Piper Revises College Park As Educating Pathway Piper

Grace Huseth

EAA AirVenture’s newest flight attraction is Aviation Gateway sponsored by Piper Aircraft to reflect innovation in the future of aviation.

Kicking off the air show on Monday morning, a ribbon cutting with EAA Chairman Jack J. Pelton and Piper CEO Simon Caldecott opened the park to aviation enthusiasts.  A special drone delivery of the scissors was scheduled, but due to winds a DJI Inspire drone by Drone Media Group made an appearance to wave to the crowd.

“Piper’s legacy and history is in training aircraft. We want to encourage the next generation to come along and get involved in aviation. In the new Aviation Gateway Park young folks will benefit from this in the future,” said Simon Caldecott, CEO of Piper Aircraft.

Originally named College Park, Aviation Gateway Park has been reconfigured to display various developments in aviation.  Inside NATCA presents the Innovation Center building to house simulators and other flight technologies.

Kelly Richardson, Outreach and Special Events Coordinator for NATCA said fifteen volunteers from NATCA are using their vacation days to share innovation discoveries inside the center and through the air show in forums and Kid Venture. Companies sponsored by NATCA are in the innovation center to show what’s in store for the next 20 years of ATC. "Most people think of innovation as just the aircraft. Innovation is also on the other side of the microphone. Pilots need to see that ATC is no longer 1970’s technology,” Richardson said.

The rapidly growing drone population is having a first appearance at EAA AirVenture 2015. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s new drone cage inside the park will host obstacle course challenges throughout the week.

The DJI Inspire drone used for the ribbon cutting is just one of many drones buzzing through the cage. Mannie Frances, Drone Media Group founder, said the drone was selected for the Aviation Gateway Park unveiling because it is quiet and safe while also being stable enough to potentially carry the scissors. Drone demonstrations will be featured on live video feeds from the drones themselves by Multicopter Warehouse and projected onto screens in the area.

FMI: www.eaa.org