For Immediate Release
February 10, 2018

Contact:
Frederick Badlissi
(424) 646-5260

(Los Angeles, CA) Students from Orville Wright and (Judge) Albert Monroe Middle Schools were treated to an airfield bus ride and a behind-the-scenes look at airport operations as part of today’s LAX Job Shadow Day. The annual event allows students to learn about aviation careers from those working at the airport, including engineers, project managers, law enforcement officers, community relations specialists, and pilots. The event took place at the Flight Path Museum and Learning Center, and included mentors from Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and Compass Airlines.

“At LAX, we take incredible pride in being able to showcase aviation to the next generation and show off the incredible careers we have at the airport and in its operation,” said Trevor Daley, LAWA Deputy Executive Director for External Affairs. “Days like today spark the imagination andcan be the start of exciting careers for our future aviation leaders.”

Over forty students and their teachers arrived at the Flight Path Learning Center & Museum, beginning their day presentations from aviation professionals working as before embarking on a one-of-a-kind experience. Following presentations from LAWA working in Community Relations, Information Technology, and Construction Project Management, some students hopped into an articulated bus for an airfield tour of LAX. Others chose to accompany their mentors right away, to get an up-close look at how all of these offices work together to make the airport run safely and smoothly.

One student, Malakhi, 13, had a chance to see LAX’s Cyber Security operation first-hand following his airport tour, which he found captivating. “I didn’t really know that there were hackers trying to get into the airport, and I was surprised to see how much technology there was. After seeing the hacking prevention room, it definitely makes me interested in cyber security.”

Students were also treated to a K-9 demonstration from LAWA Airport Police Division Corporal Robert Corchado and his bomb-sniffing dog Bila. In addition to telling students about his history with Bila, he also asked the students to be mindful of what they do today, so that they have the freedom to pursue their dreams.

Corporal Corchado said, “mentoring is kind like paying it forward. One of the reasons I got into law enforcement was because I had mentors that were all officers. Today, I get to be that mentor by letting the kidsknow that law enforcement is an option.By encouraging them to do good in school, respect their teachers, and not to be afraid to ask for help, these kids can do anything they put their mind to."

(High resolution photos available upon request.)

About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

LAX is the fourth busiest airport in the world, second in the United States, and was named one of Skytrax’ 2017 Top 10 Most Improved Airports. LAX served more than84 million passengers in 2017. LAX offers 737 daily nonstop flights to 100 cities in the U.S. and 1,386 weekly nonstop flights to 88 cities in 44 countries on 73 commercial air carriers. LAX ranks 14th in the world and fifth in the U.S. in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.2 million tons of air cargo valued at over $101.4 billion. LAX handled 697,138 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2016.

An economic study based on 2014 operations reported LAX generated 620,600 jobs in Southern California with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion. This activity added $6.2 billion to local and state revenues and $8.7 billion in federal tax revenues. The study also reported that LAX’s ongoing capital-improvement program creates an additional 121,640 annual jobs with labor income of $7.6 billion and economic output of $20.3 billion, $966 million in state and local taxes, and $1.6 billion in federal tax revenues.

LAX is also the second most popular airport in the world to appear on Instagram according to wego.com. LAX is part of a system of two Southern California airports – along with Van Nuys general aviation – that are owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports, a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City’s general fund.

For more information about LAX, please visit www.flyLAX.com or follow on Twitter @flyLAXAirport, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LAInternationalAirport, and on YouTube at www.YouTube.com/laxairport1.

As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Alternative formats in large print, braille, audio, and other forms (if possible) will be provided upon request.

About Flight Path Museum and Learning Center 

Flight Path Museum and Learning Center is a nonprofit, community-based museum honoring aviation pioneers, showcasing the importance of Southern California and LAX to the aviation and aerospace industry as well as encouraging youth to pursue education and careers in aviation-related fields. The Flight Path Museum gallery exhibits are filled with memories of aviation’s golden years and houses one of largest collection of vintage flight attendant uniforms in the Western United States. Flight Path Museum is located on the LAX runway at 6661 West Imperial Highway, open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 3 pm, admission and parking are always free.