What to Expect 2023 NGPA Industry Expo Presented by United Airlines

NGPA's 2023 Industry Expo presented by United Airlines is quickly approaching. As one of the largest pilot hiring events in the United States, we wanted to make sure you were aware of all the amazing opportunity at this years event. 

One-on-One Meet & Greets
United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, and Southwest Airlines will be hosting reservation based one-one-one meeting times for attendees to meet individually with a recruiter. Additionally over 80 other exhibitors will be accepting resumes and talking with attendees about career options. 

Full Schedule

8AM-4PM Express Registration - Avoid the lines at events by picking up your badge during the express registration time slots. Check-in tables will be open in the Palm Springs Convention Center. Look for the Winter Warm-Up Check-in signage. Sponsored by Envoy. 

8AM-9AM Exhibitor Breakfast presented by Atlas Air - Calling all exhibitors! Start your day in Primrose A at the Palm Springs Convention Center for a complimentary breakfast, coffee, and tea. 

8AM-9AM Southwest Airlines Pilot Hiring Info Session - You’re invited to hear Southwest Leadership discuss their growth and hiring plans and how you can join the airline with Heart. Coffee and donuts will be provided. *No reservation required; however, there will be limited seating. Location: Mesquite B.

9AM-5PM Industry Expo presented by United Airlines - NGPA is pleased to present the 2023 NGPA Industry Expo Presented by United Airlines, which will be held Thursday, Feb 9 - Friday, Feb. 10, 2023, at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Exhibitor booths, hiring events, guest speakers and educational seminars for general aviation, business/corporate, and commercial pilots are in the lineup of events.

Breakout Sessions hosted in Primrose A

  • 9AM United Airlines

  • 10AM Atlas Air

  • 11AM US Navy

  • 12PM Southwest & Destination 225 Information Session

  • 2PM Keynote Speaker: Marsha Ivins

  • 3:15PM RAA Estate Planning

  • 4:15 Cage Marshall Interview Prep Workshop

10AM-2PM Professional Headshots presented by JSX - Applying for a job or updating your LinkedIn? Have a professional headshot taken in the convention center. Located at booth MR1.

12PM-1PM Grab and Go Lunch– Sandwiches, salads, and more! Located in the lobby of the Palm Springs Convention Center come grab lunch and mingle. Cash and credit card payments are accepted.  

12PM-1PM Student Luncheon presented by Envoy– Located in the San Jacinto Room at the Renaissance. Students Only.

2PM-3PM - Keynote Speaker -Marsha Ivins presented by Southwest Airlines
Former astronaut and veteran of five space shuttle missions. In 2010 Marsha Ivins retired from NASA after a 37 year career as an engineer and astronaut. After graduating from the University of Colorado with a BS in Aerospace Engineering, Marsha began her employment with the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX in 1974, working in human factors and man-machine engineering on the development of Orbiter cockpit layout, displays and controls, and the Head-Up Display. In 1980 Marsha was assigned as a flight engineer on the Shuttle Training Aircraft and as a pilot on the NASA administrative aircraft. She holds a multi-engine Airline Transport Pilot License with Gulfstream-1 type rating, single engine airplane, land, sea, and glider commercial licenses, and airplane, instrument, and glider flight instructor ratings. She has logged over 7000 hours in civilian and NASA aircraft. Marsha was selected as an astronaut in the class of 1984 as a Mission Specialist. A veteran of five space flights, she has logged over 1,318 hours in space. Located in Primrose A.

4PM-5PM Women’s Networking Social – Join the Women’s Committee to socialize and meet other female identifying members within NGPA. This event will be located in Santa Rosa Room at the Renaissance Hotel.

4:30PM-5:30PM Retiree & New Member Meet & Greet - New members, retirees, and first-time event attendees are cordially invited! Gather with us in the Andreas Room at the Renaissance as NGPA leaders introduce you to other members, chat about the NGPA experience, and welcome you into our NGPA family. 

5:30PM Air Museum Transportation presented by Delta Air Lines - Complimentary bus service from the Renaissance Hotel to the Airport Museum will begin at 5:30pm and will run both directions throughout the event.

6-9PM The Widget Warm Up Party presented by Delta Air Lines at The Palm Springs Air Museum - Home to one of the largest collections of flyable WWII aircraft, we’ll use the dramatic backdrop of the Palm Springs Air Museum to kick off the 2023 NGPA Palm Springs Winter Warm-Up.  This event is a great opportunity to reconnect, aside vintage aircraft, with old friends and new. Catering will be provided including: grab and go salads, a taco bar, and a paella station. Complimentary beer, wine, seltzer, and soft drinks will be available.  This is an Add-on event. A very limited number of walk up tickets will be available at the door.

8AM-3PM Express Registration - Avoid the lines at events by picking up your badge during the express registration time slots. Check-in tables will be open in the lobby of the convention center. Look for the Winter Warm-Up Check-in signage.

8AM-9AM Exhibitor Breakfast presented by Atlas Air - Calling all exhibitors! Start your day in Primrose A at the Palm Springs Convention Center for a complimentary breakfast, coffee, and tea. 

