft parts manufacturers, and aviation schools running the gamut from FBOs to colleges.

The show is also popular as a career fair, according to conference coordinator Rachel Hansen, who said it has always been a means to gain information about potential career opportunities.

"This year we welcome back Alaska Airlines, Skywest, and Alaska Seaplanes," Hansen said, adding that the vendors list includes flight schools and other businesses that welcome entry-level aviators and pilots looking for hours.

Several airports, airport sponsors, and aviation agencies will be on hand as well, with representatives available to answer questions about careers outside the cockpit.

Education is a major component of the show, Hansen said. This year's event will boast more than 75 hours of safety seminars on topics including pilot techniques to develop new skills. 

Several presentations will be given by subject matter experts. Speakers include:

Jolie Lucas

Lucas is a psychotherapist, aviation writer, and commercial pilot who has been on the blog and lecture circuit for more than 18 years. Lucas' specialty is risk management and aviation psychology.

In 2003 as a private pilot Lucas experienced engine failure shortly after takeoff while at the controls of her father's Mooney M20C when the engine lost a cylinder during climbout. Lucas, her father, her college-age daughter, and her daughter's boyfriend were on board. The purpose of the flight was to take the daughter back to school.

The aircraft came down in a swamp and flipped. Everyone survived with minor injuries. Lucas, who grew up in aviation, was back in the air a week later and has turned that experience into a lesson for other pilots.

Richard Kennington

Kennington has had an interest in aviation since childhood, crediting the tour of an air traffic control (ATC) tower with opening his eyes to the career field.  As he waited for a slot at ATC school he worked at flight school as a dispatcher and earned his private pilot certificate. Today he works at Portland tower and he is a developer of recurrent courses for all air traffic controllers.

Jonathan ‘JJ’ Greenway

Greenway learned to fly at Seattle's Boeing Field (KBFI) in the 1970s, becoming a flight instructor then progressing to flying in the corporate world in the South Pacific. His career included flying jets for American Airlines before he returned to corporate aviation in 2003. He's a favorite speaker at the aviation conference.

"The event is an opportunity to be a safer pilot and create relationships with businesses and other pilots," Hansen said. 

Admission to the Northwest Aviation Conference & Trade Show is $10, or $15 for two-day pass. Children under the age of 16 are admitted free.