DENTON (UNT), Texas — From studying aerodynamics and meteorology to calculating fuel plans to actually flying an airplane, local 11th- and 12th-grade students will explore the possibilities in aviation and aerospace careers at the Aviation Career Education (ACE) Academy Program, June 15-19 (Monday – Friday) in Fort Worth. The Federal Aviation Administration co-sponsors the hands-on camp and will bring it to North Texas through a new collaboration between the University of North Texas and Tarrant County College.
Popular nationwide as a way to propel a younger generation into aviation careers, the camp is held several times each summer by some organizations; however, the ACE program has never fully taken off in Texas.
TCC and UNT are teaming up to change that – while also taking advantage of nearby opportunities.
“A lot of these camps, even the university-affiliated ones, are not close to any airports, but we have 14 airports in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, making this a prime learning lab for students to experience aviation career opportunities,” said Steve Joiner, aviation logistics lecturer at UNT. “Specifically, at Alliance Airport, students will be able to see and interact with the facility’s flight simulators, air traffic control tower, maintenance facilities and hangars. It’s great for students to really get a feel for the industry, see if they’re interested in pursuing a career in this field and ultimately understand the collegiate path they’ll need to take to get there.”
Campers will spend five days learning the physics of how planes fly, competing with drone quad copters, building model gliders, learning about the design and maintenance of aircraft and flying with an experienced flight instructor and computer flight simulators.
“Many of us became interested in aviation from a family member or a friend. This ACE camp will expose high school juniors and seniors to this great world we love — aviation,” said Joseph McCourt, TCC’s aviation director. “A career in aviation can go in a hundred different directions. It is our hope that our camp will convince some young men and women that aviation is their career path.”
The camp will take place June 15 – 19 (Monday – Friday) in Fort Worth at Alliance Airport, located at 2221 Alliance Blvd. and the TCC Center of Excellence for Aviation, Transportation and Logistics, located at 2301 Horizon Drive.
Cost is $400 per student with a limited number of scholarships available. To register, contact Mark Loud at Mark.Loud@tccd.edu or 817-515-7248.
What: The Federal Aviation Administration is co-sponsoring the Aviation Career Education (ACE) Academy Program, a five-day, hands-on camp exposing 11th- and 12th-grade high school students to aviation and aerospace careers. It comes to North Texas thanks to a new collaboration between the University of North Texas and Tarrant County College.
When: June 15 – 19 (Monday – Friday). 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday – Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday.
Where: Alliance Airport at 2221 Alliance Blvd. in Fort Worth and the TCC Northwest Campus Center of Excellence for Aviation, Transportation and Logistics at 2301 Horizon Dr. in Fort Worth.
Registration: Cost is $400 per student with a limited number of scholarships available. To register, contact Mark Loud at Mark.Loud@tccd.edu or 817-515-7248.
Media: Contact Monique Bird at Monique.Bird@unt.edu or 940-369-7782 or Rita L.B. Parson atRita.Parson@tccd.edu or 817-515-1543.