Luke supports Tuskegee ACE camp

  • Published
  • By BEN BRUCE
  • 56th Fighter Wing Safety
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Recently the 56th Fighter Wing hosted several 2011 Tuskegee Airmen Aviation Cadet Education program students at a camp on Luke Air Force Base.

The ACE program is an education-based program for youth, ages 13 to 17, who have expressed interest in aviation careers. The national program, created by Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated, is run by the Archer - Ragsdale chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen in Phoenix, who runs the program each year with the support of sponsors, such as Southwest Airlines, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport; the organization of Black Aerospace Professionals; and Luke. The event also received support from the 944th Fighter Wing. The ACE Camp is the annual kickoff for a yearlong youth mentoring program.

The weeklong event starts at Sky Harbor where the students attend presentations on aviation communication systems, fundamentals of weather and air traffic control basics to understand aviation airspace, the role of the Federal Aviation Administration, and principles of flight. The students also tour facilities at Sky Harbor to help them better understand career paths available in aviation.

"Many people think the only job in aviation is flying," said Mike Toliver, ACE camp director. "They don't know there are numerous career fields that support the pilot. The pilot needs the support of many to fly safe, from air traffic controllers and weather personnel to refueling and maintenance teams on the ground."

Mr. Toliver, a commercial pilot himself, is one of several volunteers who spends a week with the cadets to ensure they have fun while receiving a sound education in aviation. Aside from academics, there are a lot of fun things for the cadets. They tour the Southwest Airlines flight simulator, and build and fly radio-controlled airplanes. Local pilots even fly into Glendale Airport to give each cadet a private airplane flight.

The big event is a tour of Luke. It's a whirlwind tour of the 56th Fighter Wing's capability to train F-16 fighter pilots.

They start off by going to the F-16 simulator, where they try to shoot each other out of the sky in mock dog fights. They come out grinning from ear-to-ear as they head off to the air traffic control tower, where they get an eagle's eye view of the airfield, learn air traffic rules and watch a series of arrivals and departures.

Cadets are taken to the flightline for a tour given by an F-16 crew chief and finally get to meet an F-16 "Viper" up-close and personal. The crew chief explains the jet's capabilities as well as maintenance duties and responsibilities associated with its upkeep and maintenance.

The ACE program began with the local chapter at Sky Harbor in 2006. In 2007, the Luke day event was added, and since then, cadet surveys indicate the private flights and the tour of Luke are the best part of the event.

For the rest of the year, using the lessons learned from Tuskegee Airmen history, the cadets are exposed to aviation and leadership principles. They are given a flight plan for success in life and made to understand that education is a key to success. There is an emphasis on science and math, both of which are necessary skills for a career in aviation.