Philadelphia Aviation Project
United Airlines Welcomes High Schoolers from Philadelphia Community SchoolsPHILADELPHIA AVIATION PROJECT
WIF and Going Global with Barbara (GGwB), an organization devoted to exposing African-American youth to the possibilities that exist through travel and study abroad, co-hosted three online panel discussions on Black male youth and international travel and study abroad in 2024.
The first and most powerful tangible result of this discussion series is the Philadelphia Aviation Project.
WIF Board of Directors member Anthony Fleet is a Philadelphia native who currently works at United Airlines as a Corporate Communications/Public Relations manager based in EWR. He and Eli Prosper, thought partner from the City of Philadelphia Mayor’s Office of Education, came together to organize this experience as the first step in introducing Community Schools youth to interstate and international travel.
Photos and videos on this Web page were supplied by Philadelphia Community Schools, Philadelphia, PA.
FROM PHILLY TO NEWARK
On November 7, 2024, several Black and Latino/Hispanic students from multiple Philadelphia Community high schools boarded an Amtrak train from William H. Gray III 30th Street Station in Philly to travel to Newark Liberty International Airport. Others boarded a bus to make the trip to Newark and join their colleagues.
A total of nineteen (19) students and five (5) chaperones participated in this adventure.
The students who took the train were accompanied by Board Member Anthony Fleet, who escorted them to the airport upon their arrival in Newark.
To begin the day, Jon Gooda, United’s Vice President of Airport Operations at EWR, greeted them, thanked them for their interest, and encouraged them to have an open mind and learn as much as possible during their visit.
The group then passed through security, walked along one of United’s Terminal C concourses to get a good look at the planes, and gathered in a room where they could set their belongings, eat lunch and meet more United employees.
ON BOARD A BOEING 777
Following lunch, the students boarded a Boeing 777, one of the largest planes flown by the airline. They made public address announcements at the gate and onboard the aircraft, visited the flight deck, experienced the fully reclining seats in first class, and explored the rest of the plane.
UNITED’S STATION OPERATION CENTER
The students’ next stop was United’s Station Operation Center, which overlooks the airport’s airfield with a 360-degree panorama that includes a great view of New York City’s skyline.
Throughout their visit, they met with employees who represent every operational component of the airline, including retired pilots, airplane technicians and many other interesting careers.
UNITED CLUB℠
The last activity of the day was a visit to one of United’s signature United Clubs℠. The purpose of this undertaking was to get the students to envision themselves as premium travelers and feel this is something to which they can realistically aspire.
VIDEO SHORTS
Watch these short clips of the students as they encounter each new experience during their excursion.