The thirty-third annual Northwest Aviation Conference and Trade Show will take place Feb. 20 and 21 in Puyallup, Washington, and AOPA, a sponsor of the event, encourages members to attend or sign up for volunteer duty at the Northwest mountain region’s largest aviation gathering.
The annual conference, which draws more than 12,000 visitors, will feature more than 75 hours of seminars, and offers an expansive, 122,000-square-foot exhibit area. The conference is hosted by the nonprofit Washington Aviation Association. AOPA is a bronze sponsor.
“The event allows participants to follow tracks based upon their interest in aviation. Students from local schools and colleges benefit from presentations on education and financing options as well as panels featuring candid discussions with aviation professionals,” said a news release by the event’s organizers.
Members who stop by AOPA’s booth at the conference will have a chance to share their stories of flying in the Northwest with AOPA staff members, learn about volunteering with the AOPA Airport Support Network, or renew their membership at a special rate, said Warren Hendrickson, AOPA’s Northwest Mountain regional manager.
Pilots visiting the AOPA booth also will be able to learn about the programs that advance the AOPA You Can Fly Initiative, or sign up for volunteer duty at the AOPA Regional Fly-In that will be held Aug. 20 in Bremerton, Washington.
AOPA will present a variety of seminars at this year’s conference, including two flight-safety presentations by the Air Safety Institute; a “Maximum Fun, Minimum Cost” seminar for flying clubs; an AOPA Rusty Pilot seminar; and a Northwest Mountain regional update by the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Aviation division. There will be a breakfast for AOPA Airport Support Network volunteers.
The fourth annual NW Aviation Career Forum will precede the conference on Feb. 19. Pre-registration is required.
The venue for the Northwest Aviation Conference and Trade Show is the Showplex exhibit hall at the Blue Gate of the Western Washington Fairgrounds in Puyallup. General admission is $5. Students 16 and under will receive free admission. Parking is free. Some workshops and special events have additional fees as provided on the event website.
For pilots who fly in to Pierce County Airport-Thun Field in Puyallup, free shuttle service will be available to and from the conference starting a half-hour before the conference opens until a half-hour after it closes each day, courtesy of Spencer Aircraft.
