For Immediate Release
April 29, 2022
Contact:
VNY Public Relations
(818) 442-6526
NEARLY 200 STUDENTS ATTEND VAN NUYS AIRPORT AVIATION CAREER DAY
(Van Nuys, CA) – April 2, 2022 – , (Van Nuys, CA) Today, nearly 200 students attended the 16th Annual “The Sky’s the Limit: Aviation Career Day” event, which was presented by Van Nuys Airport (VNY). This annual event, which was held virtually for a second consecutive year, provides a forum for local high school students to learn about the wide variety of career paths available in an airport environment directly from engaging leaders of organizations in the dynamic aviation and aerospace industries.
“Aviation Career Day exposes students to high paying careers right in their backyard,” said Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez, Council District 6. "I'm glad that Valley students have this unique opportunity to network with important industry leaders as they explore career options.”
"Aviation Career Day allows us and our partners to engage directly with students, and in doing so, show them that anything is possible if you are dedicated and work hard to reach your goals," said Justin Erbacci, Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles World Airports. "Modern aviation relies on professionals from law enforcement, technology, communications, commerce and many other fields, and our message to students is that there is a place for their career interests at our airports."
This year's event was co-hosted by City Council President Martinez, VNY and the Valley Economic Alliance. The program featured more than 20 organizations, with representatives using breakout sessions to share information about their organizations, careers and personal stories. This year's program was supported by the Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce and staff from SongDivision.
Following welcomes from Council President Martinez and CEO Erbacci, students were able to choose between concurrent breakout sessions with different speakers. Among the speakers were Nancy Herrera, who shared her professional journey from attending North Valley Occupational Center to currently working at JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory). On behalf of LAWA, students also heard from VNY Airport Director Flora Margheritis, who discussed her path started with an internship with LAWA and led to becoming director of one of the busiest and innovative airports in the nation.
Attending organizations included LAWA, the Los Angeles Airport Police Division, Los Angeles Fire Department, Aerolease/Aeroplex, Clay Lacy Aviation, the U.S. Navy, Sun Air Jets, the Federal Aviation Administration and others. Participants were also treated to a behind-the-scenes look at the history and daily operations of VNY.
More than 20,000 students have participated in annual Aviation Career Day events since the first one held in 2006.
VNY is one of two airports owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), a self-supporting branch of the City of Los Angeles, governed by a seven-member Board of Airport Commissioners who are appointed by the mayor and approved by the Los Angeles City Council.
One of the world's busiest general aviation airports, VNY serves as a valued San Fernando Valley resource, providing ongoing leadership in general aviation, business and community service. Dedicated to noncommercial air travel, VNY had over 232,000 operations in 2020. More than 200 businesses are located on the 730-acre airport, including four major fixed-base operators and numerous aviation service companies. Annually, the airport contributes approximately $2 billion to the Southern California economy and supports over 10,000 jobs. In addition, VNY provides programs to benefit local residents, along with educational initiatives and aviation-related career and training opportunities. For more information, visit iflyvny.com, like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/VNYOfficial, follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Alternative formats in large print, braille, audio, and other forms (if possible) will be provided upon request.
