SMF Celebrates Aviation Week

Press release from the Sacramento County Government:

August 19, 2021

Whether it’s traveling by plane to a vacation destination, receiving a package from a friend, or watching rockets blast off into space, aviation touches our lives in many ways.

This week is National Aviation Week, which coincides with the birthday of Orville Wright, one of the brothers who are credited with inventing, building and flying the first motor-operated airplane. President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed Aug. 19 as National Aviation Day in 1939 and it’s been celebrated during the third week in August ever since.

“At our four airports, we are surrounded by aviation every day,” Cindy Nichol, Director of Airports for Sacramento County. “But this week is an opportunity to celebrate the ways aviation has changed the way we live – and what the future can be.”

The Sacramento area is home to some fun ways to recognize National Aviation Week. It’s a great time to pay a visit to a science museum. Located at the former McClellan Air Force Base in North Highlands, the Aerospace Museum of California has an extensive collection of aircraft and a flight zone simulator for students to try.

The California Capitol Airshow, which runs from Sep. 24 – 26 at Mather Airport, is another place to be awed and inspired. This week’s celebration is also a way to encourage schools and students to learn more about aviation history and potential careers in aeronautics, the science of aircraft, and more broadly in aerospace, including space travel. When it comes to aviation jobs, the sky really is the limit.

Careers include everything from pilots and flight crews to planners and engineers and range from air traffic controllers to maintenance professionals and accountants.

These are just a handful of the careers offered by the County and our tenants at Sacramento International, Mather and Executive airports as well as Franklin Field. What does it take to get started in an aviation career? The requirements differ with every position, but experts say strong communication, critical thinking and leadership skills are important across the industry. No matter the position, it all starts with exposure to aviation and encouraging young people to learn more about the field.

For more information about jobs at the Sacramento County Department of Airports, please visit the Employment Information page.

This press release was produced by the Sacramento County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.