Young pilots and the Aviation Career Enhancement program

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With a large number of pilots and others in the aerospace industry retiring in the next few years, aviation officials are looking to get young people and minorities involved in all aspects of flying.

JULY 25, 2013-PEACHTREE CITY: Tariq Muhammad (left) & Khayton Morley with the Aviation Career Enrichment/Organization of Black Aerospace Professions summer program listened to Don Tagle's (hand in foreground) preflight instructions before they embarked on a "discover flight" from Atlanta Regional Airport Falcon Field in Peachtree City on Thursday July 25th, 2013. Teens were selected out of hundreds of applicants for the nationwide program to give them flight experience with instructors. With a large number of pilots and others in the aerospace industry retiring in the next few years, aviation officials are looking to get young people involved in all aspects of flying. PHIL SKINNER / PSKINNER@AJC.COM editor's note: CQ

JULY 25, 2013-PEACHTREE CITY: Khayton Morley with the Aviation Career Enrichment/Organization of Black Aerospace Professions summer program listened to Don Tagle's preflight instructions before they embarked on a "discover flight" from Atlanta Regional Airport Falcon Field in Peachtree City on Thursday July 25th, 2013. Teens were selected out of hundreds of applicants for the nationwide program to give them flight experience with instructors. With a large number of pilots and others in the aerospace industry retiring in the next few years, aviation officials are looking to get young people involved in all aspects of flying. PHIL SKINNER / PSKINNER@AJC.COM editor's note: CQ

JULY 25, 2013-PEACHTREE CITY: Instructor Don Tagle (left) poured fuel back into the tank after testing it during his preflight inspection as Khayton Morley with the Aviation Career Enrichment/Organization of Black Aerospace Professions summer program watched before they embarked on a "discover flight" from Atlanta Regional Airport Falcon Field in Peachtree City on Thursday July 25th, 2013. Teens were selected out of hundreds of applicants for the nationwide program to give them flight experience with instructors. With a large number of pilots and others in the aerospace industry retiring in the next few years, aviation officials are looking to get young people involved in all aspects of flying. PHIL SKINNER / PSKINNER@AJC.COM editor's note: CQ

JULY 25, 2013-PEACHTREE CITY: Instructor Don Tagle (left) checked the engine during his preflight inspection as Khayton Morley with the Aviation Career Enrichment/Organization of Black Aerospace Professions summer program watched before they embarked on a "discover flight" from Atlanta Regional Airport Falcon Field in Peachtree City on Thursday July 25th, 2013. Teens were selected out of hundreds of applicants for the nationwide program to give them flight experience with instructors. With a large number of pilots and others in the aerospace industry retiring in the next few years, aviation officials are looking to get young people involved in all aspects of flying. PHIL SKINNER / PSKINNER@AJC.COM editor's note: CQ

JULY 25, 2013-PEACHTREE CITY: Instructor Michael Gilliam helped Surayya Nkosi with the Aviation Career Enrichment/Organization of Black Aerospace Professions summer program with her headset before they embarked on "discover flights" on Thursday July 25th, 2013 at Atlanta Regional Airport Falcon Field in Peachtree City. Teens were selected out of hundreds of applicants for the nationwide program to give them flight experience with instructors. With a large number of pilots and others in the aerospace industry retiring in the next few years, aviation officials are looking to get young people involved in all aspects of flying. PHIL SKINNER / PSKINNER@AJC.COM

JULY 25, 2013-PEACHTREE CITY: Instructor Michael Gilliam & Surayya Nkosi with the Aviation Career Enrichment/Organization of Black Aerospace Professions summer program prepared to taxis in a DA 20 airplane for they embarked on "discover flights" on Thursday July 25th, 2013 at Atlanta Regional Airport Falcon Field in Peachtree City. Teens were selected out of hundreds of applicants for the nationwide program to give them flight experience with instructors. With a large number of pilots and others in the aerospace industry retiring in the next few years, aviation officials are looking to get young people involved in all aspects of flying. PHIL SKINNER / PSKINNER@AJC.COM

JULY 25, 2013-PEACHTREE CITY: Instructor Don Tagle (left) checked the tail during his preflight inspection as Khayton Morley with the Aviation Career Enrichment/Organization of Black Aerospace Professions summer program watched before they embarked on a "discover flight" from Atlanta Regional Airport Falcon Field in Peachtree City on Thursday July 25th, 2013. Teens were selected out of hundreds of applicants for the nationwide program to give them flight experience with instructors. With a large number of pilots and others in the aerospace industry retiring in the next few years, aviation officials are looking to get young people involved in all aspects of flying. PHIL SKINNER / PSKINNER@AJC.COM editor's note: CQ

