NCASE Coming To Arlington, VA In October 2008

The National Coalition for Aviation Education (NCAE) announced this week the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has become the first major sponsor of the 2008 National Conference on Aviation and Space Education (NCASE), "Today's Students: Tomorrow's Aerospace Workforce". The 39th biennial conference for educators across North America will be held in the nation's capital, October 16-18, 2008 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, VA.

"AOPA enthusiastically supports NCAE and NCASE 2008," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "AOPA and its members are committed to expanding the pilot population, and to do that, we recognize how important it is for educators to develop and share strategies to include aerospace concepts and issues in today's mainstream curricula."

NCASE brings together more than 2000 educators from across North America for a two-day forum focusing on the integration of aviation and space concepts into core curriculum subject areas, with an emphasis on "hands-on, minds-on" sessions applied to National Standards and Standards of Learning. Representatives from aviation and space industry associations, technology developers and government organizations will also participate.

The NCASE agenda will include several tracks, including science of aviation and space, teaching and learning methodologies and technologies using aerospace education as the theme, outreach in aviation education, and importance of Educating Youth for Aerospace Careers.  Participating educators will be eligible to earn 30 contact hours.

"We are thrilled that AOPA, the leading organization of pilots and aircraft owners, has partnered with us to enhance aviation and space education across the country," said Ken Cook, President of NCAE, which organizes NCASE. "Their support of NCASE represents how critical the inclusion of aviation and space education in our nation's curricula is to the future of aviation and its role in America's economy."

FMI: www.ncase.info, www.aopa.org