Transportation by ground, sea, or air will always be a viable industry in our ever-growing global economy, and it is important to ensure there is a workforce to fill those positions in the future. Thanks to a federal program, aviation and aerospace careers can be explored by school-aged children already showing interest in these fields.
Calling all future pilots, engineers, and air traffic controllers, now is the time to sit in the seat and see what they see and how it works. The Fayetteville Regional Airport is hosting the Aviation Career Education Academy on August 4 and 5 for middle and high schoolers interested in learning more about what it takes to make an airport run on a daily basis. This completely immersive experience was designed to give teenagers who have shown some interest a more in-depth look at the inner workings of our regional airport. The program promises, “Students will meet professionals in the aerospace workforce, learn about potential career paths, get an insider’s view on operations within the national airspace system, and see firsthand how air traffic controllers manage the skies and ensure safe flights.”
ACE Academy will take place at the training facility located at the airport at 3065 Radar Rd. Applications are currently open and can be found online at https://bit.ly/4jqVy9j. Any youth in grades 6-12 are encouraged to apply. All applicants must be available on both days of the academy and have transportation to and from the academy every day. Applicants must complete the entire application, including the parent/guardian consent at the end. This portion is important to ensuring acceptance into the program. Applications close on June 6, and applicants will be notified of acceptance soon thereafter, no later than July 6. For any questions or more information, contact Fayetteville Regional Airport at 910-433-1160 or via email at airport@fayettevilleNC.gov.
Leading this year’s ACE Academy is Deontae Watson.
The Academy is made possible through the Aviation Career Education grant through the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The grant allots up to $5,000 annually to public airports around the state to develop and host “career-focused summer academies for middle and high school students” in the field of aerospace and aviation. To find more programs in the state, visit the website at https://www.ncdot.gov/divisions/aviation/aviation-business-development/Pages/aviation-career-education-academies.aspx.
North Carolina's program is aligned with the Federal Aviation Administration’s ACE Academy program, which focuses on highlighting careers in Air Traffic Controller, Aircraft Maintenance Technician, Aerospace Engineer, Professional Pilot, Airport Management, Airport Planner, and many more. Through the Federal program, 1,500- 2,000 school-aged children can complete the academy each summer. Students have a curated experience that includes instruction on aircraft design and maintenance, lessons in flight planning, aviation history, and the physics of flight. Depending on the location, some students are introduced to flight simulators and in-flight experience. For more information on the Federal Aviation Program, visit the website at https://www.faa.gov/education/ace_academy.