Long Beach Airport (LGB) celebrated a new class of future aviation professionals as students from Cabrillo and Jordan high schools completed the fourth annual Careers Taking Flight summer externship, a weeklong program designed to introduce Long Beach youth to the wide range of careers available in the aviation industry.

From Aug. 17 through 21, students gained firsthand experience through behind-the-scenes tours, career panels and conversations with aviation professionals. Participants explored careers in aviation operations, aircraft maintenance, safety, security, piloting and other fields while learning what it takes to build a career in the industry.

The 40-hour externship is offered in partnership with the Long Beach Unified School District and provides students with a short-term, immersive opportunity to explore aviation careers. Students are selected through a competitive application and interview process, with hundreds applying each year for a limited number of spots. Each student who successfully completes the program receives a $500 incentive, along with opportunities to continue building toward an aviation career through internships, networking and training opportunities with LGB and its partners.

Throughout the week, students learned directly from Airport tenants, aviation companies, federal agencies and airline partners. Participants toured aviation facilities, heard about professionals’ career journeys and took part in interactive activities that provided a closer look at the day-to-day work behind the aviation industry.

The experience took flight in a new way on the final day when students were offered exploration flights. For many participants, the flights provided their first opportunity to experience general aviation from the cockpit and see the lessons from the week from a whole new perspective.

Careers Taking Flight is part of LGB’s broader effort to inspire the next generation of aviation professionals through programs that connect students with the industry from grade school through college. Since the program began four years ago, 82 students have graduated from Careers Taking Flight, creating a growing pipeline of local students exploring careers in one of Long Beach’s most longstanding industries.

The program supports the City’s Strategic Plan for Youth and Emerging Adults, which prioritizes academic enrichment and workforce development, as well as the City’s Summer of Opportunity initiative focused on fostering positive youth development.

With its deep aviation history and growing aerospace ecosystem, Long Beach continues to create opportunities for local youth to explore careers in an industry that has helped shape the city’s identity. Through Careers Taking Flight, students are gaining the skills, connections and firsthand experiences to turn an interest in aviation into a potential career.

Learn more about Long Beach Airport at lgb.org.