my future and I'm proud to say he is still my mentor today. At Experience Aviation,
I am following his example by mentoring youth and encouraging them too to ...
Taking Today’s Youth to a Higher Plane
Experience Aviation
Experience Aviation
Letter from Captain Barrington Irving Founder and Executive Director Dear Friend of Experience Aviation,
In 2007, at age 23, I set two world aviation records to become the youngest person and first black pilot to fly solo around the world. I flew 30,000 miles in a single-engine aircraft on my 97-day journey, encountering thunderstorms, snow storms, sand storms, icing, and monsoons along the way. Why did I attempt the trip, with only 650 hours of flight time and an aircraft that was donated, one part at a time by generous sponsors?
Barrington Irving fueling his aircraft before his historic flight, Opa-Locka, Florida
About Experience Aviation In 2005, at the age of 21, Barrington Irving founded the nonprofit organization Experience Aviation, Inc. to motivate youth and address the shortage of technically skilled professionals in aviation, aerospace, and related career fields. Since then the Experience Aviation team and its partners, middle-and high-school educators and community leaders have worked toward a common goal. Their mission
My goal was to send a message to other young people that regardless of who you are, where you come from, and what you have or
is to inspire young people to identify and pursue their dreams through aviation-related
don’t have—you too can achieve your dream. I wanted to show them that when a person has the passion and willingness to work toward
programs designed to build math, science, reading, and problem-solving skills.
a goal, nothing is impossible. I was born in Kingston, Jamaica and brought up in inner-city Miami. When I was in high school, I thought a football scholarship was my only route to college. But just before I turned 16, I met an airline pilot, Captain Gary Robinson, who introduced me to aviation and I never looked back. I had found my passion and my calling and I wanted to fly. I will always be grateful to the Captain for taking an interest in my future and I’m proud to say he is still my mentor today. At Experience Aviation, I am following his example by mentoring youth and encouraging them too to pursue professional careers.
Experience Aviation Inc. is a 501(C)(3) non profit organization based at Opa-Locka Executive Airport in Miami, Florida. The organization operates a 3,100-square-foot learning center in a space it shares with an airport hangar. Successful programs offered at the center and at community partner facilities include a 9-week after-school Discover Aviation course; a 10-week Build & Soar project; Inspiration Career Tours; and a Career Development/Internship program. Because Experience Aviation’s programs are successfully bridging the gap between the
In 2007, I was honored when the U.S. House of Representatives passed a Resolution acknowledging my achievement and “pioneering
classroom and the aviation industry, Barrington and his team are working to replicate
work” in aviation education. I was also grateful when the Jamaican government presented me with the Order of Distinction in the Rank
that success by partnering with schools nationwide.
of Commander, and the Florida State Senate awarded me the Medallion of Excellence. But receiving these accolades only deepened my sense of responsibility to “give back” to youth who are looking for ways to achieve their own dreams. Through Experience Aviation, my goal is to inspire students to believe in themselves and in their potential to succeed at whatever they do. Blue Skies, Barrington Irving 2
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Experience Aviation
Experience Aviation
Experience Aviation’s dynamic programs enable students to progress from Interest to Knowledge to Industry
Program 1 Discover Aviation Course After-School Program Academic Schedule:
100-hour course
Two 9-week programs divided during fall and spring semesters
Grade Levels: 6th–10th
Slots Available: 150 Students Curriculum: Rockets, Robotics, Simulators, Navigation, Career Research, Professional Speakers, Field Trips Functional benefit: Increases students knowledge of the aviation industry and related careers and shows the importance of core competencies Student Selection: All interested students must attend a program orientation and submit an application before being selected to participate
“This program has opened my eyes to a world that was unknown to me, the world of aviation. It has also expanded the horizons of all the participants to learn more about aviation careers and help them find a future career path that would entice them.” Shammon Julme, 12th grade, age 16
Required Program Support: Computers and Internet access, projector, classroom with After-School Program
Build & Soar Program
Career Development/Internships
Goal: Introduce Aviation Careers
Goal: Teach technical skills in the
Goal: Increase number of future aviation
engineering field
professionals
Center, hands-on learning, problem-
Resources: Hands-on experience in
Resources: Knowledge of the industry and
solving skills through coursework and
Airframe, Powerplant, Avionics, Electrical,
its resources; career path including post-
hands-on activities related to aviation and
Sheet Metal, Aircraft Painting, Flight
secondary education
aerospace
Planning and Aircraft Performance
Resources: Experience Aviation Learning
capacity for 20 students, parental involvement
“Captain Irving influenced me to go to school, study hard, and follow my dreams.” Davon Ochoa, 11th grade, age 17
