AOPA ANNOUNCES NEW MEDIA PARTNERSHIP WITH BUILD-A-PLANE TO KICK OFF KIDS ACROSS AMERICA CAMPAIGN

Lakeland, FL – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has become the latest media partner with Build-A-Plane and is proud to support the Kids Across America campaign, created to help children make the trip to Oshkosh, Wis., for the Experimental Aircraft Association’s 2012 AirVenture.

Under the campaign, kids are charged with finding sponsors to fund each mile they travel to AirVenture. The one raising the most money wins a complete private pilot license training course, donated by Redbird Flight Simulations.  The runner-up wins a one-week vacation in the Bahamas, and there are many other great prizes, which will be presented at a special award ceremony at AirVenture.

 
“AOPA feels strongly that it should do all it can to make access to general aviation a reality for more people of all ages,” said President Craig Fuller.  “This partnership with Build A Plane is another avenue that allows AOPA to continue to show the value of general aviation and help it thrive.”
 
“We think this is a big deal because this is an effort by kids for kids to promote the future of general aviation,” said Build A Plane Executive Director Katrina Bradshaw.
 
“We also think it’s a big deal that AOPA has joined as our media partner in this project,” added BAP president Lyn Freeman.  “People look to AOPA to help assure the future of general aviation, so Build A Plane’s Kids Across America campaign is great match.”
 
Kids can travel to Oshkosh by virtually any means, including private airplane, commercial aircraft or automobile. Participants have between now and noon on Saturday, July 28, 2012, to arrange as many sponsors as they can.  
 
Build A Plane works in formal partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration to promote aviation education.  Build A Plane solicits aircraft donations, and those aircraft are then donated at no charge to schools, which then allows kids the chance to build real airplanes to encourage science, technology, engineering and math education.  For more information about Build A Plane’s Kids Across America go to www.buildaplane.org/ or email info@buildaplane.org or call 804-843-3321. Build A Plane, a 501 (c) charity, has been operating since 2003.
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