FAA Partners With Aviation Education Groups

The FAA has renewed educational partnerships with Jamail Larkins and Build-A-Plane to help encourage young people to pursue careers in aerospace. These partnerships "inspire students across the nation to explore the many opportunities that aviation and aerospace careers offer," said Acting FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. Larkins will continue to serve as the FAA's official ambassador for aviation and space education under the Science, Engineering, and Mathematics - Aviation and Space Education program. Build-A-Plane is a non-profit organization that encourages interest in aerospace and aviation careers by helping student groups build and restore airplanes.

Larkins is one of the country's youngest aviation entrepreneurs and president of Ascension Air, a Cirrus fractional partnership program. He addresses up to 20,000 students about aerospace careers each year through public schools and youth groups. The STEM-AVSED program coordinates presentations with Larkins for agency outreach events, such as Aviation Career Education Academies, airport career expos and school visits. Build-A-Plane accepts donations of aircraft kits and airplanes in need of restoration and matches them with student groups across the country.