LAX Holds Aviation Career Day in First All-Virtual Event

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) virtually welcomed more than 500 high school students to LAX Aviation Career Day. Now in its fifth year, the half-day event exposed students from regional high schools to a wide variety of career paths including presentations from airlines, construction firms, first responders, government agencies and a variety of divisions within Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). The engaging program included question-and-answer sessions, videos and PowerPoint presentations. The premiere of a virtual LAX airfield tour capped off the day.

“Tens of thousands of people come together every day at LAX to deliver gold-standard service across a variety of professions, and Aviation Career Day lets high school students learn some of the stories behind the work our people do,” said Michelle Schwartz, Chief Corporate Strategy and Affairs Officer, LAWA. “With careers in information technology, law enforcement, marketing, engineering, project planning, construction, and many other disciplines, aviation is where your career can truly take flight, as so many have at LAX.”

Students from 19 Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) high schools, El Segundo High School and Lennox Mathematics, Science and Technology Academy joined the event, representing grades 9 through 12.

Students were able to choose from two different tracks, based on their interests. Participating organizations included: the City of Los Angeles, Clark Construction, Delta Air Lines, HireLAX Apprenticeship Readiness Program, JetBlue Airways, Los Angeles Airport Police, Mount San Antonio College’s Aircraft Maintenance Technology Program, Poole Construction Company Limited (PCL), Signature Flight Support, Sling Pilot Academy, Southwest Airlines, Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Touchstone Project Solutions and the Transportation Security Administration. Staff from LAX’s Airport Operations, Environmental Programs Group, the LAXceeders student voluteer program and LAX Pets Unstressing Passengers (PUPs) therapy dog program also presented on behalf of LAWA.

Clockwise, from upper left: LAWA Chief Executive Officer Justin Erbacci welcomes students, Delta Air Lines Pilot Mary Lou Johnson shares her professional experience, LAWA Airport Superintendent of Operations Hiran Fernando details how LAX operations work, and Spartan College Instructor Dale Harrell explains the benefits of being a certified aircraft mechanic.