NASAO 2025 Convention & Trade Show

Speaker

September 23, 2025 | 1:00 – 2:00pm

The aviation industry is facing significant workforce challenges, including an aging workforce, a growing demand for skilled professionals, and the need for new skills to keep up with rapid technological advancements and safety. This has created a talent gap, compounded by high training costs and limited access to educational opportunities, particularly in underserved communities. To address these issues, it is crucial to invest in developing the next generation of aviation professionals through high school and university programs. This panel will include representatives from universities in the Caribbean and the United States to discuss and highlight their aviation/aerospace programs currently strengthening educational pathways and industry collaborations, to ensure a future-ready aviation workforce that meets the industry’s evolving needs.

Speaker

September 24, 2025 | 11:00am – 12:00pm

This panel session will feature four representatives from DOTs across the country discussing their system plan implementation. Topics will include Minnesota DOT’s NAVAIDs rightsizing framework for VORs and ILS, which has yielded millions in savings annually, and their automated data collection platform that keeps system plan findings current and accessible. Arizona DOT will discuss their Airport Land Use Manual (ALUM) tools, including template land use regulations, community presentations, educational videos, and an interactive GIS application for visualizing airspace surfaces and influence area boundaries. North Dakota DOT will provide an update on their innovative quantification of the economic impact of their aviation workforce, including their first-of-its-kind economic loss evaluation due to unfilled aviation positions. Tennessee DOT will present their Tennessee Aviation Professionals (TAP) Academy, which supports workforce development, and their robust statewide planning program.