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ACE academy enables teens to set their sigbts high

Navigation for small airplanes, visiting an air traffic control tower and exploring Blackhawk helicopters will be part of the Aviation Career Exploration (ACE) Academy for teenagers, June 23-26. ITD’s Division of Aeronautics organizes the annual academy.

Thirty teenagers between the ages of 14 and 18 will have the opportunity to participate in the academy. Students must submit an application by May 30.

"Without fail, the students characterize their time here as well spent and describe the academy as absolutely one event that they will not soon forget," said Frank Lester, Division of Aeronautics. "They arrive hesitant and a bit unsure, but leave excited about opening new doors, making new contacts and meeting new friends."

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 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 also are scheduled.

"We want to whet their appetite and motivate them to look beyond the ordinary," Lester said. "It will be their opportunity to see some of the many exciting careers that aviation has to offer, whether on the ground, in the air or out in 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.

A $75 registration fee is due upon a student's acceptance to the academy. Limited scholarship assistance and host families for students from outside the local area may be available.

The event is sponsored by the Division of Aeronautics, Federal Aviation Administration, Idaho Ninety-Nines, Warhawk Air Museum, Lynn Clark Memorial, Idaho Business Aviation Association, Idaho Aviation Hall of Fame and Idaho Aviation Association.

For more information, call the Division of Aeronautics at (208) 334-8775, or visit its Web site at itd.idaho.gov, click on Aeronautics and then "Safety and Education" on the left-hand menu and then ACE Academy.