Aviation News

FAA, Build A Plane Partner to Pair Students with Retired Airplanes

WASHINGTON — Budding high school mechanics may find themselves working on old airplanes instead of junked cars thanks to a new agreement signed today by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Build A Plane organization. Under the agreement, the FAA and Build A Plane will join forces to help give more aviation-minded students hands-on experience working on real airplanes. Each organization will use its unique resources to send retired aircraft to schools looking to establish an aviation maintenance program.

“Working together, we hope to strongly encourage young people to consider aviation maintenance and manufacturing as a career,” said FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey. “This program has the potential to help build the next generation of world-class American aerospace workers.” Under the agreement, the FAA will share Build A Plane information at teacher workshops, career expositions and conferences, while both will work closely to develop curricula that promote math, science, engineering, technology, and aviation and aerospace careers. The two organizations also will develop a computer-based aircraft construction and flight testing program for students.

Established in 2003, Build A Plane offers high school students the opportunity to work on real airplanes that have reached the end of their flying days. Taking an aircraft apart, learning how it works and putting it back together helps teach science, technology, engineering, mathematics and maintenance skills that can lead to aviation career awareness and job paths, Blakey said.

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	Did You Know?
	Commercial pilots must be at least 18 years old and have a minimum of 250 hours of flight time 190 hours under Part 141, including 100 hours in powered aircraft, 50 hours in airplanes, 100 hours as pilot in command (of which 50 hours must be cross-country flight time). They must hold an instrument rating (or be restricted to flying for hire only in daylight, under visual flight rules, within 50 miles of the originating airport). They may fly for hire in accordance with applicable parts of the Federal Aviation Regulations.