There's a future in the sky!

There's a future in the sky

The Air Transport Association of Canada (ATAC) has launched the Fly Canada campaign to provide a ton of resources for people who want to get started on a career in aviation: information on career pathways, scholarships, FAQs, and events.  This amazing website has information about aviation careers like Airport Operations, Air Traffic Control, Flight Attendants, Dispatchers and Pilots.  

Take a look here:  https://flycanada.org

New Posting - BCIT Student Life

Student Life is Hiring Student Life Ambassadors for the 2019 - 2020 School Year!

Siobhan O'Kelly Jan 16, 2019 12:55 PM

BCIT’s Student Life Office is hiring Student Life Ambassadors (SLAs) for the upcoming 2019 - 2020 school year. SLAs play an important role representing BCIT, seeking student feedback on a range of services and supports, and collaboratively designing and implementing Student Life Programing from a student centered perspective. The job will average 10 hours per week and will run from Tuesday, August 6, 2019 until Friday, May 15, 2020.

Instructions to Apply

Students who are interested in applying can learn more about the Student Life Ambassador position and find directions on how to apply by visiting www.bcit.ca/studentlifeambassadors.

All applicants must submit the following documents by email to student_life@bcit.ca or in-person to the Student Life Office (SW01 – 1022, Burnaby Campus) as part of their application package: 

1. SLA Application Form
2. SLA Availability Form
   
3. Current Resume in Word or PDF format only
4. Cover Letter in Word or PDF format only

The deadline to apply for the 2019 – 2020 school year is Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at 11:55pm.

Airport Operations Meets Securiguard

Airport Operations Class 24 had the opportunity to get up close and personal with Nunu, one of the Explosive Detection dogs at the Vancouver International Airport. 

Thanks to Richard LaForge, Operations Director, Securiguard for bringing Nunu and the senior trainer to the Aviation Security Class to talk about how Securiguard supports aviation security at YVR.  Thank you very much Richard!

Fun Fact:  each Securiguard K9 team includes a dog and a handler who will patrol 10 - 19 kilometers in a day checking out all corners of the airport - with an especially careful eye on those nasty unaccompanied bags. 

Virtual Student Services at ATC

Virtual Student Services Appointments

Shannon Greke Jan 8, 2019 1:06 PM

Did you know that BCIT offers virtual appointments for students at the ATC campus?
Using a Cisco videophone over a secure encrypted server, students can connect with Accessibility Services, Counselling and Student Development, Student Financial Aid and Awards, the Student Life Office, and International. 
Students can book virtual appointments directly by contacting the specific Student Service.  For more information about all Student Services check out:  https://www.bcit.ca/studentservices/

Congratulations Sabrina Nowshin

Congratulations to Sabrina Nowshin!  

2019 has started off very well for Sabrina. She has been awarded an NWAAAE Scholarship, will start a new position with Jazz Aviation as a STOC agent on January 14, and is on-track to graduate from Airport Operations Class 23 on February 26.  

This is great success, and well deserved.  As a student, Sabrina brought passion, energy and dedication to the table. She was engaged in many activities throughout the Airport Operations program, including the BC Aviation Council, the YVR FOD Walk, a Nanaimo Airport Tour, and the Boundary Bay Airshow to name a few.  She also had the opportunity to work with Jazz during her practicum, which allowed her to explore where her strengths and skills might provide a good fit to launch a successful career in aviation.  

Congratulations Sabrina!

Pop-Up International Student Centre

The International Student Centre is available for students to ask questions or get some information on January 14^th !  

is simply set up a table outside the cafeteria as The “Pop-up International Student Centre” will be set up outside the ATC Cafeteria from 11:00 - 12:30 am and again from 2:30 - 4:00 pm.  Students are welcome to stop by during breaks through the day!

