VAI/f-stop Photography Record registrations for VERTICON Mil2Civ Workshop and Industry Career Fair By Mark Huber Registrations for this year’s VAI Mil2Civ Workshop and Industry Career Fair are more than double compared with recent years, according to Greg Brown, VAI director of education and training services. Both programs will be held at VERTICON 2026, which is taking place at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. Nearly 300 military members have registered for Monday’s Mil2Civ Workshop, and more than 500 from the civilian industry are registered for Tuesday’s Career Fair. What’s making these events particularly attractive is their ability to pull in qualified applicants: participation by more than 30 companies that are ready to hire, and educational programming such as resume critiquing for attendees. Brown attributes the surge in registrations to a simplified application process, a strong interest in vertical aviation as a career, and an ongoing workforce shortage in the industry. He notes applicants comprise roughly 60% pilots and 40% aviation maintenance technicians, although he says VAI is working diligently to attract more maintenance-minded attendees. “We’ve reached out to a number of Part 147 maintenance schools and offered their students complimentary registration if they would come to the Career Fair,” Brown says. Practical programming during the events is also a strong draw for attendees. “Word is getting out that we have programming at the Career Fair, and people want to come and hear it,” Brown says. “We’ve had very good success. Companies that have come to these events have found qualified team members and hired them on the spot. This is not just folks collecting resumes. These are companies that have employment available.” The Mil2Civ Workshop attracts both active-duty personnel investigating future options and those already service-separated looking to get back into aviation, Brown says. Helping the industry attract qualified applicants will continue to be a major focus of VAI, Brown says. “Our industry is growing and changing. We have to think about the future—powered-lift aircraft, drones, and different types of helicopters. We must think of the challenges ahead to be able to fly and maintain these vehicles. VAI’s goal is to ensure that the industry’s workforce has qualified pilots and maintenance personnel available when these vehicles come online.” Mark Huber is an aviation journalist with more than two decades of experience in the vertical flight industry.
