Purdue university (the applicant) is an accredited institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the higher education act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001))

This project should be considered for award as:a. The project creates and delivers a curriculum designed to provide high school students with meaningful aviation education that is designed to prepare the students to become aircraft pilots and unmanned aircraft systems operators andb. The project supports the professional development of teachers using the curriculum described in subparagraph (a).the purdue university school of aviation and transportation technology and its partners will develop an innovative experiential learning pathway program for the next generation of pilots that meets the knowledge requirements of both crewed and uncrewed aircraft (UAS) pilots. This high school curriculum is portable, accessible, and low-cost. This innovative and sustainable program will engage teachers, parents, and, most importantly, students on a pathway to a career in aviation and may be scaled nationally. The program uses a train-the-trainer model that strategically uses innovative automated flight training and simulation technologies that incorporate artificial intelligence to engage students efficiently and effectively in experiential learning activities. Program outcomes include a diverse group of eight teachers obtaining their FAA advanced ground instructor and FAA remote pilot certificates. These teachers will then host aviation stem camps for a diverse group of 80 high school students who will be prepared for their FAA private pilot written exam and FAA remote pilot certificate. While meeting the faas AWD grant goals, the proposed project also aligns with recent indiana legislation which requires experiential learning activities in order for students to be job-ready when they graduate high school. The legislation also awards high school students graduation credit for obtaining industry-recognized credentials, such as FAA certificates. Therefore, the proposed program will be sustainable through integration into the high school requirements.applicant, lead entity: purdue universitydrs. Damon lercel (PI), julius keller (CO-PI), manoj patankar (CO-PI), purdue university, school of aviation and transportation and technology, west lafayette, indiana.organizations funded by the lead entitygreater lafayette career academy (glca). Purdue will partner with glca in lafayette, indiana, which is establishing an aviation program. Glca is located in lafayette, indiana, and is part of the tippecanoe county school corporation. Glca works with all five public high schools in the greater lafayette area to prepare students for college, a career, and the workforce. Miranda hutcheson is the career and technical education director for glca. The glca will leverage its existing takeflight simulators as part of this proposed project. Grant funding will support additional teacher stipends, software subscriptions, exam costs, UAS simulators, curriculum development, and an aviation stem camp.purdue polytechnic high school- (pphs) is a free charter high school with three locations in indiana. Purdue university will partner with pphs to host aviation stem camps at their three locations. 63.5% of the pphs student population is considered economically disadvantaged, while 38.5% are black african american, and 23.9% are hispanic. Grant funding will support additional teacher stipends, simulation technology, software subscriptions, exam costs, curriculum development, and three aviation stem camps. Krista primrose is the chief academic officer for pphs.takeflight interactive, LLC of redmond, washington, is the leader in automated flight training software development. Takeflight will be the primary vendor of the hardware and software. Their subscriptions and simulators will be purchased for program curriculum and outreach. Glenn kowak is the takeflight project manager.