Wings and Helicopters magazines, in partnership with premier sponsor WestJet, on May 25 hosted the first leg of the annual Careers in Aviation Expo in WestJet’s new 787 Dreamliner hangar – a $50 million investment of 125,000 square feet that officially opened in mid-April. The event was also sponsored by Levearo Aviation (Platinum), Centennial College, Diamond Aircraft, Flying Colours and Million Air (Silver); and Pratt & Whitney (Bronze).
Primarily post-secondary students, along with air cadets from various squadrons of the greater Calgary area, spent the day speaking with 30 exhibitors and gaining insight from the presentations of seven industry leaders, including: WestJet’s Jeff Martin (COO), John Aaron (VP, Encore) and John Romane (director, line maintenance); Curtis Nadon, chief pilot of Mountain View Helicopters; Ginny Koseruba and Olena Zagoskina of Cascade Aerospace; and Gray Norman of Textron Aviation and BizAv YTI.
The second leg of this year’s Careers in Aviation Expo is scheduled to take place at WestJet’s 737 hangar in Mississauga on September 21, 2019. Below are a few of the scenes from the May 25 Calgary event:
Attendees tour WestJet’s Boeing 737 MAX.
A WestJet Encore Bombardier Q400 on display, noted as a favourite to fly by the operation’s VP and GM, John Aaron during his presentation.
Synergy Aviation describes its Guimbal Cabri G2.
The 737 MAX’s CFM Leap engine on full display.
Wings’ national advertising manager, Mena Miu, inside the 737 MAX.
The interchangeable and programmable flight deck of the MAX.
Essential Helicopters pilots Jeremy Wilson and Mackenzie Morrow, who flew in from Callander, Ontario, speak with Calgary-area Air Cadets.
Rhodielyn Padilla of Edmonton-based Elevate Aviation.
Student Aviation Financing sharing insight into the costs of aviation education
Sunwest Aviation, founded in 1986, provides private jet charters from Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Vancouver.
WestJet’s chief operating officer Jeff Martin provides the opening keynote at Careers in Aviation Calgary.
John Aaron, VP and GM of WestJet Encore, describes what it takes to become a commercial pilot.
Judy Cameron and Lauren Egglestone representing Northern Lights Aero Foundation at Wings’ Careers in Aviation Expo. (Photo: Jon Robinson)
Gordon Taylor of the Canadian Armed Forces speaks with attendees.
Carole Sturm of Harbour Air Seaplanes, based in Richmond, BC, the largest such operation in the world.
Greg Laton of Namao Flying Club.
McMurray Aviation is proudly celebrating 35 years of operation in 2019.
Marc Vanderaegen of Southern Interior Flight Centre, part of The Carson Group.
Curtis Nadon, chief pilot of Mount View Helicopters, shared a presentation on the life of a helicopter pilot with attendees.
Tyson Phillips, flight instructor and charter pilot with Super T Aviation.
Mike Bunka describes the services of Avmax Group.
Joseph Rifai of Springbank Air Training College.
Ginny Koseruba, program manager with Cascade Aerospace, describes the position of one of North America’s most-prominent aerospace engineering and maintenance contractors.
Olena Zagoskina, an aerospace engineer with Cascade Aerospace, describes a range of developments, including her research into lightning strikes.
John Romane, director, line maintenance with WestJet, presents trends from the world of Aircraft Maintenance Engineers; and how WestJet is supporting the 787 Dreamliner.
Gray Norman of Textron Aviation and BizAv YTI decribes the opportunities in business aviation.
WestJet’s ultra-low-cost carrier Swoop began flights in June 2018.