8AM-9AM Southwest Airlines Pilot Hiring Info Session - You’re invited to hear Southwest Leadership discuss their growth and hiring plans and how you can join the airline with Heart. Coffee and donuts will be provided. *No reservation required; however, there will be limited seating. Location: Mesquite B.

9AM-3PM Industry Expo presented by United Airlines - NGPA is pleased to present the 2023 NGPA Industry Expo Presented by United Airlines, which will be held Thursday, Feb 9 - Friday, Feb. 10, 2023 at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Exhibitor booths, hiring events, guest speakers and educational seminars for general aviation, business/corporate, and commercial pilots are in the lineup of events.

Breakout Sessions hosted in Primrose A

  • 9AM Women’s Committee Breakout presented by Endeavor Air

  • 10AM Keynote Speaker: Brian Bishop

  • 11:15AM FedEx

  • 12:15PM Transgender & Non-Binary Committee Briefing

  • 1:30PM Keynote Speaker: Secretary Alex Wagner

  • 2:45PM Being an NGPA Ally presented by Endeavor Air

9AM-9:45AM Women’s Committee Breakout presented by Endeavor Air - Join us for a discussion on the challenges we face in the industry today, the changes we wish to see as aviation evolves, and how record-breaking hiring can help us achieve those goals.

10AM-10:45AM Transgender/Nonbinary Member Welcome – Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender-diverse NGPA Members are invited to an exclusive welcome social after the Women's breakout! Coffee and light snacks will be served. This event will be located in the Andreas Room at the Renaissance Hotel.

10AM-11AM Keynote Speaker: Major General Brian Bishop presented by Southwest Airlines
USAF "Thunderbirds," A Peak Under the Tent
Brian T. Bishop, Major General, USAF (retired) is a highly respected speaker and motivator on high-performance teams.  He uses his real-world experience from his 32-year United States Air Force career through storytelling to guide the audience on a journey through high-performance team building.  Brian truly believes that everyone wants to be on a winning team and that every team, with the right leadership, resources and motivation has the potential to not just increase performance but also to change the world.   A graduate of the United States Air Force, Brian was the Commander / Leader of the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron, “Thunderbirds,” and was an installation commander (mayor) at two different bases—one in the Republic of Korea and one in Iraq.   He led teams of highly complex organizations ranging in size from 10 to 30,000.  Brian has served at all levels of the military to include Office of the Secretary of the Air Force Legislative Liaison, Headquarters Air Combat Command, United States Forces Korea and United Nations Command, Carl A. Spaatz Center for Officer Education and Commandant Air War College, and U. S. Military Training Mission in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia among others.  Currently, Brian is the President of Brian T. Bishop & Associates, LLC where he consults with companies and speaks on leadership and high-performance team building. Located in Primrose A.

9AM-11:40AM Keith Lemmon Medicals – Looking to renew your pilot medical? Dr. Lemmon will be conducting medicals on site. Prior registration required here.

10AM-2PM Professional Headshots presented by JSX -Applying for a job or updating your LinkedIn? Have a professional headshot taken in the convention center. Located a booth MR1.

11AM-12PM Chapter Leaders Workshop – calling all NGPA chapter leaders! Join us for this insightful workshop on ideas and strategies to help support your local chapter. This event will be located in the Andreas Room at the Renaissance Hotel.

12PM-1PM Grab and Go Lunch– Sandwiches, salads, and more! Located in the lobby of the Palm Springs Convention Center come grab lunch and mingle. Cash and credit card payments are accepted.  

12PM-1PM Student Luncheon presented by United– Located in the San Jacinto Room at the Renaissance. Students Only.

12:15PM-1PM Transgender/Nonbinary Committee Presentation – Join the Transgender Committee for a presentation in Primrose A.  

1:30PM-2:30PM Keynote Speaker: Secretary Alex Wagner– As the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Mr. Wagner, provides overall supervision for matters related to manpower, military and civilian personnel, Reserve component affairs and readiness support for the nearly 700,000 Airmen and Guardians in both the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Space Force. Located in Primrose A.

2:30PM-3:30PM EPAN Gathering– Calling all members of EPAN (European Pride in Aviation Network) and inquiring minds. Join Zac Brown discuss all things EPAN. How it came about, what their purpose is, and how members of the NGPA can help support their mission.

2:30PM-3:30PM Being an NGPA Ally Presented by Endeavor Air – Calling all Allies of the NGPA! Join us in Primrose A for a discussion on what it means to be an Ally in the NGPA and how to be an Ally in the workplace.

4PM-5PM Local Chapter Meet & Greet - Calling all local chapters! Meet outside the Renaissance lobby bar by the fire pit to meet with other members from your local chapters.

6PM-9PM Starlight Reception presented by American Airlines – Hosted at the Jackie Lee Houston Plaza outside the Palm Springs Convention Center, join NGPA for the official Winter Warm Up kickoff party with music, food, and a complimentary open bar. Admission is included for Winter Warm-Up attendees. A very limited amount of walk up tickets will be available at the door for an additional price. 

What’s on the menu? 

  • Chicken and Veggie Kabobs 

  • Baja Caesar Salad 

  • Macaroni and cheese station 

If you're able to make it for our event make sure to stop through our selfie booth from DigiBooths and snap a few fun pics!

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