This Year's Efforts Include Environmental Awareness
If a jet burns an average of 744
gallons of fuel on a one-hour flight, how many gallons of jet fuel
will be burned on a 90-minute flight? More than 30,000 fifth-grade
students nationwide will find answers to this and other questions
as they participate in the Southwest Airlines Adopt-A-Pilot
community relations program this year.
To further its commitment to community and education, Southwest
Airlines is kicking off its annual Adopt-A-Pilot program this
month. From February through May, fifth-grade students in more than
1,000 classes across the country will "adopt" Southwest Airlines
Pilots in this award-winning educational mentorship program that
leads students through science, geography, math, writing, and other
core subjects, all based in aviation-related activities. Students
will also research careers, develop life values, and realize the
importance of staying in school.
Reflecting current trends, the Adopt-A-Pilot program has added
environmental awareness to the curriculum. The lesson focuses
specifically on how Southwest Airlines views energy usage and fuel
consumption and ways the airline has worked toward improving its
aircraft to make them more eco-friendly. The students will learn
about the aircrafts' winglets, fun fuel conservation facts, energy
and recycling habits, and ways they can help the environment
too.
"The new environmental awareness lesson teaches about
Southwest's mission to be environmentally friendly. Our Employees
are excited about our green initiatives and their inclusion in the
Adopt-A-Pilot program is a great way to spread awareness and spark
interest in students across the United States," said Linda
Rutherford, Southwest Airlines Vice President of Communications and
Strategic Outreach.
More than 750 Southwest Pilots volunteer in the four-week-long
mentorship program. Pilots volunteer their time in adoptive
classrooms and correspond from the "road" via e-mail and postcards.
Classrooms chart their Pilot's course on an official US route map
and complete lessons related to the Pilot's monthly flying
schedule.
"We always enjoy our time in the classroom. The students'
curiosity and imagination makes the program worthwhile," said
Southwest Airlines Pilot Tim Leonard. "I'm proud to be a part of
something that is diverse in its curriculum, enriching for
students, and gets them excited about travel and future
professions. The Adopt-A-Pilot program is more than just a
volunteer opportunity for Pilots; it's about building
relationships."
(By the way, the answer to the question above is 1,116
gallons of Jet-A.)