August 19 is National Aviation Day in the United States where the nation observes and celebrates the development of aviation.  The holiday was established in 1939 by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who issued a presidential proclamation designating the anniversary of Orville Wright's birthday to be National Aviation Day.

Houston Airports usually partners with Aldine ISD' s Gen. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. High School—named after an American United States Air Force general and commander of the World War II Tuskegee Airmen—to hold an educational outreach for students to participate in classroom activities that focus on the topic of aviation. Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, the virtual event was held with the Career and Technical Education department in preparation for an upcoming in-person outreach with students interested in aviation careers.

“Today should be a day that we all reflect on the amazing breakthroughs we’ve seen in aviation and the luxury we have to travel by air.  August 19 should make us stop and think about the power of flight,” said Robert Thomas, Program Director Career and Business Partners at Aldine ISD.

 The purpose of this Aviation Day educational outreach aimed to help faculty better understand industry needs, discuss career options to better connect students with aviation organizations and professionals. Discussions included the efforts of the Wright brothers, Amelia Earhart, the Tuskegee Airmen and other aviation pioneers. 

"Through our Aviation Day event, we were able to focus our efforts on educational outreach that best align with HAS strategic priorities of “Act Responsibly to Achieve Social, Environmental, and Economic Sustainability” as well as “Investing in our Partnerships and in our Employees," said Houston Airports Chief Community Relations Officer Rhonda Arnold.