AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2022 - 31

NEWS /
Healthy future
Williams International donates to You Can Fly
THE AOPA FOUNDAT ION announced a substantial $500,000 donation from Williams
International in support of You Can Fly and its innovative High School Aviation STEM
Curriculum-helping to ensure a healthy future for aviation and aerospace.
The generous gift will enable You Can Fly to further introduce high school students to
rewarding career opportunities in aviation through its free STEM curriculum, which has
already opened doors and minds for tens of thousands of young people across the country.
" AOPA is grateful for Williams International's support. We have a shared interest in
building general aviation and making flying viable for generations to come, " said AOPA
President Mark Baker. " AOPA and Williams International are always at the forefront of
what's next for aviation, and the generosity of partners like Williams makes the AOPA
Foundation's You Can Fly initiative and its tremendous impact possible. "
Williams International CEO Gregg Williams announced the gift and said that he is
living proof that teaching our youth about aviation can spark a lifelong passion, a terrific
career, and the ability to make an impact.
" We have always been a leader in advancing education through a combination of
apprenticeships, our internal education program, the aviation industry's best rotational
engineering program, and our WINGS flight training program. This donation to You Can
Fly supports this vision, as it's a significant step to help high school students get a head
start in careers in aviation, " Williams said.
Making tangible strides
Launched nationwide during the 2017-2018 school year, the You Can Fly High
School Aviation STEM Curriculum is developed and continually enhanced by an
expert team composed of veteran teachers, curriculum professionals, pilots, and
flight instructors. The courses are designed to capture the imagination and give
students from diverse backgrounds the tools to pursue advanced education and
careers in aviation and other STEM-related fields. The curriculum, video-based
professional development, and ongoing teacher and program support are provided
to schools free of charge.
In the current school year, more than 14,000 students are enrolled in 44
states-in all four high school grades. The initiative directly supports AOPA's goal
to increase inclusion in aviation; AOPA is proud that 40 percent of students in the
program come from minority backgrounds, 21 percent are female, and 54 percent
attend mid-to-high poverty schools. The program recently celebrated its first
graduates, 58 percent of whom reported that they plan to pursue aviation-related
careers in fields such as piloting, aerospace engineering, and maintenance.
Since its launch, the initiative is making tangible strides in addressing a welldocumented
and looming aviation workforce shortage in the United States. The
latest Boeing market outlook suggests a need for 612,000 new pilots and 626,000
new maintenance technicians over the next 20 years.
The High School Aviation STEM Curriculum is one pillar of You Can Fly, whose
mission is to get more pilots in the skies and keep them there safely. The You Can
Fly program is funded by charitable donations to the AOPA Foundation, a 501(c)(3)
organization. To be a part of the solution, visit aopafoundation.org/donate.
SQUAWKS
Visit aopa.org for
the rest of the story
Tampa Hangout proceeds
After carefully considering the
effects of Hurricane Ian on parts
of the state, AOPA opted to
proceed with plans for its fly-in
in Tampa, Florida, November 4
and 5. AOPA elected to donate
proceeds from its event to
hurricane relief.
Tecnam P2012 goes STOL
Tecnam's P2012 Traveller
was introduced a year ago at
NBAA-BACE in Las Vegas. Now
the company has announced
a bigger stablemate-one
designed with short-field
operations in mind.
Autonomous air taxi
prototype unveiled
Wisk has announced its all-new,
completely autonomous sixth
generation air taxi-the aircraft
that Wisk says will set the
standard for the air taxi market
and the future of air travel.
NAA announces
distinguished statesmen
and stateswomen
The National Aeronautic
Association announced its 2022
class of Distinguished Statesmen
and Stateswomen of Aviation
in September. Established in
1954, the Wesley L. McDonald
Distinguished Statesman and
Stateswoman of Aviation Award
honors outstanding living
Americans who have made
significant contributions to
aeronautics.
aopa.org
AOPA PILOT / December 2022
31

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AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2022

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