This month, Delta marked 25 years of its DREAM flight — offering 145 future pilots the chance to fly alongside and gain insights from numero...
This month, Delta marked 25 years of its DREAM flight — offering 145 future pilots the chance to fly alongside and gain insights from numerous industry professionals.
Since it was established in 2000, this unique charter flight — organized in collaboration with the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) — has taken students aged 13 to 18 to locations focused on aviation to discover the wide range of opportunities in the aerospace field. By enabling young individuals to envision themselves in various roles like flight crews, pilots, gate agents, and flight dispatchers, the DREAM flight opens up a pathway to possibilities in aviation.
For the first time, the DREAM flight arrived at Merritt Island, FL, where students spent a day full of activities at the Kennedy Space Center. The schedule featured facility tours, hands-on experiences, and a Delta panel discussion with a pilot, flight attendant, and corporate representatives from Brand Experience, Communications, and Legal, who provided insights into the variety of career opportunities available, both in the air and on the ground.
Assisting others to rise is inherent in Delta's nature, and that's what makes this flight so unique," said Kurt Ford, Managing Director of Flight Training at Delta. "By linking students with aviation professionals, the DREAM Flight enables students to picture careers they might never have thought possible and aids in shaping the future of our sector.
The idea that brought the DREAM flight to life
In 1973, John Bailey, a newly employed Delta Airlines pilot and veteran of the U.S. Air Force, frequently conducted round-trip charters in Boston for children with terminal illnesses. Motivated by the essence and goal of these trips, he dreamed of establishing a comparable chance for kids who might one day become pilots.
Twenty-five years on, Bailey suggested introducing a week-long aviation awareness program for teenagers at the Delta Campus and presented his long-cherished idea of a circular flight trip for the students involved and other local aviation groups to conclude the program.
The next year, 1999, the first OBAP Aviation Career Education (ACE) Academy camps took place at Delta's headquarters, attracting 45 students. While Bailey and his team were preparing for the program's second year, he got "the call" from Charlie Tutt, a high-ranking official in Flight Operations. His initiative for children was finally approved — with two requirements. Firstly, it wouldn't be a circular flight; it had to go to an educational location that would enhance the students' learning. And secondly... "You need to have that plane back by 6:30 p.m."
In July 2000, the first DREAM Flight departed for the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., with Bailey serving as the pilot. He, along with his Delta and OBAP coworkers, welcomed 150 students from Atlanta City Schools and aviation-focused camps on a memorable journey that returned to Atlanta — on schedule.
Delta's dedication to supporting aviation professionals in reaching new heights
Delta's DREAM flight showcases Delta's dedication to introducing students from underrepresented communities to the aviation industry, as part of a larger initiative to pave the way for the most skilled and capable future professionals.
The continuous collaboration between Delta and OBAP has provided over 4,000 young people with hands-on learning experiences to gain insight into aviation career paths. The main objective is to increase students' enthusiasm for aviation by offering engaging and educational activities along with mentorship.
Besides the OBAP ACE Academy participants, this year Delta extended an invitation to students from Atlanta-area schools and STEM organizations, such as Morrow High School, Kindezi School, Rex Mill Middle, Elite Scholars Academy, Tuskegee Airmen, and Aviation Career Enrichment. A team of volunteers from various backgrounds joined in to interact with the students all day, discussing their individual experiences within Delta.
DREAM Flight is among the numerous programs Delta has implemented to grow and enhance its talent pool, aiming to recruit top-quality employees. Earlier this autumn, DELTA organized its tenth annual WING (Women Inspiring the Next Generation) Flight, transporting 130 young women from Atlanta to Florida’s Space Coast to commemorate Girls in Aviation Day.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
