Inspiring and Encouraging by Chris Rozansky Executive Director, Naples Airport Authority

The Next Generation of Aviators

As children, many of us pretended to be airplanes or birds at some point, extending our arms to soar through our backyards or homes. The concept of flight is fascinating – looking down on the earth while freely soaring through the sky, wind in our faces. Nearly all pilots say they knew at an early age that they’d pursue a career in aviation. They caught the bug, so to speak. My story is no different, thanks to early exposure through the Civil Air Patrol at the age of 12, an experience which sparked a lifelong love of aviation. Meanwhile, others found something else that sparked their interest – medicine, law, engineering, education, construction or another field.

The reason why many children and teens don’t develop a fascination with flying is because they haven’t been exposed to aviation. Unlike basketball, soccer or baseball, aviation isn’t a field that lends itself to youth involvement. Naples Airport is out to change that, offering a variety of programs and services to introduce youth to aviation and potentially set ablaze that spark of interest.

Below are just a few of the programs that Naples Airport supports:

Naples Civil Air Patrol (CAP): One of the Naples Airport’s longest tenants, this volunteer, nonprofit organization educates and serves the Collier County community. Launched in 1952, this civilian arm of the U.S. Air Force promotes aerospace education, performs emergency services, and operates a cadet training program. The chapter also partners with Wreaths Across America to remember fallen U.S. veterans and honor those who serve.

Girls in Aviation Day: Through a collaboration with Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Naples Airport hosts Girls in Aviation Day to provide girls and young ladies with opportunities to climb aboard vintage planes, learn aircraft marshalling signals and meet Collier County MedFlight pilots and EMTs. Girls even have a chance to speak with female pilots and sit in the cockpit of their personal aircraft.

Southwest Florida CEO: A partnership with Southwest Florida CEO, a dual-enrollment program through Florida Gulf Coast University, brings teens to Naples Airport for consecutive  days of meetings, information sessions and an airfield tour. Students learn about the airport’s uses beyond private and corporate aviation, including public service agencies like the Collier County Sheriff ’s Office, Collier County MedFlight, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Collier Mosquito Control and others. The program also covers Naples Airport Authority’s efforts to be a good neighbor and community partner, including multiple noise mitigation efforts, event sponsorships and award-winning environmental sustainability programs.

Naples Airport Runway 5K & 10K: Each fall, Naples Airport hosts a unique event that allows participants to run past the fuel farm and aircraft hangers before zigzagging around private jets, small planes and emergency vehicles positioned around the perimeter road, tarmac, taxiway and Runway 32. The event raises money to provide scholarships for local runners and future aviators.

Lorenzo Walker Technical College (LWTC): Since opening its doors as the Collier County Vocational Technical Center in 1974, this accredited school has provided rigorous and relevant educational experiences that prepare students with both the academic and technical skills necessary to succeed in their chosen careers. Previously, LWTC hosted an annual Fly-In Cruise Event at Naples Airport to raise scholarship funds to benefit local students in need.

Experimental Aircraft Association: The EAA’s Naples Chapter offers a Young Eagles program that provides youth ages 8 to 17 with an opportunity to go flying – for free – in a general aviation airplane through the generosity of EAA members and volunteers. Its monthly Young Eagles Workshops allow students to explore and embrace aviation as a potential recreational or career path, covering topics like ground school, building model airplanes, flying model airplanes and more.

Ray Foundation: This Naples-based foundation seeks to encourage the potential in youth by enabling them to develop life skills, such as self-discipline, self-confidence and self-reliance. It primarily supports education programs and organizations with a focus on aviation and aerospace.

Outdoor experiences: Naples Airport’s Observation Deck near the start of Runway 5 allows aviation enthusiasts of all ages to sit just off the airfield to watch departing and arriving jets, planes and helicopters. The covered pavilion even has a speaker piping in real time chatter from the air traffic control tower. Just steps away from that viewing spot is the Gordon River Greenway, a pristine 140-acre ecological corridor that runs across airport property and attracts aviation, environment and health enthusiasts.

The Naples Airport Authority and its tenants regularly host youth groups from schools, scouts, churches and other organizations, with a goal of potentially inspiring the next pilot, flight attendant, mechanic, air traffic control or marshal to pursue a career in aviation.

As the industry continues to experience steadily increasing pilot and technician shortages, this mission becomes more important than ever. According to Boeing, which recently released its annual 20-year forecast, commercial carriers will need substantial hiring and training to sustain the global commercial fleet. This includes a total of 2.4 million new commercial pilots, technicians and cabin crew through 2044 to meet the long-term increase in air travel. Of the new personnel, two-thirds will address replacement due to attrition while the remaining one-third supports growth in the commercial airline fleet.

To inspire that next generation of aviation professionals, it is vital that flight be made accessible and exciting for local youth. These hands-on programs, community partnerships and unique experiences aim to help young people discover the excitement of aviation.

Want to learn more about the Naples Airport?
Check out our FAQ’s at www.flynaples.com/faq
For a tour of the airport, or to arrange for a speaker at your group’s next meeting, call (239) 643-0733

For more information, visit the Naples Airport Authority’s website at www.flynaples.com

Want to learn more about the NAA? Visit the FAQ page of our website (flynaples.com/faq), or invite a member of our team to speak with your group