Axalta Partners With Flight Youth Engineering

Axalta Partners With Flight Youth Engineering

Axalta has announced a partnership with Flight Youth Engineering, an organisation offering a unique science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education experience for secondary school students – learning how to build and fly a plane. Axalta says it will supply coatings from its Imron aviation portfolio to protect and beautify planes built by the participants.

Under the guidance and supervision of mentors from different sectors of the aviation industry, students who participate in a Flight Youth Engineering project will gain, through hands-on practical experiences, a deeper understanding of concepts in engineering, aircraft management and the theory of flight.

Through its Bright Futures programme, Axalta says it supports STEM education programmes around the world.

“By supplying our coatings, we are only a small part of this journey where students will be given the opportunity to take part in an extraordinary experience,” said Steven Brett, Managing Director, Axalta Coating Systems Australia. “We hope to be able to encourage secondary school students to consider a career in the aviation or coatings industries or other areas of STEM.”

Flight Youth Engineering currently has a group of home-schooled students completing a Van’s Aircraft RV-12IS at Redcliffe Aerodrome in Queensland. Construction on a second Van’s Aircraft RV-12IS will soon begin at St Columban’s College at Caboolture in Queensland. A team of 15 students from years 10 and 11 will work for three hours per week and finish construction in approximately 12 months.

“We are proud of the work our students have completed to date and know that it is only possible with the help of our sponsors and donations from supporters like Axalta,” said Ashley Miller, Director – Aircraft Chief Builder at Flight Youth Engineering. “The number of young people pursuing careers in aviation have been declining and Flight Youth Engineering’s goal is to inspire the next generation of aviation technicians and pilots. We look forward to seeing what our students achieve and encourage schools to consider taking part in our programme.”