Boston students “aim for the sky” at Aviation/Transportation Expo

BOSTON – Students from 26 Boston Public Schools got a special introduction to careers in aviation and transportation recently at the 2009 Aviation/Transportation Education Expo, held inside the cavernous Delta Airlines Hangar at Logan Airport. The event was sponsored by Massachusetts Port Authority Office of Diversity and Aviation and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and drew 1,400 students from 30 area schools.

More than a dozen aircraft were on display, including an enormous Federal Express cargo plane, a tiny three-seater used by the Civil Air Patrol, helicopters, the new “flying car” and more. Students were able to board and even sit at the controls of many of the aircraft. Representatives from more than 40 companies, organizations and universities displayed exhibits and spoke with students about how they could put their STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills to use in a variety of careers related to aviation and transportation.

Photo (top): Laila and Milani, fourth grade students at the Beethoven Elementary School in West Roxbury, sit at the controls of Diamond Star airplane.

Photo (bottom): Fifth grade students from the Winship Elementary School in Brighton wait in line for a tour of a FedEx cargo plane.