ExpressJet inspires Polk State students with visit from ERJ145

Posted on by Polk Newsroom

Rachel Thomas settled into the cockpit of an ERJ145, pushing buttons and taking selfies in the 50-passenger, twin-engine regional airliner that felt much different from the small, single-engine plane she navigated during her first solo flight only weeks earlier.

Thomas, a junior at the Central Florida Aerospace Academy who is working on an Associate in Arts degree through dual enrollment at Polk State College, plans to enroll in Polk State’s Aerospace Program to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Sciences, specializing in the Professional Pilot concentration.

ExpressJet, a United Express carrier, stopped in on the SUN ‘n FUN Warbird Ramp during a regional educational tour of the airliner.

“This experience was very different from my first solo flight – it’s much more advanced but really exciting. It’s motivating to see the support students receive from those in the industry to pursue our dreams,” Thomas said.

The Central Florida Aerospace Academy is on the SUN ‘n FUN site with Polk State Aerospace only a mile away at the nearby Polk State Airside Center.

“It makes sense for me to pursue my education at Polk State because all of the resources are right here in Lakeland, and the program is known to be one of the best,” Thomas added.

Nearly 30 eager students from the Central Florida Aerospace Academy and Polk State Aerospace had the opportunity to board the airliner and sit up front in the cockpit, asking questions of seasoned pilots who are dedicated to inspiring young students to pursue aviation as the need for pilots, maintenance technicians, and cabin crew continues to rise.

 

 

It is projected that 790,000 new civil aviation pilots, 754,000 new maintenance technicians, and 890,000 new cabin crew will be needed to fly and maintain the world fleet over the next 20 years, according to the 2018 Boeing Pilot & Technician Outlook. Boeing has conducted this study every year since 2012, and each year the predicted need has continued to rise as the demand for air travel and e-commerce grows.

Polk State launched its Aerospace Program in 2013 in direct response to the industry’s needs and has since enjoyed partnerships with local employers and industry leaders, including ExpressJet which has extended conditional job offers to all 17 Polk State students who have applied through the Airline Pilot Pathway Program (AP3).

“A lot of students think that becoming a pilot is unattainable, but our goal is to show them that if they put in the hours and invest in themselves, they can achieve their dreams and spend their careers doing what they love,” ExpressJet Pilot Recruiter Robert Anderson said. “Through AP3 and educational tours, students receive firsthand experience, mentorship from experienced pilots, and a look at what their office will be like when they become a pilot, which are the best ways for us to inspire future careers.”

Polk State Aerospace Director Eric Crump highlighted the great support the College receives from ExpressJet and industry partners, which serve to give students and aspiring pilots an extra push to persevere on their paths to degrees in Aerospace Sciences.

“This experience motivates students by not only giving them the exciting experience of being in the cockpit of a regional airliner but by also showing them that companies like ExpressJet are here to invest in them,” Crump said. “These big-name companies are saying that they believe in what our students are doing, and they are here to give them the tools they need to succeed.”

 

Thomas Jacobsen, a senior at the Central Florida Aerospace Academy who is working on an Associate in Arts degree through dual enrollment at Polk State, recently achieved his pilot’s license by completing flight time through Polk State’s Aerospace Program.

He echoed sentiments similar to his peers regarding the excitement of ExpressJet’s visit and the encouragement students receive from their instructors and industry partners to pursue their aspirations.

“This is totally different from the smaller planes we have had the opportunity to experience, and this plane represents for me the long-term goal that I have to one day fly regionally,” Jacobsen said. “Motivationally, opportunities like this really reinforce my decision to go into the aviation field.”