ELEVATE: Philadelphia Aviation Project
ELEVATE: PHILADELPHIA AVIATION PROJECT
United Airlines welcomes Philadelphia highschoolers to Newark Liberty International Airport for the second time
In 2024, 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.
That same year, WIF launched the Philadelphia Aviation Project thanks to the commitment and connections of WIF Board of Directors member Anthony Fleet.
Fleet is a Philadelphia native and a communications manager at United Airlines. He and Eli Prosper, thought partner from the City of Philadelphia Mayor’s Office of Education, came together to organize an excursion from Philly to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) as the first step in introducing Community Schools youth to interstate and international travel.
After a successful visit and subsequent career development activities during the 2024-2025 academic year, we kicked off the 2025-2026 school year with second visit to EWR.
Because the project is “developing wings” in Philadelphia and because it has inspired the investigation of launching similar projects in Houston, TX and other United hub cities, we have dubbed it “ELEVATE.”
Photos and videos on this Web page were supplied by Philadelphia Community Schools, Philadelphia, PA and United Airlines pilot Khaled Chebli.
FROM PHILLY TO NEWARK
On November 14, 2025, Black and Latino/Hispanic students from South Philadelphia High School and Frankford High School boarded an Amtrak train from William H. Gray III 30th Street Station in Philly to Newark Liberty International Airport.
A total of nineteen (19) students and four (4) chaperones participated in this adventure.
The students were accompanied by Board Member Anthony Fleet, who rode with them on Amtrak and escorted them to the airport upon their arrival in Newark.
AT THE HANGAR
To begin their visit at EWR, the students, chaperones and several United Airlines employees who volunteered to support the experience boarded a shuttle bus from United’s terminal to one of its maintenance hangars.
While at the hangar, United mechanics led by Steve Dishler took the group on a tour of the room where airplane engines are stored and repaired. They then transitioned to the hangar’s main space where aircraft are parked for mechanics to do their repair work.
ON BOARD A BOEING 757
A Boeing 757 aircraft was parked in the hangar. United B-767/757 First Officer Khaled Chebli greeted the students and brought them on board, showing them the entire interior of the aircraft.
They made public address announcements as pilots and flight attendants would do on the aircraft, experienced the fully reclining seats in first class, and finished with a photo opp in the flight deck.
LUNCH WITH JET BLUE PILOT MARK LYONS
After a couple of hours in the hangar, the group returned to United’s terminal for lunch. Mark Lyons, a pilot with JetBlue Airlines and friend of WIF, stopped by to speak with students about his experience that led him to the flight deck.
UNITED’S STATION OPERATION CENTER
The students’ last 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.
To get to the operations center, they passed through TSA security and walked along one of the terminal’s concourses to get a good look at the planes and all the constant activity that goes into running a major airport operation.
Victor Cole, an employee in the operation center, gave the students a personalized tour of the space. Cole introduced them to his colleagues who represent every operational component of the airline, including retired pilots, airplane technicians and many other interesting careers.
VIDEO SHORT
Watch this brief video that captures the students’ travel to Newark Liberty and their experience on board a Boeing 757.