U.S. Air Force, Embry-Riddle Conduct Public Outreach At Albuquerque

By Glen Moyer

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta draws nearly a million lighter-than-air enthusiasts to Albuquerque, New Mexico each year. Almost 700 hot air, gas and special shape balloon pilots participated in the 42nd annual event which wrapped up Sunday. But Balloon Fiesta is not just for balloons. Along with the brilliantly-colored aircraft, Balloon Fiesta’s vendor row is almost a fiesta in itself. Approximately 70 vendors of every type and description can be found there, ranging from breakfast burritos, corn dogs, and cotton candy to turquoise jewelry, balloon pins and chainsaw wood carvings. Also to be found there is the U.S. Air Force and Embry Riddle University.

At the Air Force display a shiny F-16 Fighting Falcon dressed in Thunderbirds livery is the attention getter. It’s retired for active service with the Thunderbirds and has been modified – it’s wings fold for easy transport by truck. Still, stairways lead up to the cockpit for those eager for a look inside the world of a jet fighter pilot, or for just a souvenir photo or two.

But the real action is found inside the Air Force exhibit. Inside a specially equipped trailer, visitors can get an interactive look at three distinct career paths available in the Air Force. Using iPads, the spectators can explore Special Ops and control a high altitude or HALO parachute jumper; take the controls of a virtual Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) or drone and actually fly the aircraft in simulated combat taking out convoys and other targets; or learn about the USAF Space Command where you can try your hand at being a satellite vehicle operator.

The mission at Albuquerque is first simply to raise public awareness of the varied roles filled by the Air Force but of course there are also recruiters on hand should someone find they might be interested in enlisting.

Just a few yards away was an exhibit for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University manned by Bill Cook (pictured), the Associate Campus Director of ERAU in Albuquerque. The New Mexico campus is part of Embry Riddle’s Worldwide Campus that includes more than 150 locations worldwide, most located or closely affiliated with military bases.

While these satellite campuses (to the main campus locations in Daytona, FL and Prescott, AZ) cater to military employees, both active duty and civilians, Cook says they offer both undergraduate and graduate degree programs mostly oriented toward business management. Of course there is also an aeronautics degree available that includes referrals to local operators for rotor or fixed wing training.

According to Cook, students often use these satellite campuses like a junior college, taking their first two years at one of the smaller locations, and then transferring to the main campuses in either Daytona or Prescott.

The university offers a MBAA or Masters of Business and Aviation Administration along with an undergraduate business degree, but Cook says the Albuquerque campus really excels in its Technical Management Degree. “It’s a business degree,” Cook explains, “but it includes majors like Engineering or Information Systems.”

So why a public outreach program at a balloon event? “It’s all about marketing and getting the word out,” says Cook. “A lot of people may not know that we’re here in Albuquerque and you’ve got several hundred thousand people who are going to be here for nine days, so part of the benefit to us is just getting that public exposure.”

Of course the benefit is not limited to the Albuquerque Campus and as Cook further explained, “Being an aviation related event with balloons, even though we don’t do ballooning ourselves, you’ve already got that aviation mindset here and Embry-Riddle just fits right in.”

(Images provided by the author)

FMI: www.balloonfiesta.com