Educators’ Day at San Jose International Airport
In the Bay Area, Pam Gutman, Deputy Sector Navigator, Advanced Transportation and Logistics (ATL), is working to strengthen the partnerships between the region’s aviation colleges and the aviation employers and airports in the area.
Over the summer Pam helped coordinate the participation of students and college faculty in an educators’ day at San Jose International Airport held on July 17, 2018. Faculty and students from several Bay Area colleges were invited, including City College of San Francisco, College of Alameda, Gavilan College and Solano College.
The event was called “Working at SJC” and was primarily sponsored by Alaska Airlines, the Mineta San Jose International Airport and the Bay Area Council. Approximately 100 people attended the event including many local political and business dignitaries and the Airport Commissioner, Catherine Hendrix.
Career panel discussion
Two panels of industry experts and career aviation staff spoke about their aviation careers and about the broad opportunities available to students at the airport, the various airlines and the other airport-based employers, such as McGee Air Services, The Hudson Group, HMS Host and the Transportation Security Administration.
Two faculty from College of Alameda’s aviation program participated in the career panels: Hoi Ko, Department Chair of the Aircraft Maintenance Technology Program, and Marquis Bosuego, Adjunct Faculty and current Aircraft Line Maintenance Supervisor at Alaska Airlines.
Industry representatives stressed to attendees that the aviation industry has many openings, and a wide spectrum of careers is available to interested students. Although the event was scheduled during the summer break, several potential students were interviewed by faculty from the four colleges. The students were interested in going to school while working part-time with the airlines or at the airport.
Faculty also explored the types of jobs available to both part-time and full-time students with industry employers. Pam is following up with several of the employers and is working with the colleges to plan the next aviation event for both college and high school students. Faculty and students were also invited to participate in a walking tour of the airport facilities and a guided tour of the Alaska Airlines’ baggage handling systems and tarmac-based operations.
