6/24/2005
Academy offers teens unforgettable experience
EDITORS NOTE: As part of the Aviation Career Education Academy, teens will
navigate small planes over the Boise foothills on Thursday, June 30. Limited
space is available for members of the media to fly with the students. Flights
will originate from ITDs Division of Aeronautics at 3483 Rickenbacker St. (west
of the Boise Air Terminal) beginning at 7:45 a.m. and will land at the Nampa
Airport at about 9:30 a.m. Student tours of the Warhawk Air Museum will
immediately follow. To participate in the flights, contact Darla Christiansen at
334-8005.
BOISE Navigating small airplanes, launching a
near-earth satellite balloon and exploring Blackhawk helicopters are all part of
the Aviation Career Education (ACE) Academy, June 27-30. The academy, open to
high school students ages 14-18, is hosted by the Idaho Transportation
Departments Division of Aeronautics.
Time and time again, kids tell us that the ACE Academy is absolutely the highlight of their summer, says Frank Lester, Division of Aeronautics. When they first arrive, they dont know exactly what theyre going to find. A few days later, they dont want it to end.
A new feature of the academy will be the launch, tracking and recovery of a near-earth satellite balloon. Students will work in small teams to assemble capsules to attach to the balloon. The capsules will gather data while in ascent and take photos throughout the flight. Student teams will compete for the best-designed capsule and the most accurate prediction of a landing location.
Teens participating in the academy will experience a variety of activities that provide social experiences and learning opportunities. During the four-day academy, students will hear from experts in various aviation-related fields, as well as representatives of regional and national aeronautical schools. Tours of the Boise
Airport, local aviation businesses and flight operations, and the Idaho Army and Air National Guard are also scheduled. Were working to capture the attention of our youth and inspire them to action, Lester says. For them, its a chance to learn what exciting careers await them whether its flying a commercial airplane, operating an airport or exploring space.
The academy is capped off with flights to nearby airports, such as Idaho City or Garden Valley. Each student has the opportunity to experience a flight under the guidance of a veteran pilot. Upon return to the Treasure Valley, students will tour the Warhawk Air Museum in Nampa.
The event is sponsored by the Division of Aeronautics and is made possible with the support of the Federal Aviation Administration, Idaho Ninety-Nines, Warhawk Air Museum, Lynn Clark Memorial, Idaho Business Aviation Association, Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 103 and Idaho Aviation Association.
For more information call the Division of Aeronautics at (208) 334-8775, or visit itd.idaho.gov (click on Aeronautics then ACE Academy).