Congratulations Airline and Flight Operations Class 16

Representatives from Airline and Flight Operations Class 16 returned to the Aerospace Campus today to celebrate the end of the 16-month Diploma program.  Already more than half of the graduates of this class have found positions ranging from Flight Instructor to Dispatch/Pilot-in-waiting!  This is certainly a terrific time to enter the aviation industry. 
Congratulations to Class 16.
Pictured left to right: Michael Tse, Kyle McLennan, Jaymes Godkin, Aga Sobczyk, Ryan Coates, Alex Mogyoros, and Michael Hersh. 

Field Trip to Nanaimo Airport

Monday July 02 was a red letter day for five students from Airport Operations Class 23 who made their way to Nanaimo Airport (YCD) for a tour of the operation.

The students are grateful to Reg Brady, Equipment, Facilities and Maintenance Manager at YCD, who took time on the statutory holiday to show them the operation and equipment used throughout the year.  YCD is the basis of the fictionalized airport several students are using for the Airport Operations capstone project, and this close look will be a big help.

Thank you to Andy Chen for the group photo (left to right): Henry Law, Andy Chen, Reg Brady, Cody Yang, Mira Chang, and Sabrina Nowshin

Student Life Ambassadors

Student Life will be hiring additional Student Life Ambassadors (SLAs) for the upcoming 2018 – 2019 school year. SLAs will continue to play an important role representing BCIT, seeking student feedback on a range of services and supports, and collaboratively designing and implementing Student Life Programing from a student centered perspective. The job will average 10 hours per week and will run from Monday, August 20, 2018 until Friday, May 10, 2019.

Instructions to Apply

Students who are interested in applying can learn more about the Student Life Ambassador position and find directions on how to apply on the Student Life Ambassador webpage. Job postings can also be viewed on both BCIT’s eJobs and the Student Association’s Career Track.

All applicants must submit the following documents by email or in-person, to the Student Life Office (SW01 – 1022, Burnaby Campus) as part of their application package:

1. SLA Application Form

1. SLA Availability Form

1. Current Resume

1. Cover Letter

The deadline to apply for the 2018-2019 school year is Saturday, June 30 at 11:55pm.

For more information, visit bcit.ca/studentlifeambassadors

Special Guest - Jeff Wittrup

Airline and Flight Operations Class 17

Airline and Flight Operations Class 17 was privileged today to have an impromptu meeting with Jeff Wittrup, Chief Pilot with Pacific Coastal Airlines.

Jeff dropped in to share his perspective with this great class of future pilots.  The growth predicted for the industry is certainly good news and we all came away very inspired! 
Thank you Jeff! 

Welcome Aboard AVFO Class 17

Welcome to Airline and Flight Operations Class 17!  These 26 students began their journey to becoming Commercial Pilots on Monday May 07:
Sina Amohammadi, Joel Busby, Omar Carim, Jesse Cebuliak, Justin Chan, Kevin Chang, Thomas Clark, Michael Cooper, Justin De Vos, Clayton Gabor, Jehan Hariramani, Alex Jang, Landon Larose, Anastasia Lisnevskaya, Braden Mamen, Stefan Markovic, Nikhon Mehroin, Aleksandr Mezentsev, Trevor Moreau, Nicki Park, Luke Reilly, Avi Singh, Colin Stonier, Greg Vaughan, Sebastian Hladik, and Myles Johnston.

BCIT Student Innovation Challenge

Student Innovation Challenge

Are you an innovator, entrepreneur, visionary?
Working on a great capstone or class project?
Have your own invention or idea?
Bring your idea to life. Enter the 2018 Student Innovation Challenge.

• Over $14,000 in cash and prizes to be won
• Deadline: May 6, 2018

For further details and to check out the application process, please click here

Alumni Up-date: Kent Thai

As a former Class Representative of Airport Operations Class 22, I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for teaching me as well as my classmates during the Airport Operations program.

It has been a few months since I graduated from Airport Operations Class 22 and I would like to share a little story of my career in the aviation industry. 

