On National Bring Your Child to Work Day, April 25, Cleveland Center (ZOB) NATCA members hosted 24 children to learn about aviation professions. The future aviators, aged 12-18, visited several stations around ZOB with opportunities to experience different parts of aviation at each one, including flight planning, weather, the air traffic control room, basic phraseology, and tech-ops. They learned how to create and follow a flight plan, controlled simulated aircraft, learned the necessity of teamwork in aviation, and met aviation safety professionals and asked them questions about the vital work they do.

“Outreach from aviation safety professionals to the next generation is invaluable,” said ZOB FacRep Bill Gentry. “This is our future! Getting kids excited about the careers available to them through aviation is critical to raising up the next generation of air traffic controllers, pilots, and more.”

“I love seeing the kids realize how important details, listening, and teamwork are,” said ZOB member Jen Malloy, who organized ZOB’s activities for the day. “These are the keys to getting our job done perfectly, so that people don’t have to think twice about walking on a plane, sitting down, and getting to their destination.”

Did you host young aviation enthusiasts at your facility for Bring Your Child to Work Day?

Share your photos & stories with your NATCA family! Email [email protected]