The Future of Essex Skypark
Baltimore County Law Enforcement
Currently the Baltimore County Aviation Department operates out of rental facilities at Martin State Airport. The property at Essex Skypark is ideally suited to provide a rent-free home to one of Maryland's premier law enforcement organizations. As the "Baltimore County Inner Harbor" develops, law enforcement in Baltimore County can utilize the unique location to base a Marine division at Essex Skypark. This would further reduce rent paid out and keep the County's two non-automobile law enforcement divisions together.
Silver Wings
The Silver Wings program is a non-profit organization that works closely with the Freestate Challenge group to run a 22-week program for at risk teens between the ages of 15-18. This program is limited to high school dropouts and is strictly voluntary. The top 30 participants at the end of the first 18 weeks are given the opportunity to spend 4 weekends learning the basics of aviation, weather and navigation. The final reward for their commitment is an airplane ride. The Freestate Challenge has a phenomenal success rate for turning young lives around. Approximately 65% of the participants earn a high school diploma after participation in the program.
Aviation Department at CCBC Catonsville
Hundreds of pilots in the Baltimore area have attended CCBC popular Pilot Ground School Courses. CCBC offers Private Pilot, Instrument, and Commercial Pilot Certificates and Ratings Ground School Courses. When it comes time for flight training many come to Essex Skypark to continue their education.
Aviation Club
CCBC Catonsville also has an active club for aviation enthusiasts! Any CCBC Catonsville Student is welcome to participate in CCBC Aviation Club activities; Essex Skypark is one of the prim locations for their activities.
Seaplane Base
A fact that is not well known outside of the Essex Skypark community is that Essex still has two Federal Aviation charted and active water runways. Essex is ideally suited to continue their function as one of the few seaplane bases on the East Coast. The Essex/Middle River area is rich in history with seaplane activity including The Glen L. Martin "Mars Flying Boats" and the "China Clippers" of the 1930's.
Campground
Another fact that is not well known is that Essex Skypark is also charted as having a Fly-In Campground. Essex has the facilities to provide a campground for people who fly in. While very popular throughout the West and Midwest; fly-in camping is practically non-existent on the East Coast; this alone would give Baltimore County a unique advantage. The area adjacent to the airport is filled with the potential for hiking, hiking, canoeing, birding and horse trails as well as gateway for tourists.
Aviation Education and Day Camps
Aviation is the single best avocation to use when motivating today's students to learn. To start with, just about every child has an innate love of flying. Kids spend hours daydreaming about soaring free like the birds. And they are naturally attracted to the awe-inspiring power and speed of modern jets and acrobatic airplanes.
Using that lure, teachers can expose students to just about every subject known to mankind, all the while answering the age-old question from students everywhere: "Why do I need to know this stuff anyway?"
Aviation helps kids at all grade levels learn the topics you see listed here and more.
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Electronics and computers
- Mechanical engineering and maintenance
- Atmospherics and weather
- Geography and navigation
- Business management and finance
- Health and safety
- Statistics and analysis
- Sales and marketing
- Trade and tourism
- Commerce and industry
- Material sciences and systems engineering
- Radios and acoustics
- Ergonomics and human factors engineering
- Law and regulation
That's why many industry trade groups and membership groups within aviation have created ready-made learning kits and teaching curricula for use by educators and students at every grade level. These interactive hands-on tools make exposing kids to aviation and its related topics fast, easy, fun, and rewarding for students and educators alike.
After high school, there are hundreds of colleges and universities in the U.S. and the world that offer undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in aviation-related topics. Many of these degree programs will lead to careers in advanced research, professional services, manufacturing, or even a flying career.
An Aviation Camp is just what we wish we had growing up. Kids 10-18 would experience what flying is and go beyond. They would learn about teamwork and making new friends - while having a lot of fun. Aviation Camp would he a grand introduction to the science, history and adventure of flight. Kids will come away enthusiastic, inspired and ready to meet new challenges. They will learn about aircraft systems, aerodynamics, weather, and navigation and take tours and spend time interacting with pilots and Flight Instructors.
Aviation Camp would include a Ground school and cover:
- Airplane systems
- Aerodynamics
- Flight environment
- Weather for pilots
- Flight planning
- Navigation
- Communication
- Tower operations
Flight instruction will cover:
- Preflight checklist
- Takeoffs and Landings
- Climbs and Descents
- Ground reference practice
Flying is fun. At the Aviation Camp kids would be allowed to understand the concepts of flight and let them discover the magic of aviation. Aviation Camp would provide a wide variety of learning tools such as excellent instruction from knowledgeable FAA Certified Flight Instructors; well Maintained Training aircraft, textbooks, videos, assignments, and computer-based training aids.
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