LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT HOSTS OVER 700 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AT FIRST AVIATION CAREER DAY
(Los Angeles, California – November 9, 2016) Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) officials welcomed more than 700 local high school students to the first annual LAX Aviation Career Day on Wednesday, Nov. 9. The event, hosted by LAX’s Community Relations Division, focused on giving students the opportunity to discover careers in the aviation field and showcasing aviation-related companies that offer entry-level jobs to high school graduates.
“Our goal is to encourage students to explore aviation and the many career paths available in the field,” said Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners Vice President Valeria Velasco. “Career Day shows students the many options available and inspires them toward a future career in aviation.”
LAX Aviation Career Day featured more than 30 exhibitors from airlines, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Customs and Border Protection, Los Angeles Airport Police, air cargo companies, and other aviation/aerospace companies. Student attendees met industry professionals, viewed interactive exhibits, toured helicopters and Beechcraft and Cessna aircraft, and saw live demonstrations.
“Aviation experts project a critical decline in the pool of pilots and technicians to maintain airlines, and other industry professionals by 2031,” said Trevor Daley, Los Angeles World Airports Deputy Executive Director of External Affairs. “This event shows us we can fuel the future of aviation by inspiring students to develop a passion for aviation at an early age.”
“The event is closely aligned with the Los Angeles Unified School District efforts to improve college and career readiness for students,” said Dr. Derrick Chau, Los Angeles Unified School District Senior Executive Director, P-12 Education . “Exposure to various careers are a key aspect to providing students with the knowledge and agency to determine their pathway to success.”
Participating schools from Los Angeles and nearby communities included Augustus Hawkins High School, Centennial High School, Cesar Chavez Learning Complex, Miguel Contreras Learning Complex, Manual Arts High School, Bernstein High School, Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnet High School, Compton Early College High School, St. Bernard High School, Culver City High School, and Canyon High School Aviation Academy in Anaheim. Students from Torrance Unified School District, Inglewood Unified School District, Gardena and Hawthorne also participated.
About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
LAX is the seventh busiest airport in the world and third in the United States. LAX served more than 74.9 million passengers in 2015. LAX offers 742 daily nonstop flights to 101 cities in the U.S. and 1,273 weekly nonstop flights to 76 cities in 41 countries on 64 commercial air carriers. LAX ranks 14th in the world and fifth in the U.S. in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.1 million tons of air cargo valued at over $101.4 billion. LAX handled 655,564 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2015.
An economic study based on 2014 operations reported LAX generated 620,610 jobs in Southern California with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion. This activity added $6.2 billion to local and state revenues and $8.7 billion in federal tax revenues. The study also reported that LAX’s ongoing capital-improvement program creates an additional 121,640 annual jobs with labor income of $7.6 billion and economic output of $20.3 billion, $966 million in state and local taxes, and $1.6 billion in federal tax revenues.
LAX is part of a system of three Southern California airports – along with LA/Ontario International and Van Nuys general aviation – that are owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports, a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City’s general fund.
LAX Community Relations Division
LAX Community Relations Division develops and implements ongoing community outreach programs designed to optimize effective two-way communications with various publics. A key focus of the division is establishing programs and services that address the needs and concerns of surrounding airport communities through opportunities such as youth programs, aviation education, speakers bureau, and community and civic
participation. In addition, the division handles liaison activities with community-based organizations and oversees public agency-private industry partnerships.
As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Alternative formats in large print, braille, audio, and other forms (if possible) will be provided upon request.
