Adult Education Students Gain Hands-On Work Experience at Van Nuys Airport Despite Poor Economy

VAN NUYS, Calif., April 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ —

                  Twenty students enrolled
                  at the North Valley
                  Occupational Center
                  (NVOC)? a division of the
                  L.A. Unified School
                  District that provides
                  adults affordable
                  technical and career
                  training? will gain
                  hands-on work experience
                  shadowing Van Nuys
                  Airport employees engaged
                  in a wide variety of
                  trade and professional
                  occupations, ranging from
                  aircraft mechanic to
                  accountant.  The Job
                  Shadow Day event,
                  Thursday, April 14, is
                  aimed at demonstrating
                  the career opportunities
                  available at airports
                  besides the traditional
                  roles of pilot and flight
    WHO:          attendant.

                  Promoting job creation:
                  Despite the reported
                  sharp decline in the
                  number of operations at
                  Van Nuys Airport over the
                  past decade, the non-
                  profit Van Nuys Airport
                  Association? a tenant
                  organization dedicated to
                  preserving aviation jobs
                  and businesses?  is
                  hosting the event to
                  increase awareness of
                  occupations not typically
                  associated with airports
                  such as office support,
                  computer applications,
                  graphic/web design,
                  sales and catering, and
    WHAT:         hotel administration.

                  Training the future
                  workforce: This event
                  comes at a time when the
                  U.S. Department of Labor
                  predicts a future
                  shortage of trained
                  aircraft mechanics, even
                  with the nation's high
                  unemployment rate.
                  Virtually 100 percent of
                  students who complete the
                  requirements for NVOC's
                  two-year airframe and
                  power plant mechanics
                  training program find
                  jobs.  However, proposed
                  cuts to California's
                  adult education budget
                  may curtail the school's
                  funding and students'
                  ability to train for
                  high-skilled, high-
                  paying positions.
                  Excellent interview and
                  photo opportunities
                  available on request.

                  Van Nuys Airport,
                  Thursday, April 14, 7:30
    WHEN/         a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
                              L.A. City
                              Councilmember
                              Tony Cardenas
                              greets students
    WHERE        7:30 a.m.    and mentors
                              Maguire
                              Aviation, 7155
                              Valjean Ave.,
                              Van Nuys, 91406

                              Students gain
                              hands-on work
                              experience at
                              the following
                  8:30 a.m.   locations:
                  to          Aerolease
                              Associates,
                              Airtel Plaza
                              Hotel, Clay
                              Lacy Aviation,
                              Elite Aviation,
                              Maguire
                              Aviation,
                              Pentastar
                              Aviation, Van
                              Nuys Airport
                              Public
                              Relations, Van
                              Nuys Airport
                              Airfield
                              Operations,
                              Office of
                              Councilmember
                 Noon         Tony Cardenas

                              Lunch with
                              presentation by
                              legendary
                              aviator,
                              entrepreneur
                              and National
                              Aviation Hall
                              of Fame
                              inductee Clay
                 12:30 p.m.   Lacy
                              Airtel Plaza
                              Hotel, 7277
                              Valjean Ave.,
                              Van Nuys, 91406

                  Stacy Geere at (661)
                  253-1059 or (818)
    CONTACT:      434-7633
                  For more about Van Nuys
                  Airport Association,
                  visit www.thevnaa.org

SOURCE Van Nuys Airport Association