For me, the Airport Operations Diploma program was an intense 16-month program with lots of happy and stressful moments, which usually pushed me to give up my plans with my friends. In order to keep up and not falling behind others in my class, effective time management is always the key. 

The biggest accomplishment in my life as an Airport Operations student was that I became a recipient of both YVR Student Achievement Award and North West Chapter American Association of Airport Executives Scholarship in 2017. 

Before graduating, the Flight Attendant Manager of Pacific Coastal Airlines, who was my practicum host, gave me a call, and I was lucky enough to receive a job offer to work in  the airline's Cabin Safety department. 

During the first few months at my new job, the Pacific Coastal Chief Flight Attendant, told me that collaboration and kaizen (continuous improvement) are extremely important at work. At the moment I recognized those terms that I learned about during the Airport Operations program, I realized that I have not only gained knowledge about aviation through this program, but also learned how to perform and apply my knowledge at my workplace. 

After three months of working as a Document Production Assistant, I have been promoted to be the Training and Document Control Coordinator for Pacific Coastal Airlines. The critical role of this position is to maintain all company manuals in the activities such as adding new revisions, issuing transmittals and maintaining up-to-date LEPs for all manuals. And now, my career journey in the aviation industry has officially begun.

Finally, I am very grateful for what my instructors, family, friends and classmates have done to support me throughout 16 months at BCIT Aerospace Campus. 

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to share my aviation story. I have also attached a photo of me taken at the campus' hangar during my graduation ceremony in February 2018.

Kind regards, 

Kent Thai

Aviation Leadership Foundation - Mentorship Program

Mentorship Program 2018

The Aviation Leadership Foundation, in collaboration with the BC Aviation Council (BCAC), kicked off the 5th year of the Mentorship Program on February 8, 2018 at the YVR Sea to Sky room.

This six-month program is dedicated to providing opportunities for participants to learn, network, build leadership skills, attend events and connect with others in the Aviation community. The program brings together aviation professionals at different stages of their journey.

The mentorship program engages a Community Leader, an Emerging Leader, and a Youth Leader who have demonstrated leadership or leadership potential in their organizations or communities.

As a motivated, committed, and passionate leader who wants to connect with other likeminded aviation professionals, the committee invites you to submit your expressions of interest for the 2018 Mentorship Program.

Visit our program webpage to learn more about this exciting program and how to get involved:  http://www.leadershipinaviation.com/mentorship.html

Upcoming Mentorship Meet Up events are held at YVR’s Sea to Sky room on the following dates:

• April 12 ​Meet-Up #3 Guest Speaker: Trevor Herneet, Regional Director, Policy and Issues, Transport Canada.
• May 10​ Meet-Up #4 Guest Speaker TBA.
• June 14​ Meet-Up #5 + Wind-Up Guest Speaker: Craig Richmond, CEO, Vancouver International Airport.

Sessions run 5:30-8:30pm (doors open at 5:00pm)

About the Aviation Leadership Foundation:

The Aviation Leadership Foundation is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to advancing leadership in aviation. It is committed to promoting positive change in our industry and organizations. Our vision is ‘A Leader in Every Chair.

Congratulations Airport Operations Class 22

Congratulations to all the graduate of Airport Operations Class 22, who celebrated their graduation on one of Vancouver's snowiest days, February 23!  

Congratulations to:

• Justin Angulo
• Karin Chan
• Sammi Choi
• Bradley (Brad) Critcheley
• Sykhniyamat (Niyamat) Gill
• Rui-Min (Ramon) Kuo
• Shiyun (Swing) Liu
• Mathew (Matt) Lum:  Best Academic Performance, awarded by the Ocean Park Foundation
• Jose Malonda
• Jabes Meneses
• Daniel Park
• Eric Pizarro
• Jaskaran Sidhu
• Sina Tajbakhsh
• Duc (Kent) Thai
• Jason Tran:  Graduating Achievement Award, awarded by the Ocean Park Foundation
• Shi Ying Wing) Zhou
• Haofei (Felix) Zhou

And many thanks to Chris Van Walleghem, Program Assistant, Technical Programs at the ATC who took the grad pictures!  For all the graduate photos from February 23, please check out the BCIT Flickr page:  https://flic.kr/s/aHsmfU728a

Craig Richmond at the Vancouver Board of Trade

Craig Richmond, CEO of the Vancouver Airport Authority presented an inspirational look at the Vancouver Airport Authority at the Vancouver Board of Trade on January 23.  Some highlights included a look back at the past year, and some great plans for growth in the coming years.  Take a look!

