NATIONAL HARBOR, Md., 3 Oct. 2012.Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA) President and CEO Peter F. Dumont opened the 57th annual ATCA conference and exposition in National Harbor, Md., with an overview of the air traffic control/air traffic management industry and the challenges being faced by the global aviation community.
ATCA’s event has grown year-over-year in attendees and exhibitors, with an increasing number of international visitors. Attendees and exhibitors at the annual event hailed from the U.S., Czech Republic, Spain, Ireland, Sweden, Latvia, and Japan, among other locales. Conversations also centered on meeting the growing ATC, ATM, and airport needs and demands of Dubai, Australia, and more.
The ATCA event had a significant focus on the future of air traffic control, including greater investment in today’s youth, education, and the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.
ATCA Chairman and Vice President of Industry Affairs at Metron Aviation Monte Belger noted that the association sponsored 500 students focused on ATC/ATM to attend this year’s conference and exhibition; in fact, the budding professionals were seen walking the exhibition floor, attending talks in the Presentation Theater, and inquiring about internships at various exhibit booths on the show floor.
