Textron Aviation will provide Cessna Skyhawk 172s to four universities this year and offer internships with a new program, Top Hawk. The initial partners announced include Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Kansas State University, Liberty University and the University of North Dakota. Under the program, Cessna will provide a Skyhawk for the remainder of 2015 for the universities’ flight training, recruiting and promotional activities. One student from each school will participate in Textron’s summer internship program in cooperation with the Textron Aviation Employees Flying Club. Interns will learn about business operations, lead ground school classes and build flight hours. At the end of the summer, they’ll take part in a flying competition for the title of “Top Hawk.”
“This is a unique opportunity for the company and the participating universities,” said Doug May, Textron’s vice president of piston aircraft. “We’ve had long relationships with all four university aviation departments. We look forward to deepening those ties through Top Hawk as these schools continue training the next generation of pilots. It’s critical to the aviation industry to encourage young people to consider careers in aviation, as pilots, technicians and administrators, and to train them in the best possible equipment as the foundation of their career.”
