Pilot says program addresses ‘a challenge my family faced when I was
younger’
INDIANAPOLIS (Nov. 30, 2017) – Workforce development and transportation
are two big items on Indiana’s agenda for progress, and the Indianapolis
Aviation Career Education Academy is working in a unique way to push
that agenda by helping students from all backgrounds aim for the sky.
The academy will begin taking applications on Dec. 1, 2017 for its 2018
hands-on aviation-career camp, where students from throughout Indiana
can learn about all aspects of aviation, including history,
aerodynamics, and a multitude of careers available in the industry. Camp
participants also explore science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics courses.
“This is a unique opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience
in an exciting industry,” said Ryan Lynch, director of the Indianapolis
ACE Academy. “When a student expresses interest in aviation, it can be
challenging for parents or teachers to figure out where to direct them
to for more information- a challenge my family faced when I was younger.
I created this camp to give kids an inside-look at the educational and
career possibilities in the aviation field.”
Lynch, a commercial pilot with Republic Airways, is a Lawrence North
High School graduate who founded the ACE academy in Indiana and worked
with other industry advocates to develop a similar program in North
Carolina and Florida.
Students ages 10 to 14 can register to apply for a week-long camp from
June 10 – 16, 2018. Students 15-18 years old can apply to attend a
two-week camp from July 8 – 21, 2018. Sessions run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
each day. Applicants must have an interest in the aviation field and a
minimum of a 2.5 grade-point average.
Middle-school students attending the camp are introduced to the
fundamentals of flight through class time and flight simulation time.
Students also tour the air-traffic control tower in Indianapolis, the
Indianapolis International Airport, Rolls Royce, Republic Airways, and
FedEx during the week to learn about the different career opportunities
in the aviation field.
High-school students also tour air traffic control and aviation-related
facilities, along with a trip to the Wright Patterson Air Force Museum
in Dayton, Ohio. The camp is designed to incorporate career prep such as
college visits, etiquette dinner, and resume writing. Students are
paired with a mentor to assist with college and career matching, and the
college application process.
The camp is hosted at the Vincennes Aviation Technology Center at the
Indianapolis International Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration,
the Indianapolis Airport Authority, FedEx, and Republic Airways are
among the ACE Academy’s supporters.
Historically 700 students have attended the camp, and nearly half of
those participants are in college with a focus on aviation.
For more information and registration forms, please visit indyace.com/
[1].
