HUNTSVILLE — It was a day of planes, pilots, and pizza in the control tower for one local Cub Scout group.
The local nonprofit Flyquest recently hosted a tour of Huntsville International Airport for 15 local Cub Scouts and a few siblings.
FlyQuest Director David Knies said the nonprofit founded by Huntsville tech entrepreneur Mark Spencer is based in Huntsville and highlights opportunities in the aviation field for students.
“FlyQuest strives to encourage young people, particularly those disadvantaged, to pursue careers in the aviation industry,” he said. “FlyQuest also offers unique leaning programs utilizing state-of-the-art teaching aids to augment local school classrooms through our partnership program.”
Speaking on the recent Scout tour at the Huntsville International Airport, Knies said it was a team effort of dedicated volunteers.
“It was a pleasure to introduce the Cub Scout troop to the myriad aviation careers available in the Huntsville area – we look forward to some of these young people joining the skies soon,” he said.
On the tour, the Scouts boarded private planes, a cargo aircraft and even an amphibious plane.
Knies was joined by First Officer J. Travis Doyle from Delta Air Lines, local pilot Ryan Tonini, and Atlanta-based flight attendant Michelle Hodge to host the all-girl Den 15 of Cub Scout Pack 315.
The tour provided ample opportunities to get up close and personal with multiple aircraft, including Tonini’s small private plane. Scouts took turns sitting in the 1966 Piper Cherokee while he told the group how the controls and radios work.
The den then met with Hodge, who discussed the importance of flight attendants’ jobs and that part of their job is to make everyone “feel really relaxed and calm”.
“This is a tour that the general public rarely gets to see,” Doyle said. “I vividly remember when I was a Cub Scout doing a tour like this in Chicago and it was incredible to see how much hard work goes into getting people safely around the country via commercial aviation.
“Delta Air Lines was proud to be part of such a great event for the local scouting community and we were happy to make the ‘Delta Difference’.”
The group also toured the amphibious plane, followed by several experimental planes containing assortments of gadgets and new tech to improve aviation safety.
The Scouts, who ranged in age from 8-12, boarded a cargo plane filled with 2-day Amazon packages. The day was capped by pizza in the control tower of Huntsville International airport.
“Pack 315 left the tour excited about aviation and having a much more expansive view on what takes place at an airport including all the different jobs, technologies and services that are provided to our community,” Doyle said.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our email newsletter to have all our smart stories delivered to your inbox.
