LB Airport’s 4th annual ‘Careers Taking Flight’ program connects students with aviation industry – Press Telegram

Long Beach high school students got to explore jobs in the aviation industry this summer.

The Long Beach Airport celebrated a new class of future aviation professionals as students from Cabrillo and Jordan high schools graduated from the fourth annual “Careers Taking Flight” summer externship.

“‘Careers Taking Flight’ gives Long Beach students a chance to see themselves in careers they may never have considered before,” Mayor Rex Richardson said in a statement. “When students walk onto an airfield and experience the industry firsthand, a career that once seemed out of reach can suddenly feel possible.”

During the weeklong program, from Aug. 17 to 21, students gained hands-on experience through behind-the-scenes tours, career panels and personal conversations with industry professionals, exploring opportunities ranging from aviation operations and aircraft maintenance to aviation safety, security and piloting, according to a press release.

In partnership with the Long Beach Unified School District, the 40-hour externship, which is offered in two cohorts each summer, is a short-term, career-exploration program that gives students hands-on exposure to the aviation and airport industry, the press release said. Students are selected through a competitive application and interview process, with hundreds applying each year for a limited number of spots. Each student who successfully completes the program with perfect attendance receives $500.

The program also provides opportunities for students to continue building toward aviation careers after graduating from the externship by offering internships, networking and training opportunities with the airport and its partners, officials said.

Since the program began four years ago, 82 students have graduated from it.

“Long Beach has a long history as a nationally significant aviation hub,” LBUSD Superintendent David Zaid said in a statement. “‘Careers Taking Flight’ allows students to explore careers, build confidence and see new possibilities in aviation. We’re grateful to Long Beach Airport for investing in our students and helping bring those possibilities to life.”

Students learned directly from airport tenants, aviation companies, federal agencies and airline partners. Participants toured aviation facilities, heard from professionals about their career journeys, and took part in interactive activities designed to give them a firsthand understanding of the industry, the press release said.

Partners that provided tours, guest speakers and learning experiences included Aeroplex/Aerolease Group, AMPAIRE, Atlantic Aviation, CLEAR, the Federal Aviation Administration, FlightSafety International, Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines, JetZero, Sling Pilot Academy, SoCal Jet Services, Southwest Airlines and the Transportation Security Administration.

On the final day of the program, students were offered exploration flights through Chapter 7 of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles program, officials said. For many participants, the flights provided their first opportunity to experience general aviation from the cockpit and put the week’s lessons into a new perspective. Long Beach Airport also hosted a graduation ceremony for participating students on Aug. 21.

The “Careers Taking Flight” externship is part of Long Beach Airport’s broader initiative to inspire the next generation of aviation professionals through a suite of programs that span from grade school outreach to college fellowships, the press release said. Besides the externship, the airport also hosts an average of 2,000 members of the public, most of them students, on free tours of the airport.

This program aligns with the city’s Strategic Plan for Youth and Emerging Adults, which prioritizes academic enrichment and workforce development for Long Beach youth. The program is also one of many activations taking place during the summer to foster positive youth development as part of the city’s Summer of Opportunity initiative.

“‘Careers Taking Flight’ is more than introducing students to aviation – it’s about uplifting students with meaningful experiences that can shape the future,” Long Beach Airport Director Cynthia Guidry said in a statement. “We want students to leave this program with new skills, connections and a clearer sense of what’s possible. It’s about helping dreams take flight.”