Aerium Summit 2024: Advancing Aviation Education, Pathway Testimonials, Drone Technology, and Economic Growth

Johnstown, Pennsylvania - June 4, 2024 - The 2024 Aerium Summit, held in Johnstown, PA on May 28-30, concluded on a high note with a closing session that featured Congressman John Joyce (R-Blair), Carol (Annie) Petsonk, Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and Larry Shifflet, Executive Deputy Secretary for PennDOT. The session centered around ways the federal government can support regional airports – like the Johnstown-Cambria County Airport where the summit was held – which drive tourism, economic growth, and job creation for communities. 

In sum, the three-day event brought together industry leaders, government officials, educators, and aspiring aviators to deliberate on the future of aviation and strategies for progress. The summit also highlighted collaboration and innovation within aerospace education, and Aerium announced scholarships and awards for local students and industry professionals.

Themes and Highlights:

Aviation Education and Workforce Development

The summit placed significant emphasis on the importance of aviation education and its critical role in shaping the future of the aviation workforce. U.S. Rep. John Joyce (R-Blair) highlighted the necessity of comprehensive educational programs that combine theoretical knowledge with practical skills. "We want individuals to learn and have the experience in aviation, to work with their brains, to work with their hands," remarked Rep. Joyce. He further emphasized, "What Dr. Larry Nulton has developed here in our backyard at the John Murtha Airport is the opportunity to allow that education to continue – to continue at a high school level, to continue at a technical level, to continue at a college level."

Collaboration and Connectivity

Lt. Gov. Austin Davis underscored Aerium's commitment to fostering meaningful connections between students, educational institutions, and the aviation industry. "Aerium is preparing the next generation of pilots to learn, grow, and fly by cultivating relationships between students, educational institutions, and the aviation and aerospace industries," said Lt. Gov. Davis. Highlighting Pennsylvania’s competitive spirit, he added, "As the governor often says, ‘the Shapiro-Davis administration is competitive as hell.’ We’re tired of losing to our neighboring states like Ohio and West Virginia. That’s why we want to support great industries right here in Pennsylvania, such as aviation and aerospace."

Advancements in Drone Technology

The summit also showcased cutting-edge developments in drone technology, exploring their applications in various sectors including logistics, agriculture, and emergency response. "Drones represent a unique opportunity to leverage this technology to grow the economy and provide the necessary tools to a number of industries," noted Rep. Joyce. State Sen. Wayne Langerholc (R-Cambria) added, "The sky is the limit here. This can be a multibillion-dollar industry for our region that will not only help our residents and save lives but also employ individuals in family-sustaining jobs."

Drones in Agriculture Featured

The widespread utility of drones in agriculture was presented in a panel hosted by PA Drone Association President, Dr. John G. Duesler, Jr. The 10-year experience of Ukranian drone farmer Valerii Iakavenko included what he predicted would be the "drones as a service" model in agriculture, as well as his research that demonstrated how night-flights with ag-drones were most effective. ​ Dr. Shirin Ghatrehsamini, Assistant Professor at Penn State University in the Agricultural Engineering Department, described how drones have been used to predict and mitigate frost damage, thus increasing and enhancing yields throughout our climate zone. Dr. Shirin also presented information on how drones provide a significant role in sustainability efforts throughout the planet. ​ Nicholas Matlock, an FAA officer in the Emerging Technologies office, gave a thorough description of the newly stream-lined process for agricultural drones to remain compliant within FAA airspace rules. He noted that the FAA will continue to adapt their agricultural on-boarding policies, since it presents the fast growing segment of FAA's current workload. ​ Bloomsburg farmer Caleb Swartz shared his family's story on how they came to adopt drone technologies on their Susquehanna River Valley farm. ​ He admitted that it was actually his father who recommended that they integrate drones into their corn and soy farming practices.

Empowering Future Generations

John Augustine, Administrative Director at the Greater Johnstown Career & Technical Center, stressed the importance of early engagement in aviation. "How do we get kids in high school on the aviation stuff? You got to find a champion to drive this home." Similarly, Glenn Ponas, Aerium Vice Chairman and Director of High School Outreach for the AOPA Foundation highlighted, "Through the work of Aerium, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Aviation Division, AOPA Foundation, You Can Fly and the Pennsylvania Department of Education, we have been surmounting the challenges of getting Career and Technical Education program approval.""

CIP Codes for Aviation Education

A major milestone discussed at the summit was the establishment of CIP codes (Classification of Instructional Programs) for aviation-related education. Glenn Ponas, part of the collaborative team that ushered in the new codes sad, “To create career and technical education programs and studies and pathways for students is an important issue for many school districts because of the need to tap into Perkins and other types of funding that are only available to career technical education programs." He added, "Through the work of Aerium, the AOPA Foundation, and other partners, we were able to petition the state to create these CIP codes, enabling schools to offer specialized aviation programs."

Industry and Students Benefited Alike

Pat McCann, HR Manager at Lockheed Martin AeroParts, Inc., noted, “The Summit was an incredible event for not only students interested in aviation, aeronautics, drone operation, defense, and related maintenance careers, but anyone who loves aviation.” He further explained, “The Summit included hands-on activities, simulators, plane rides, introductory level training, and introductions to various company and government leaders. There is no question the Summit has become an incubator for the growth of aviation in our region, state, and beyond.”

Matt Johnson, Vice President and General Manager of Martin-Baker America, Inc., expressed similar sentiments, stating, “The Summit is a great opportunity to show students what aviation-related employment opportunities exist not only in our local area, but in other areas across the state as well." He highlighted the business development value of the annual event, saying, “For us, the Aerium Summit was a great new way to connect with our customer base and speak to actual product users. Interaction with the National Guard gives us a chance to inform users about our product features and collect meaningful feedback for improvement."

Technological Innovations and Real-World Applications

Larry Shifflet, Executive Deputy Secretary for PennDOT, discussed the practical applications of drones in infrastructure and emergency situations. "Pennsylvania’s geography is pretty difficult, so we had a lot of slides with some of the crazy weather. Where we cannot get out there easily or safely, we have drones available now to go see and check and determine and estimate how much soil must be removed, and determine a safe entry and exit point."

Economic and Community Impact

Keith Rager, Cambria County Commissioner, acknowledged the historical and ongoing contributions to the region's economy. "A lot of this started with my friend, Congressman Jack Murtha. We need to continue this momentum, collaborating together to build our economy and our communities." Similarly, Cambria County Commissioner Tom Chernisky noted, "For many years, there were discussions and plans to develop an economy at the Johnstown-Cambria County Airport. The Aerium Summit demonstrates that talk turned to action."

Public Safety and Healthcare

Art Martynuska and Steve Kocsis from Cambria County emphasized the life-saving potential of drone technology. "This program has the potential to be a blueprint of drone delivery systems for medical care in our nation. The Johnstown-Cambria County Airport is creating a center of excellence for drone delivery systems," they stated. Kocsis added, "The drone got to the destination about 30 seconds faster than the vehicle. While on the surface, that might not appear to be too much of a difference, in a medical emergency, every second matters."

Aerium is a philanthropic 501(c)(3) organization established to be a catalyst for change in the aviation sector, focusing on education, workforce development, and creating career opportunities for students in Pennsylvania.