Middle and high school students participating in the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals’ (OBAP) Aviation Career Education (ACE) Academy were special guests on the campus of Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE) on June 26.  The students’ participation in the week-long program culminated with discovery flights and mentoring sessions at Tailwinds Academy of Aviation, a tour of Leonardo Helicopters and graduation ceremony at the hangar of the Roscoe Draper Chapter of Black Pilots of America (BPA)—all located at PNE. 

“It’s always exciting to have future aviation and aerospace leaders at the airport,” said PNE Airport Operations Manager John Brewer. “Our tenants do a great job in offering students hands-on opportunities to learn more about the industry.  Working with the ACE Academy is another example of our tenants’ commitment to educating young aviation and aerospace enthusiasts.” 

OBAP’s ACE Academy provides 13-to-18-year-old students interested in aviation and aerospace with a taste of the variety of careers in those industries. During the program, students learned about aviation history, fundamentals of aerodynamics, the role of government in aviation and the practical application of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. OBAP offers 45 similar academies across the country during June-August.

“These academies provide that spark to many of our parents and youth who may have never heard of OBAP or opportunities in the aviation and aerospace industries,” said Cedric Davis, Philadelphia ACE Academy director. “We at the Philadelphia ACE Academy are proud to say we have provided that spark to many over our four year existence, and that is only possible through partnerships with organizations and companies like Mrs. Veronica Joyner of Mathematics, Civics and Sciences Education Center of Philadelphia, Tailwinds, the FAA, American Airlines, BPA, Leonardo, John Brewer and the Philadelphia Chapter of the CHUMS, Inc., who sponsored 21 drones for our students. Each year, we have forged new relationships that help us provide this excellent experience and opportunity to some of the brightest students in the Philadelphia, South Jersey and surrounding areas.” 

“We're proud to partner with OBAP's ACE Academy because we share the same goal: opening doors and creating opportunities for young people who may never have imagined a future in aviation,” said Howard Cooper, founder, executive director and president of Tailwinds Academy of Aviation. “At Tailwinds, we believe the most important thing we can give a student isn't just a flight—it's the confidence to believe they belong in this industry. If they leave here seeing themselves as a future pilot, engineer, mechanic, air traffic controller, or aviation leader, then we've done our job.”

In addition to the activities at PNE, the ACE Academy students also learned how to assemble and operate drones, visited the Boeing facility and toured the ramp tower, a maintenance hangar, and commercial aircraft at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). 

To learn more about the ACE Academy, click here.