BALTIMORE  ̶  Aimed at inspiring young people to explore aviation and aerospace careers, the East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (ECCTAI) and AvDyne AeroServices, LLC hosted  Youth Flight Day on Sept. 14 at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

The annual event is designed to introduce young people to the worlds of aviation and aerospace, with the goal of igniting interest in careers in these high-demand industries.

Youth Flight Day featured guided tours of aircraft, free flights, networking opportunities with ECCTAI members and aviation professionals, as well as free refreshments  ̶  all geared toward engaging young minds with the possibilities of working in aviation and aerospace.

Participants also learned about the history of the pioneering World War II Tuskegee Airmen and the critical role they played in aviation and the military.

Jerome Hodge, president of ECCTAI, who is also CEO and president of AvDyne AeroServices, emphasized the importance of the event.

"Our goal was to ensure that the next generation is aware of the vast opportunities available to them in the fields of aviation and aerospace,” Hodge said. “We hope this flying experience helped inspire them to explore careers in these industries."

Youth Flight Day aligns with ECCTAI's mission of preserving the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen by investing in the next generation of aviation professionals.

Aligned with that mission, ECCTAI officials said they are encouraging high school students interested in science, technology, engineering, aviation and mathematics to apply for the organization’s Youth in Aviation Program. The next class begins in October. For additional details, email yiap@ecctai.com.