Delta Inspires the Next Generation of Aviation Pros with Trip to Airbus in Alabama

In partnership with Airbus, Delta recently sponsored a flight to Mobile, Alabama, to introduce a group of high school students to a future in aviation.

This experience was a joint effort between Delta’s Enterprise Sales, Community Engagement, TechOps, Flight Ops and Global Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, as well as partners Airbus and Tango Flight. Through this collaboration, 21 students from the Carver STEAM Academy had the opportunity to hear from aviation professionals throughout the industry and get a hands-on, behind-the-scenes look at how aircraft make their way off the ground.

A Delta pilot shares a behind-the-scenes look at how aircraft make their way off the ground.

Led by TechOps employee Jim Clemmer, and in partnership with Carver STEAM Academy, 15 Delta volunteers visited the school twice per week for the past year and a half to mentor students as they complete curriculum through the Tango Flight program. This program is a 501c3 educational nonprofit created to inspire the next generation of engineers, pilots, aviation mechanics and technicians by applying classroom knowledge to building an actual, Federal Aviation Administration-certified airplane.

“When I started volunteering at the school, I began to realize that most of the students had never flown before. That’s when I started thinking about taking them on their first flight – something as simple as a takeoff and landing somewhere close by,” said Jim. “Little did I know that their first flight would be to Mobile to visit the Airbus assembly plant.” Mobile is one of five cities where Airbus commercial aircraft are assembled, and in 2022 alone, Delta delivered 12 aircraft from this site – eight A321neos and four A220-300s.

21 students from the Carver STEAM Academy few with 11 Delta employees to Airbus in Alabama.

Sharing Jim’s passion for an inside look at the aviation industry, Tommy Whitfield brought this idea to senior leaders at Delta and got the green light to begin planning: “Exposure is the key to development and success, and my goal was to show the students that what they are doing now with Tango Flight can be done on a larger scale for a career,” said Tommy, mentor at Carver STEAM Academy and Delta Lead Project Manager – Fleet Projects.

Through her partnership with Airbus as Delta Enterprise Sales Manager, Shalini Passales made this dream a reality. The students boarded the flight to Mobile last week alongside 11 Delta employees. Upon their arrival, the group was hosted by Airbus on tours of the aerospace education center Flight Works Alabama and the Airbus A320 Final Assembly Line. Here, the students had the opportunity to interact with an array of hands-on exhibits including a flight simulator and virtual reality experience, as well as learn how aircraft prepare for flight.

a Carver STEAM Academy student experiences a virtual reality flight simulator.

“This trip to Mobile gave students the opportunity to see themselves reflected in roles they may not have previously thought possible,” said Keyra Lynn Johnson, Delta’s V.P. and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer. “Delta's ongoing relationship with the Carver STEAM Academy is a direct reflection of our commitment to invest in the next generation of aviation professionals and create a wider pipeline for qualified roles in these fields.”

For more information on how to get involved, email techu@delta.com to volunteer at Carver STEAM Academy, and see the Tango Flight program list of participating schools throughout the country.