Aviation Leadership Foundation Mentorship Program

The Aviation Leadership Foundation Mentorship Program committee is recruiting Community Leaders, Emerging Leaders and Youth Leader participants!

The aim of the Mentorship committee is to engage as many individuals as we can, to provide a quality experience for the participants in 2018.

As an aviation professional, we would like to invite you to join the program, or, if the timing is not right for you, then perhaps you can recommend or refer someone who has strong leadership capability within the aviation community.  Partnering with you for recommendations and referrals will ensure we reach the great heights we aspire to. 

To learn more about the 2018 Mentorship program, or to apply, please check the Aviation Leadership Foundation Mentorship Program-2018 webpage.

Please share our program webpage with individuals you think may be interested in joining our program over the next six months.  A great kickoff event is planned for February 8 at YVR’s Sea To Sky room from 5:30-9:00 pm, with an experiential activity to be conducted by facilitator, Larry Birckhead, and some light snacks to get you through the dinner hour.

With your help, we will create a successful and memorable experience for all involved!

Airport Operations Class 23 visits the ATC Hangar

Today, Airport Operations Class 23 (pictured left) had an in-depth tour of the BCIT Aerospace Hangar and the aircraft housed there as part of an introduction to the airline industry (AIRC 1009). 

Ralph Webb is one of the most senior instructors in the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering programs here at the ATC and he brings his background with airlines including Canadian Airlines and Air Canada with him as a special guide!

Thank you very much to Mr Webb for sharing his expertise, and thank you to Sabrina Nowshin for sharing her picture of the event.
. 

Airport Operations visit Nav Canada

Gary Harris, our course instructor (AIRC 1005-Air Nav & Air Traffic Services) wanted us to comprehend the activities that go on  around a real Air Traffic Control facility. 

So, on 17 November, Airport Operations Class 23 visited the NAV Canada Air Traffic Control (ATC) Facility at Surrey, BC.  We were able to see the classroom environment, simulator rooms, and Control Area where Traffic Controllers were working on real time air traffic around YVR and rescheduling delayed flights. 

It was such an honor and amazing experience to see and learn from such experienced Air Traffic Controllers. 

Update and photo by Sabrina Nowshin (Airport Operations Class 23)

Airport Operations Class 23 on Final Approach

The final push is on for Airport Operations Class 23.  Now in the final days of the program they are putting the finishing touches on their capstone projects, ensuring that the AutoCAD drawings and all of the manuals for their personal airports are in place and reflective of all the safety and regulatory considerations are addressed.  

But that's not all!  In order to wrap up by mid-December, they are also preparing to explain their airport to an audience of industry experts including instructors and industry representatives!

It's a massive project, and one the students have been working on throughout the program.  When complete, the capstone project will highlight the students understanding of airport operations and management. 

Watch this space to celebrate the achievements of Airport Operations Class 23 at their graduation ceremony in February 2018.  In the meantime, congratulations to:  Justin Angulo, Karin Chan, William Chiu, Sammi Choi, Brad Critchley, Niyamat Gill, Ramon Kuo, Kyle Lam, Jamie Lee, Swing Liu, Matt Lum, Jose Malonda, Jabes Meneses, Daniel Park, Eric Pizarro, Jaskaran Sidhu, Sina Tajbakhsh, Kent Thai, Jason Tran, Felix Zhou and Wing Zhou!