Northwest Aviation Conference coming up

The event, presented by the Washington Aviation Association and industry sponsors, is the largest aviation conference in the Northwest Mountain Region. This year it will offer the more than 10,000 expected attendees approximately 75 hours of seminars, static aircraft displays, and more than 350 vendors’ displays in 122,000 square feet of display space at the Washington State Fair Events Center.

The event will be preceded on Feb. 22 by the seventh annual independent 2019 Northwest Aviation Career Forum from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.—an opportunity for individuals, students, employers, and educators to network and explore a wide variety of aviation career tracks.

AOPA is a Bronze Sponsor of the Northwest Aviation Conference and Trade Show, and along with the seminars, AOPA will have staff available to assist members with services; provide information about the You Can Fly initiative to get pilots flying and keep them flying; and offer discounted membership renewals at booths 610 and 611, said Warren Hendrickson, AOPA Northwest Mountain regional manager.

Volunteers who participate in the AOPA Airport Support Network program should visit the AOPA booth for the schedule of informational sessions.

According to the preliminary conference schedule, lapsed pilots raring to get back in the air will find the Rusty Pilots Seminar in Room A of the South Foyer on Feb. 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The seminar, to be presented by AOPA Rusty Pilots Instructor Philip Mandel, will help you understand what’s changed in aviation since you last took the controls and brush up on your VFR aviation knowledge. Attendance is free to AOPA members—or join AOPA and waive the nonmember fee of $79.

At 10:30 a.m. in the Keynote Area, Jason Miller of the Air Safety Institute will present “ASI Investigates: Weather accidents.” You will learn why getting the big weather picture is important; how to make better go/no-go decisions; tips to “weatherize” your mindset and avoid traps like flying VFR into IMC; and how technology can be a great tool or your worst enemy in weather flying.

On Feb. 24 at 11:30 a.m., Miller will be back in the Keynote Area to present “Fly By Night,” a look at night flying from a risk management perspective, using decades of accident data to identify common problems and recommend the ways to avoid them.

Admission to the Northwest Aviation Conference and Trade Show is $5 per day, including for those attending the Rusty Pilots Seminar. Conference admission is free for children 17 and under, and parking is free.