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Experience Aviation
Program 2 Build & Soar Program Summer Program Summer Semester:
Level I: 50 Hours-4 Weeks
Level II: 200 Hours-8 Weeks
Slots Available:
Level I: 120 Students
Level II: 30 Students
Level I Curriculum: Planning Blueprints, Tooling, Safety, Painting and Finishing, Riveting Basics, Airframe, Powerplant, Electrical, Navigation Level II Curriculum: Working in teams, students assemble a flyable aircraft in only eight weeks Functional benefit: Supervised by professional engineering instructors, students construct the plane in an authentic industry work environment Required Support: Level I instruction takes place at a community partner site. Level II instruction continues at the Experience Aviation Learning Center and the George T. Baker Aviation School
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Experience Aviation
“The Build & Soar program helped me better myself so that I can get a job in aviation. It allowed me to meet new people and learn new things. Barrington motivated me to finish school and pursue a good career.” Kenneth Mack, 10th grade, age 16 “Build & Soar has opened many doors to help me fulfill my dream of becoming a pilot. If it wasn’t for Barrington, I would never have gotten this experience of constructing a plane and popping rivets; I would have been at the mall with my friends shopping in different store outlets.” Deshorn King, 10th grade, age 16
Program 3 Career Development and Internships Through our partnerships with distinguished companies in the aviation and aerospace industries, Experience Aviation is proud to offer students opportunities for Internships in various fields. Our Industry Partners include: Airbus, Aeroservice, Chevron Global Aviation, Executive Aircraft Services, the Federal Aviation Administration, Endeavour Flight Training, Greater Miami Aviation Association, Irving Ventures, Miami Executive Aviation, Miami Maintenance Council, Turbine Aircraft Systems, Teledyne Continental Motors, Zenith Aircraft, and Wisetouch Interiors
Student Selection: Students in the 11th and 12th grade, who have completed Experience Aviation’s Discover Aviation and Build & Soar programs, are selected based on their career goals and on qualifications required by industry partners
Career Fair: Every year Experience Aviation offers a Career Fair to the community, held at Opa-Locka Executive Airport, that includes a skydiving show, aircraft displays, exhibitors, and access to industry professionals
“This program helped me see what real air traffic control tower work is like. I went on field trips to meet with big businessmen in aviation. I worked on teams and have been given positions of leadership where I had to lead some of my peers. Thank you, Experience Aviation.” Joseph Agbeyegbe, 12th grade, age 16
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Experience Aviation
Experience Aviation
Television Coverage World Flight Adventure and Experience Aviation Barrington’s historic around-the-world flight in 2007 attracted more than 100 million viewers who followed his adventure on 830 TV broadcasts – for a total publicity value of more than $5 million. In July and August 2008, coverage of Build & Soar on local TV and on CNN’s American Morning and Headline News sparked a new wave of interest from other media venues nationwide
Barrington’s Story Reaches Millions of Readers Worldwide! The story of Barrington’s 97-day, 30,000-mile flight in his beloved plane “Inspiration” struck a chord in the hearts and minds of readers and listeners throughout the world. The story appeared in more than 1,000 print and online publications including the New York Times, New York Daily News, International Herald Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Boston Globe, Christian Science Monitor, JET Magazine, Black Enterprise Magazine, AOPA Magazine, Plane & Pilot, Aviation Week and Space Technology, and Business & Commercial Aviation. Barrington’s voice was carried by more than 80 radio outlets, including NPR, Radio One, XM Satellite Radio, and BBC World, reaching more than 60 million listeners.
All service marks and trademarks are property of their respective trademark owners.
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Experience Aviation
Experience Aviation
With thanks to the Experience Aviation sponsors whose support helps us empower youth! Title Sponsors Miami Executive Aviation
Chevron Global Aviation
Universal Weather & Aviation
NASA and NASA SEMAA
Teledyne Continental Motors
Microsoft Flight Simulator
George T. Baker Aviation School
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
The Children’s Trust
Alonzo Mourning Charities
Batchelor Foundation
Zenith Aircraft
City of Miami Anders Foundation Red Bull Centennial Airport-Denver Dolphin Stadium Latitude Zero Dade Community Foundation Flight Crafters Wise Touch Interiors Aviation and Commerce Center Turbine Aircraft Systems RBC Bank 5,000 Role Models International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading Foundation (ISTAT) Wolf Aviation Fund Miami Maintenance Management Council City of Fort Lauderdale Goodyear Aviation Avidyne Miami-Dade County Jeppesen Miami International Airport DelancyHill Steven J. Henriquez Earthrounders
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To learn more about Experience Aviation and its programs, please visit our website www.experienceaviation.org Experience Aviation, Inc. 15001 NW 42nd Avenue Opa-Locka, FL 33054 Tel.305.537.9291 Email
[email protected] www.experienceaviation.org
Photography by Jon Ross and Juan Rivera Design and printing by Chevron Global Aviation © 2008 Experience Aviation, Inc. All rights reserved.
