Flights over Detroit in private airplanes, tours of an airport control tower and aircraft maintenance hangars, model glider competition, classes in the theory of flight and the history of aviation. It’s all part of the Aviation Career Education (ACE) Academy centered at Wayne State University, July 11-15. About 20 students, mostly from schools in Detroit, are participating in the program, now in its 13th year at WSU.

Aimed at encouraging 8th-10th graders to think about careers in aviation, the ACE Academy includes introductory classes in weather and navigation, tours of an airport fire station and the Tuskegee Airmen Museum, a model rocket demonstration and more.

The program is coordinated by Academic College Enrichment Services at Wayne State. Several organizations cooperate with the university in sponsorship, including the Federal Aviation Administration, Tuskegee Airmen, Organization of Black Airline Pilots, Black Pilots of America and National Black Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees. The ACE program was started by the FAA and is held in various areas of the country where local organizers and co-sponsoring groups are available.

The highlight for most of the ACE Academy participants in Detroit next week will be flights over the city from Detroit City Airport on Wednesday, July 13. (Flights will depart from the main terminal, 10 a.m.-noon and 1:15-2:30 pm.) Airplanes used for the “orientation flights” are owned and operated by members of the sponsoring organizations, who volunteer to assist in the program.

Students in the Wayne State program are nominated by teachers or one of the sponsoring organizations. Participants receive a certificate at the end of the week during a session marking completion of the camp.