In March and April, 2011 over thirty students from six area high schools toured Chicago Executive Airport (CEA) to learn firsthand about aviation and the many careers it offers. The three-hour tours were arranged by Public Awareness for Chicago Executive (PACE) in conjunction with the Career Counselors High School District 211 (Conant, Fremd, Hoffman Estates and Palatine High Schools) and District 220 (Barrington High School).
“Our students had a fantastic experience at Chicago Executive Airport!” said Jacquelyn Menich, Career Advisor at Conant High School / Northwest Suburban Education to Careers. “The information you presented was both comprehensive and practical. Beyond that, your delivery was creative and held the interest of everyone who participated. All the visual experiences you provided, as well as the first-hand contact with enthusiastic professionals, were extremely effe
ctive.”
The tour began at the Control Tower where PACE Chairman Michael Haupt welcomed and oriented the students. Then Air Traffic Manager Tyree McAfee arranged for the students to visit the Tower Cab where they saw Controllers working live traffic. Later, other controllers explained various aspects of a career in Air Traffic Control.
Next, the students explored flying careers at Windy City Flyers. Liz Ganz briefed the students on types of flying careers and the requirements to obtain the various pilot licenses necessary for the career. Students were able to see both a full-motion simulator as well as several aircraft used for pilot training.
The students then investigated aviation repair and maintenance careers. Joe Fr
itzen, at Windy City Aviation showed the students a variety of aircraft undergoing various types of maintenance as he explained the Airframe and Powerplant
licenses issued by the FAA.
Finally, Sable Omes-Sombke of the CEA staff presented a number of Airport Mangement careers that are vital to keeping an airport such as Chicago Executive safe and operational.
Throughout the tour, CEA staff drove the students from
one location to the next using the airport taxiways, allowing the students to see the airport “up close,” from the same perspective as someone in a small airplane.
The tour of Chicago Executive was “an outstanding career trek for our students” according to Mary Kay Oakes, Career Advisor at William Fremd High School. “It was just the right mix of 'hands-on' activity, demonstration, and presentation to hold the students’ attention. We all learned a great deal about a variety of careers in aviation, and you very likely changed some students’ lives by exposing them to aspects of the aviation industry they might not have considered.”
For information on scheduling a tour, contact
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.