across Cambria County,” he adds. This project, Cree says, will enable drones to fly beyond visual line of sight for emergency response, potentially delivering life-saving equipment like Narcan or defibrillators faster than ground transport in rural areas. In addition to tech advancements, the airport has become a hub for aviation education through Aerium’s annual summit. Hosted at the airport, the Aerium Summit gathers educators, industry professionals, and students to explore aviation careers. “We bring in high school teachers, guidance counselors, and even students to connect with pilots, engineers, and military representatives,” Cree explains. “The event provides hands-on insights into diverse aviation paths—from mechanics to roles with the Department of Defense,” he adds. INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF AVIATORS JST has made education and outreach central to its mission, actively working to cultivate a passion for aviation among young people. “We’ve given tours of our military reserve unit and the nearby DoD contractors and even offered discovery flights for students interested in learning to fly,” Cree says. These flights and access to flight simulators allow students to experience aviation first-hand. In an industry facing shortages of pilots and mechanics, he sees these initiatives as critical steps toward engaging a younger generation in aviation careers. The airport promotes aviation education at multiple levels through partnerships with Aerium and other local organizations. Aerium’s work includes establishing high school aviation courses and collaborating with colleges to build more advanced programs. “Aerium’s focus on aviation education is something we’re proud to support,” Cree notes, adding that the airport is committed to backing any initiative that advances aviation in the state. From drone flight 140 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 11
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