The Vermont Aviation Association is hosting a food truck festival at the Franklin County Airport from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 4 to showcase accessibility and engage the public about jobs in the aviation industry.
There will be food trucks from Ben & Jerry’s and Church Street Cheesesteaks as well as the opportunity for helicopter rides and a raffle to win an aviation landing light. Employers such as Beta Technologies will also be present.
Chris Chicoine, activities director at Vermont Aviation Association, said the association hopes to encourage more people to see themselves in the industry.
“Basically, our goal is to show kids and families that if you go to these airports you don’t have to be a millionaire,” he said.
After taking his first flight, Chicoine was eager to spread the word about the opportunities to work and be involved in the industry. His goal is to spread the word in a fun way without it being too traditionally educational, he said.
The Vermont Aviation Association is currently working on building a website to guide people interested in the industry into finding the resources they need to start training for their goals, whether vocational or recreational.
Franklin County State Airport Food Truck Festival
If you go:
When: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, June 4
Where: 629 Airport Rd, Highgate
Details: for more information please visit the Vermont Aviators Association’s Facebook page
“It’s going to be a one-stop-shop for Vermont,” Chicoine said. “When I wanted to learn to fly, I literally spent 45 minutes on a computer going, how do I do this? Where do I go?”
Chicoine hopes that the food truck festival will give the aviation industry in Vermont the exposure it needs.
“There’s thousands of pilots that we’re short of right now for commercial airlines as well as cargo transport, people transport and other jobs,” he said.
He added that he also wants to make sure the traditions of Vermont aviation continue.
“The guys in Franklin County that run the rental program up there are not exactly spring chickens,” he said, “I just want to make sure that their heritage lives on.”