DOAV Participates in another Successful Summer Transportation Institute

For more than 20 years, the Virginia Department of Aviation (DOAV) has partnered with Virginia State University (VSU) to help teach local middle school and high school students about aviation during the annual Summer Transportation Institute Program (STIP).

The VSU Summer Transportation Institute is a four-week residential program for fifteen students, but due to COVID-19 restrictions this year, the students weren’t able to stay on campus or visit the Udvar-Hazy Center like in previous years. Students and teachers wore masks and stayed 6ft apart while indoors.

DOAV participated by having the PR and Education Manager Betty Wilson and the PR and Education Specialist Kim Wells team teach in the classroom for three days and chaperone a field trip to the Shannon Air Museum. The first two days in the classroom were focused on teaching aerodynamics and an introduction to aviation. The students were tasked to build delta dart airplanes and then fly them in a friendly competition. On the third day of teaching Wells presented a PowerPoint about aviation careers during the first part of class. For the second part of class Wells and Wilson presented the ICON A5 Educational Program to the students. Aircraft Technician Jeff Taylor drove the transit van that is connected to the ICON trailer and set up the display in a designated parking lot at VSU. The students were able to sit inside the aircraft for a hands-on lesson about aviation as well as learn about the aircraft controls.

For more information on how to get the free ICON A5 Educational Program to your classroom or local airport, email Betty Wilson betty.wilson@doav.virginia.gov or Kim Wells Kimberly.wells@doav.virginia.gov.