Many small airports throughout the upper Midwest where I live hold gatherings during the summer months. The Fly-In as it’s called generally revolves around a breakfast or lunch, many times hosted by a flying club, EAA chapter, local civic organization, or the local FBO.
Recently Stanton Airfield, my local airport hangout, held its 22nd annual Father’s Day Fly-In Breakfast. After days of torrential downpour the weather cooperated and 100 aircraft, fixed-wing, antiques, helicopters and ultralights arrived throughout the morning. The local Lion’s club served nearly 1,000 pancake breakfasts. It’s a lot of work to hold an event like this and fortunately we have many enthusiastic volunteers willing and able to park airplanes, meet people, and introduce the non-flying community to aviation.
One day this week the Aviation Career Education or ACE Camp, co-sponsored by the FAA and Minnesota Office of Aeronautics, will also visit our airfield. Each of the high school students participating will receive a glider ride. During this week long event these youngsters visit other local airports and organizations introducing them to a variety of aviation activities.
A recent survey of AMT readers provided some expected yet disturbing results. The majority of the aircraft maintenance people responding were over 50 years old, and the second largest age group was 61 years old plus. Few were less than 40.
I believe youth outreach is important, and one easy step towards introducing someone to our industry is to start at your local general aviation airport.
Enjoy the video, Ron
