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Highlights in Hindsight: Conferences Galore!

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First feature post: CONFERENCES

*note: I originally wrote this post two weeks ago*

I am currently sitting in the computer lab waiting for an online course exam to start. Walking through my mental to-do list for this week–finish online course, finish AutoCAD drawings of my airport layout, complete Airport Operations Manual (AOM) revisions–I realize I will be stuck in front of the computer for a while.

But looking back on our program, we’ve had quite a bit of field exposure. I still have most nametags/lanyards from the conferences we’ve attended:

1. Term 1-British Columbia Aviation Council (BCAC) Annual Workshop Conference

October of first year. The theme was “The Future of Airport Infrastructure”. One and a half months into the first term, we attended BCAC’s annual workshop of 100+ industry professionals across the province. Like, talking about legitimate airport concerns. Our entire class went in not knowing what to expect and came out pleasantly surprised that we understood a major topic: Safety Management Systems (SMS). It was one of the first aviation-related courses we took before the conference. SMS is a systematic approach to safety that is being implemented in phases across aviation organizations in Canada. For many, SMS requires more of an organizational and employee philosophy change regarding safety measures and reporting processes than anything else. For us students, it was easy to accept because the SMS approach filled an otherwise blank slate. As we marvelled at the different attitudes regarding SMS at the conference, our instructors poked and nudged us to “network”. They are seasoned industry professionals and have contacts all across the province, so after they finish hugging and small talking with their contacts, they would turn to the nearest student and introduce him/her to the contact. After a while, our confidence was boosted enough and we started introducing ourselves. I walked out of the conference with increased awareness of the industry and about four business cards. Oh, and a satisfied tummy filled with chicken and chocolate mousse.

2. Term 2-Canadian Helicopter Company (CHC) Quality and Safety Summit

March of the following year. Right before we headed out for our first practicums at the end of the second term, we spent three days volunteering as ambassadors to one of the world’s best recognized aviation safety conferences. The Summit runs for about a week and is jam packed with courses by the SMS experts from around the world. There were about 10 different courses running simultaneously at any given time during the three days we were there (thankfully the Westin Bayshore Hotel (I know!) has enough conference rooms to hold the some thousand people present). The annual Summit has used BCIT Aviation Operations students for a while now, and this year’s volunteers included the Airport Operations Class 15 (my class), Airport Operations Class 16 (international students) and Flight Operations Class 10 (pilot students). Uniformed in conspicuous red dress shirts, we were assigned shifts on positions such as registration, speaker’s assistant and room setup. On free shifts, we can go into a course and listen. $3000 worth of conference info for free? Score. As a bonus, we also got breakfast and lunch everyday. We were not able to network as much this time because we were working, but it was still a valuable experience. I think it also made the attendees more aware of BCIT’s programs. No one could miss our red shirts, which we got to keep =)

3. Term 4-BCAC Annual Workshop Conference–Silverwings Banquet

October of second year, we went again! The theme at last month’s BCAC conference was still “The Future of Airport Infrastructure”, but the speakers focused more on the issue of capital project funding. The annual Silverwings banquet followed the conference, and this year’s banquet was a milestone for me. Though I did not attend the banquet, those closest to me in the industry were honoured with awards from BCAC. Three students from my class received scholarships from BCAC! Lynne Denison Foster, our first instructor in the program, received a Lifetime Achievement Award as a leading aviation instructor at BCIT! My first practicum host, the Canadian Rockies International Airport in Cranbrook, BC, received the William Templeton Award for aviation market development, community outreach and environmental initiatives! A belated hip-hip-hooray for all of them!


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