The students during their visit
This month, Delta celebrated 25 years of its DREAM flight — giving 145 aspiring aviators the opportunity to travel with and learn from a variety of current industry leaders.
Since its founding in 2000, this special charter flight — hosted in partnership with the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) — has carried students ages 13 to 18 to aviation-themed destinations to explore the endless opportunities available in aerospace.
By allowing young people to see themselves in a vast array of roles, such as flight crews, pilots, gate agents and flight dispatchers, the DREAM flight creates a runway to possibilities in aviation.
For the first time, the DREAM flight landed in Merritt Island, FL, where the students had a day filled with activities at the Kennedy Space Center.
The programming included facility tours, interactive experiences and a Delta panel discussion with a pilot, flight attendant and corporate leaders from Brand Experience, Communications and Legal who shared insights on the range of careers available, both in the air and on the ground.
“Helping others soar is part of Delta’s DNA, and that’s what makes this flight so special,” said Kurt Ford, Managing Director of Flight Training at Delta. “By connecting students to aviation leaders, the DREAM Flight allows students to envision futures they might never have imagined and helps shape the future of our industry.” This month, Delta celebrated 25 years of its DREAM flight — giving 145 aspiring aviators the opportunity to travel with and learn from a variety of current industry leaders.
Delta’s DREAM flight represents Delta’s commitment to exposing students from underrepresented groups to the world of aviation, as part of a broader effort to clear the runway for the best, most qualified future talent.
The ongoing partnership between Delta and OBAP has given more than 4,000 youth immersive learning opportunities to better understand pathways to aviation careers. The primary goal remains to grow students’ interest in aviation through fun and educational opportunities while pairing them with mentors.
In addition to participants of the OBAP ACE Academy, this year Delta invited students from Atlanta-area schools and STEM organizations, including Morrow High School, Kindezi School, Rex Mill Middle, Elite Scholars Academy, Tuskegee Airmen and Aviation Career Enrichment.
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