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Aviation Represented at Women in Science Conference
Vol.4 Issue 7
Todd Poole helping students, as he points at the screen to show the student how to turn a virtual aircraft.
Volunteers for the day’s event included (L-R) Todd Poole (FAA), Laura Shepherd-Madsen (FAA), Elaine Regier (99’s), and Donna Jackson (99’s) [not pictured – Karen Winston (FAA) Trisha Southard (99’s).

Over 1,750 students and teachers (6th-12th grade) participated in the 21st Annual 2018 Women in Science Conference held at Science Museum Oklahoma in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, October 23, 2018. Seventy-three schools from across Oklahoma were represented at this highly organized and colorful conference. Each school group was designated with a certain color of shirt and a designated time slot to visit all the exhibits. When students weren’t doing hands-on activities, they had opportunities for interactive panel discussions, visiting a recruitment fair, as well as exploring the museum. Due to the event’s popularity, the event reached maximum capacity within hours of registration opening.

Elaine Regier of the Ninety-Nines explains a VFR Flight Chart to one of the students.
Immersed in practicing an air traffic skill, the students try their hand at the 2-minute exercise.

Volunteers from the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center partnered with a few members of the Ninety-Nines (an International Organization of Women Pilots), which is headquartered in Oklahoma City, to host a booth at this year’s Conference. FAA Volunteers included Todd Poole, Karen Winston, and Laura Shepherd-Madsen; 99 Volunteers were Elaine Regier, Trina Southard and Donna Jackson. Together, they encouraged students to learn more about aviation and about potential careers in the aviation industry.

Most of the students enjoyed the air traffic PRACTICE

Todd Poole, a Manager in the Air Traffic Section of the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City helped demonstrate to many of the students, some of the skills required to be an Air Traffic Controller. Through the inventiveness of personnel at the FAA Academy, they developed a software program called Practical Radar Airspace Control Training Interface Computer Exercise (PRACTICE). The program is designed specifically for air traffic students to help them better understand the concept of maneuvering virtual aircraft safely from point A to point B within a specified time limit. The students get to see what it’s like to multi-task, use a compass for navigation, and with it being a timed exercise, there is an urgency to get it right the first time. To demonstrate the complexity of the exercise and skills required, only three students during the entire conference made a perfect score.

Students Try PRACTICE Video Clip

 
 
 
 
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Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center
6500 South MacArthur Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73169