Future Aviators Take Flight with Lt. Col. Michael Castania at Annual Program

Civil Air Patrol’s New Jersey Wing joined educators and industry leaders at the third annual Aviation Program, “Gliding into Tomorrow: The Future of Flight.” Lt. Col. Michael Castania, the wing’s director of aerospace education, represented CAP at the event, presented by iSTREAM in collaboration with Rowan College at Burlington County.

Serving as a featured guest, Castania not only promoted CAP’s Aerospace Education Member (AEM) program but also led a dynamic “Show & Tell” titled Inside the Cockpit: A Pilot’s Perspective on Flight Preparation and Survival Readiness,” where he revealed the contents of his flight bag and survival kit. He inspired aspiring aviators with hands-on demonstrations and motivated participants with a quote from Walt Disney: “If they can dream it, they can do it!”

Lt. Col. Castania

“This event is an outstanding way for Civil Air Patrol to connect with students, educators, and families who share our passion for aviation,” said Col. Amy Myzie, commander of CAP’s New Jersey Wing. “Lt. Col. Castania’s expertise and enthusiasm for aerospace education make him the perfect ambassador to inspire the next generation of pilots and aerospace leaders.”

The program’s primary goal is to spark interest in aviation careers and STEM fields among young people aged 10 and up. Through interactive activities including flight simulators, drone

demonstrations, aircraft design workshops, and aviation challenges, participants engage directly with aviation concepts and technologies. They also learn about the history of flight, career pathways in the aerospace industry, and emerging technologies, while networking with aviation professionals.

“I’m honored to represent both the New Jersey Wing and CAP National Headquarters at this year’s program,” said Lt. Col. Castania, who serves as Aerospace Education Outreach Coordinator for CAP National Headquarters and as the External Programs Director for the Northeast Region. “Our goal is to open doors for young people to see themselves in aviation — whether they dream of flying, working in aerospace engineering, or contributing to aviation in other ways. Civil Air Patrol’s cadet program can be that first step.”

As a free and accessible event, the Annual Aviation Program provides participants with early exposure to a high-growth industry, develops critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and strengthens community connections around the exciting future of flight.

Civil Air Patrol is the longtime auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and as such is a valued member of its Total Force. In its auxiliary role, CAP operates a fleet of 560 single-engine aircraft and 1,550 small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS). It performs about 90% of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 82 lives annually. CAP’s 66,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. Operating as a nonprofit organization, CAP also plays a leading role in STEM/aerospace education, and its members serve as mentors to 28,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs.