Air travel needs to continue to be faster, smarter and cleaner, so it’s never been more important to inspire young people to choose a career in aerospace and equip them with the right skills.
Inspiration needs to start from a young age, when kids are questioning the world around them and discovering the magic of science, maths and technology. And that curiosity needs to be nurtured throughout their lives, as it’s what will help drive innovation.
It’s also crucial that we show young people who are contemplating their career paths the kind of roles available in aerospace – and the rewards. Roles are evolving and we're seeing a greater need for electrical engineers, data scientists and highly skilled technicians to work with increasingly sophisticated technology, for example.
Generation Aerospace, an exhibition which toured schools in 2015 and took up residence at the 2016 Singapore Airshow, is our way of getting young people excited about the industry. Students took a virtual reality “Inside the Engine” tour to learn about the anatomy of a jet engine, took selfies with a live Trent 1000 engine and learned about different career paths open to them.