'Miracle' Pilot Jeff Skiles Joins Build A Plane's Teacher's Day

Los Angeles, CA, July 2nd, 2011 — US Airways pilot Jeff Skiles, the first officer on ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ flight 1549 will speak at Build A Plane’s annual Teacher’s Day, Tuesday, July 26th at AirVenture, Oshkosh, WI.

Skiles will address several hundred K-12 teachers from across the country that come to learn ways to use aviation to motivate students to learn science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

“We are so honored to have Mr. Skiles speak at our Teacher’s Day event,” said Katrina Bradshaw, Build A Plane’s executive director. “His mother and father were both pilots. Jeffrey Skiles has been flying since age 16 and has logged more than 15,000 hours. All in all, we’re excited to have him share his very special insights about aviation.”

Joining Skiles at the podium will be speakers from the Smithsonian’s Air & Space Museum, GAMA, FAA, EAA, AOPA, AMA and others. Teachers will also be able to take advantage of breakout sessions that afford one-on-one sessions and hands-on learning projects with the guest speakers.

“I first heard about Build A Plane 3 years ago,” said Becky Cross, a Maryland elementary school teacher. “I learned enough from the first Teacher’s Day I attended that now I won’t miss it!”

Build A Plane began placing real airplanes into schools in 2003 now works in formal partnership with the FAA to promote aviation education. To date, Build A Plane has put more than 200 aircraft into schools across America, as well as mentoring other programs in India and Nigeria. Building an airplane exposes kids to a litany of real world applications for STEM learning.

Build A Plane’s Teacher’s Day is made possible by generous contributions from the General Aviation Manufactures Association and the Experimental Aircraft Association.

Teachers who attend receive a free lunch and admittance to AirVenture.

To register for Teacher’s Day log onto www.BuildAPlane.org, or call 804.843.3321.