BACKGROUND

The Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) conducts applied research to develop practical, ready-to-implement products that address pressing problems in the airport industry. ACRP is administered by the Transportation Research Board (TRB) and sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Research is conducted by contractors with oversight provided by volunteer panels of expert stakeholders. TRB activities provide significant benefits including networking with the professional community, receiving valuable and timely information about ongoing research, and contributing to the broader transportation community. 

ACRP currently manages two academic engagement programs: the Graduate Research Award (GRA) and the University Design Competition (UDC). The two programs have had a major impact on building excitement around and attracting students to the airport industry. At the same time, the airport industry recognizes a continued need to increase the number and diversity of young people exploring and entering its workforce in technical and nontechnical disciplines. In responding to these industry challenges, it is increasingly clear that it would be beneficial to begin engaging students at the secondary education level.  ACRP is exploring how the experiences and successes of the GRA and UDC could be leveraged for developing a new program or supporting existing ones.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this research are to (1) develop an ACRP WebResource that inventories existing secondary education programs in the aviation/aerospace field operated by traditional aviation and non-traditional institutions; and (2) make recommendations to the ACRP about supporting existing secondary education programs and/or developing a new secondary education challenge program with a focus on airport topics and issues. 

STATUS: RESEARCH IN PROGRESS