Aerospace and avionics classes to be offered in Polk

Monday, April 21, 2008

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The academy will be based at the Florida Air Museum.

POLK COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- Polk County High School students who are seeking futures in aerospace and avionics will have a chance to jump-start their careers starting this fall.

The Central Florida Aerospace Academ y is currently enrolling public high school students for its inaugural class.

The academy will be based at the Florida Air Museum at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport making it the state's first public high school on airport property.

"There's two programs we're offering," said Chad Smith with Kathleen High School academic dean. "There's avionics. Kids will actually get hands on with aircraft, aircraft electrical systems and learn those. There's also pre-engineering aerospace technologies. We'll be working with some other companies. We'll actually be putting some airplanes together, creating some airplanes that eventually will be flown."

Besides building planes, students can also learn how to fly them. School leaders said the course work will be rigorous.

When students graduate from the academy they will earn high school diplomas, in addition to college credits, certificates in avionics, and ground certification they can use to become pilots.

More Information

Nine public and private companies -- including NASA -- have already signed up to partner with the academy. They will offer on-site instruction and off-campus internships, giving students real-life experiences that soar above traditional course work.

The Central Florida Aerospace Academy is a partnership among Kathleen High School, Sun 'n' Fun, Gulf Coast Avionics, USF Lakeland and Polk Community College.

Enrollment is open to all current eighth and ninth graders in Polk County.

Contact Information

Central Florida Aerospace Academy

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