Aviation leaders, airport professionals, educators, students and government officials from across Pennsylvania gathered in Reading from October 7-9 for the 46th Annual Pennsylvania Aviation Conference, part of a three-day series of events focused on aviation, education, workforce development and emerging technology.
Hosted by the Aviation Council of Pennsylvania and co-hosted by Reading Regional Airport, the conference took place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Reading. This year’s gathering was held alongside the Aerium Education Summit and Reading Aviation Expo 2026, bringing together industry professionals and the public for discussions, educational opportunities and aviation-related activities.
The conference theme, “250 Years in the Making: Celebrating Pennsylvania’s Aviation Legacy by Charting Its Future,” highlighted the state’s contributions to aviation history while examining challenges and opportunities facing the industry.
“The Annual Pennsylvania Aviation Conference gives our aviation community an opportunity to come together, exchange ideas, strengthen relationships, and have important conversations about where our industry is headed,” said BJ Teichman, president of the Aviation Council of Pennsylvania. “Bringing the conference to Reading, alongside the Aerium Education Summit and Reading Aviation Expo, allows us to connect Pennsylvania’s aviation legacy with the people, technologies, and workforce that will define its future.”
Conference programming addressed airport infrastructure, aviation policy, safety, emerging technologies, workforce development and education. Participants included representatives from airports, aviation businesses, engineering and consulting firms, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations, along with officials from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration.
Reading Regional Airport played a central role in the events, serving as the conference’s airport co-host and a partner in the broader aviation expo.
“We are proud to welcome Pennsylvania’s aviation community to Reading for what has become much more than a single conference,” said Zack Tempesco, director of Reading Regional Airport. “By bringing the Pennsylvania Aviation Conference, Aerium Education Summit, and Reading Aviation Expo together, we are creating an opportunity for industry leaders, educators, students, businesses, and the public to experience the full spectrum of aviation. Reading has a tremendous aviation history, and events like this help us build its future.”
Photo courtesy of the Reading Regional Airport.
The Aerium Education Summit expanded the gathering’s focus to include aviation and aerospace education, emerging technology and connections between educational institutions and the aviation industry.
Glenn Ponas, executive director of Aerium, emphasized the importance of preparing students for an evolving industry.
“Aviation is changing rapidly, and education has to evolve alongside the technology and the industry,” Ponas said. “The Aerium Education Summit creates a place where educators, industry leaders, airports, government partners, and students can come together around a shared goal: preparing Pennsylvania for the future of aviation.”
The conference also highlighted efforts to support students pursuing careers in aviation and aerospace. The Aviation Foundation of Pennsylvania’s scholarship program was featured during the annual conference gala, which included recognition of scholarship recipients.
Sydney White, president of the Aviation Foundation of Pennsylvania, said the organization’s scholarships, funded in part through its annual conference fundraiser, help reduce financial barriers for students pursuing aviation-related education.
The three-day gathering concluded Friday, October 9, with the Reading Aviation Career Fair at Reading Regional Airport. The event was designed to connect students and job seekers with aviation employers and educational institutions while offering aircraft displays, demonstrations and hands-on activities.
The Reading Aviation Expo was presented through a partnership involving the Aviation Council of Pennsylvania, Aerium, the Aviation Foundation of Pennsylvania and Reading Regional Airport.
By bringing several aviation events together in Reading, organizers sought to strengthen connections between industry leaders, educators, businesses and students while highlighting the region’s role in Pennsylvania’s aviation community.
Additional information about the expo is available at readingairport.org/reading-aviation-expo.