JULY 25, 2013-PEACHTREE CITY: Tariq Muhammad with the Aviation Career Enrichment/Organization of Black Aerospace Professions summer program climbed aboard before he embarked on a "discover flight" on Thursday July 25th, 2013 at Atlanta Regional Airport Falcon Field in Peachtree City. Teens were selected out of hundreds of applicants for the nationwide program to give them flight experience with instructors. With a large number of pilots and others in the aerospace industry retiring in the next few years, aviation officials are looking to get young people involved in all aspects of flying. PHIL SKINNER / PSKINNER@AJC.COM

JULY 25, 2013-PEACHTREE CITY: Tariq Muhammad with the Aviation Career Enrichment/Organization of Black Aerospace Professions summer program made himself comfortable before he embarked on a "discover flight" on Thursday July 25th, 2013 at Atlanta Regional Airport Falcon Field in Peachtree City. Teens were selected out of hundreds of applicants for the nationwide program to give them flight experience with instructors. With a large number of pilots and others in the aerospace industry retiring in the next few years, aviation officials are looking to get young people involved in all aspects of flying. PHIL SKINNER / PSKINNER@AJC.COM

JULY 25, 2013-PEACHTREE CITY: Teens with the Aviation Career Enrichment/Organization of Black Aerospace Professions summer program embarked on "discover flights" on Thursday July 25th, 2013 at Atlanta Regional Airport Falcon Field in Peachtree City. Teens were selected out of hundreds of applicants for the nationwide program to give them flight experience with instructors. With a large number of pilots and others in the aerospace industry retiring in the next few years, aviation officials are looking to get young people involved in all aspects of flying. PHIL SKINNER / PSKINNER@AJC.COM

October 3, 2013 Atlanta: Julius Alexander, founder of Aviation Career Enrichment (ACE) coaches student Cayman Howard, 19, in for a landing Thursday October 3, 2013. ACE begin in 1980 as a way to introduce disadvantaged, at-risk and minority youth to aviation opportunities. To date Alexander has instructed 171 students to their first solo flight. BRANT SANDERLIN /BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

October 3, 2013 Atlanta: Julius Alexander, founder of Aviation Career Enrichment (ACE) critics Cayman Howard's performance after a take-off and landing in the flight simulator Thursday October 3, 2013. ACE begin in 1980 as a way to introduce disadvantaged, at-risk and minority youth to aviation opportunities. To date Alexander has instructed 171 students to their first solo flight. BRANT SANDERLIN /BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

October 3, 2013 Atlanta: Julius Alexander, left, founder of Aviation Career Enrichment (ACE) watches as his student Cayman Howard logs time on a flight simulator Thursday October 3, 2013. ACE begin in 1980 as a way to introduce disadvantaged, at-risk and minority youth to aviation opportunities. To date Alexander has instructed 171 students to their first solo flight. BRANT SANDERLIN /BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

October 3, 2013 Atlanta: Julius Alexander, founder of Aviation Career Enrichment (ACE) records the solo flight information of his latest student on the back of a t-shirt Thursday October 3, 2013. The milestone of the student's first flight will take its place among the 170 others at the ACE headquarters. ACE begin in 1980 as a way to introduce disadvantaged, at-risk and minority youth to aviation opportunities. To date Alexander has instructed 171 students to their first solo flight. BRANT SANDERLIN /BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

October 3, 2013 Atlanta: T-shirts commemorating a student's first solo flight hand in the ACE headquarters at Fulton County Airport. Julius Alexander, founder of Aviation Career Enrichment (ACE) gives a lesson Thursday October 3, 2013. ACE begin in 1980 as a way to introduce disadvantaged, at-risk and minority youth to aviation opportunities. To date Alexander has instructed 171 students to their first solo flight. BRANT SANDERLIN /BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

Tayvon Snowden, 16, of Decatur took two trains, a bus and a car to Peachtree City to participate in Flightline, one one of 30 academies sponsored by the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals in 20 cities across the country for aspiring pilots ages 16-18. His perseverance garnered him this year's Charlie Tutt Outstanding Achievement in Aviation Award, given annually to the top student. He is shown here enjoying his first solo flight.

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JULY 25, 2013-PEACHTREE CITY: Tariq Muhammad (left) & Khayton Morley with the Aviation Career Enrichment/Organization of Black Aerospace Professions summer program listened to Don Tagle's (hand in foreground) preflight instructions before they embarked on a "discover flight" from Atlanta Regional Airport Falcon Field in Peachtree City on Thursday July 25th, 2013. Teens were selected out of hundreds of applicants for the nationwide program to give them flight experience with instructors. With a large number of pilots and others in the aerospace industry retiring in the next few years, aviation officials are looking to get young people involved in all aspects of flying. PHIL SKINNER / PSKINNER@AJC.COM editor's note: CQ

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