Membership Services
Event inspires youth to take wing
More than 300 students, faculty, parents, and guests from schools in Maryland, neighboring states, and the District of Columbia attended the second Aviation Education Expo at the Frederick Municipal Airport in Frederick, Md.
"We are pleased with the large number of students who attended the event," said Tim Shively, general manager of Frederick's Encore FBO. "Aviation is an industry that offers many career opportunities and it was a pleasure to host this expo to show young people the variety that aviation has to offer." Shively opened the ceremonies by welcoming the attendees and encouraging the students to consider a future in aviation.
The Oct. 16 event was sponsored by Encore FBO, Avemco Insurance Company, and AOPA.
Encore's corporate hangar was the location of the expo. The FBO had its Hawker 800XP executive jet, used for private charter, on display. Students were also able to explore the inside of a military C-130 transport plane, a Blackhawk helicopter, and general aviation airplanes from Cirrus and Columbia. In addition, AOPA had set up flight simulators.
"It was a pleasure to be involved with this event to show local students what aviation has to offer," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "The attendees enjoyed the flight simulators as a chance to get a feel for what it's like to fly."
Industry representatives were also there. Lycoming displayed an engine while mechanics were on hand to discuss careers in aircraft maintenance.
A variety of speakers highlighted the event. Cpl. Timothy Siebold of the Maryland State Police Trooper 3 Medevac Unit did a demonstration with his K9 partner, a black lab named Max; Jamail Larkins, 23-year-old aerobatic pilot and FAA safety ambassador, told students about the amazing opportunities that learning to fly has brought to his life beyond aviation; and Paco Chierici, airline pilot and producer, showed clips from his soon-to-be-released film, Speed and Angels, which highlights the exciting world of military aviation.
October 31, 2007
