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| By Carmelo Turdo |
The twenty-eight educators began their day with a briefing by Dr. Remijan in the West Star Aviation Academy classroom. She covered grade-appropriate STEM projects and demonstrations to illustrate the physics and math of aeronautics. Along with practical applications, Dr. Remijan also provided an extensive list of reference materials and links to local STEM programs and resources for use in their classrooms and on field trips.
Following the STEM briefing from Dr. Remijan, the attendees split into two groups, one going to the West Star Academy training hangar adjacent to the classroom and the other to a tour of the East Alton West Star Aviation facility conducted by General Manager, Brian Bauwens, as shown below. Last year, West Star Aviation expanded their already impressive facility by adding another hangar on the south apron. About 600 West Star employees currently work at the airport providing heavy maintenance and overhaul services on the most popular corporate jet brands in use today - Dassault, Embraer, Bombardier, and Cessna Citation. The new 75,000 square foot hangar represents a $20M investment, adding up to 80 new jobs to the site. Here we show some views of the aircraft paint shop, seat refurbishment area and heavy maintenance hangars.
The other group of educators received hands-on training with West Star Academy instructor, Matt Harter. After some introductory training on drilling and riveting, it was time to try their hand at accurately placing rivets in aluminum squares at the work bench. This project is part of the West Star Academy training program, which also includes performing maintenance on a Dassault Falcon jet simulating those serviced every day by West Star Aviation.
West Star Aviation is not only looking for new employees, but they are also willing to train them. In 2024, the program accepted the first class of 25 full-time, paid Aircraft Maintenance Apprenticeship students at St. Louis Regional Airport. The seven-and-a-half-month course provides training in airframe maintenance in cooperation with Southwestern Illinois College and Choose Aerospace.
The two groups then switched to either shop class or facility tour to round out the morning. Lunch was provided by West Star Aviation in the Academy shop hangar, and a group photo with all educators and participating West Star Aviation staff was taken.
After lunch, the program moved down the road from West Star to Piston Aviation, the airport's flight training school, located next to the air traffic control tower. Piston Aviation held their Grand Opening event at this location on March 30, 2024, after converting the previous restaurant space into a state-of-the-art training facility. Certified flight instructors and fleet aircraft are available here and at Piston Aviation's Creve Coeur Airport location as needed to meet customer demand.
While at Piston Aviation, the educators rotated through three additional activities: Indoor STEM showcase, aircraft static displays, and discovery flights around the local area. Our coverage of the afternoon session begins with the STEM exhibitors in the Piston Aviation lobby: St. Louis Regional Airport Director Danny Adams and West Star Aviation General Manager Brian Bauwens; Illinois Wing Civil Air Patrol Aerospace Education Member interactive display: Bob McDaniel with AeroCareers, an aviation mentorship organization; Learning Technology Center Sphero and drone programs; AIAA St. Louis Section; and Jan McKee from EAA Chapter 864.
Aircraft static displays were provided on the apron just outside of Piston Aviation, including: St. Louis Regional Airport Fire Department with Airport Assistant Director Drake Blackwell; EAA Chapter 864's Randy McKee and his Cessna 172; Nick Turk hosted the AeroCareers Lancair Columbia The New Spirit of St. Louis used by Erik Lindbergh in 2002 to recreate his grandfather's solo flight from New York to Paris in 1927; and Air Evac LifeTeam 156 serving Madison County, IL brought their Bell Helicopter 206L-4 Long Ranger.
Piston Aviation provided three aircraft - two Piper Cherokees and a Bristell LSA from their pilot training fleet - for local discovery flights. It was the first flight in a general aviation aircraft for most of the educators, and this experience demonstrated the applicability of STEM to mainstream aviation. No shortage of smiles here!
From Dr. Kelly Remijan:
There are so many
aviation-related opportunities available, and it is my hope that educators will
take what they learned and share these opportunities with their students
through curricular and career connections that they integrate into their
lessons through hands-on activities, resources, technology, and guest speakers.
I am so appreciative of all of the organizations that were involved in making the May 6th aviation event for educators a success. I think educators were excited about what they learned, and more importantly, what they experienced!
Feedback received about Soaring into Aviation was overwhelmingly enthusiastic:
This was such an
amazing workshop. It kept my interest the whole day with lots of hands-on
activities and tons of resources!
I learned about the many jobs that are in the aviation field that I never knew about! Already talking to our shop teacher about taking his class to West Star next year!
The presentation at the beginning was wonderful. There were several ideas provided to bring stem into the classroom.
Outstanding...hands on...one of the best I have been to!
I loved the resources. They provided so many great ideas.
I was glad to have several sources provided to use immediately in the classroom. All the presenters were top notch! It was not a wasted day away from the classroom when you receive valuable take home sources!
The Aero Experience thanks everyone involved in making Soaring into Aviation professional development day a success! We look forward to providing coverage for more STEM education events coming this summer!
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