By : Gordon Hoff

Flight excites and motivates young people around the world. Inspired, they dream of soaring above the earth, of designing, piloting, and maintaining today's and tomorrow's aircraft. They dream of the future of flight and the joy of being a part of it.

In the United States, many young people take their dream and turn it into reality through the Aviation Career Education or Exploration (ACE) programs. The programs generally last one week and give the students a chance to explore, first hand, the wide variety of career opportunities in the aviation industry. Many programs offer tours of airport towers, en route air traffic control centers, and behind the scenes tours of large metropolitan airports. In addition, students are generally involved in constructing hot air balloons or gliders as they learn about the aerodynamics of flight. The highlight of every camp is the opportunity to take a flight. Flight opportunities ranges from gliders, to helicopters, to single engine aircraft, and to orientation flights on military transport planes, generally provided by the state's national guard.

Thanks to the ACE program thousands of students across the United States have turned their dreams into reality. Some are pilots for major airline companies, or have chosen a career with airline companies in other areas, such as marketing or human resources. Some have become air traffic controllers, airframe and powerplant technicians, or avionic technicians. Others have chosen careers outside the aviation industry, but have included recreational flight as part of their life.

History of the ACE Programs The program was established by the Federal Aviation Administration in 1989 in partnership with colleges and universities to help build a more diverse workforce for the years to come. However, it has been the state aeronautic agencies that have taken the program to new heights.

In nearly every state, there is an ACE program. Many states such as Connecticut and Nebraska work closely with their state's national guard and Space Grant Consortium. Many work in cooperation with aviation organizations such as their local Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), local Soaring clubs, and fixed base operators.

The Aviation Career Education programs have indeed taken many young people to new heights and helped turn dreams into reality.