subject: AEFCO Aviation Summer Experience with Bob Penkhus [print this page] I recently had the opportunity to speak with approximately 25 teens that are participating in the Aviation Education Foundation of Colorado's (AEFCO) "Aviation Summer Experience" program at my airplane hangar in Colorado Springs. They were there to tour the facilities and ask me any questions they had related to aviation, including how I got interested in flight and how I use my King Air for both work and charitable causes.
Founded nearly seven years ago, the AEFCO "Aviation Summer Experience" is an eight-day program that's primary goal is to expose teenagers to as much aviation as possible and to educate them by taking part in actual flight-related activities, i.e. the "fun activities" associated with flying. They also offer a winter course, which deals with a ground coursework and meets twice a month during the school year. Students may participate in one or both programs should they desire and frequently, they continue on to the other.
In fact, several in the group have either already completed the AEFCO Private Pilot' ground school or have logged approximately 10 hours of flight instruction. Each young adult is serious about pursuing a career in the aviation field: roughly half the group is interested in a military-related career, while several others are seeking careers in missionary flight work.
Their primary goal is simple: to have every young adult fly everyday they take to the air. For example: Last year, students in the program took part in 140 flights, each lasting approximately an hour each over six of the eight days of the camp; half of the flight hours 70 were logged flight instruction that AEFCO provides.
I enjoyed my chat with all the young men and women and I wish them well in their future aviation endeavors!
