Twenty Students from Francis Polytechnic High School Shadowed VNY Aviation Experts

(Van Nuys, California – February 6, 2014) Today, twenty high school students learned about aviation careers from hands-on activities at Van Nuys Airport (VNY) during Groundhog Job Shadow Day in partnership with Junior Achievement.

Students were first treated to an airport tour before shadowing various businesses on the airfield including Aerolease, Bob Hoover's Jet Center, Castle and Cooke Aviation, Clay Lacy Aviation, Fire Station #114, MP Aero, North Valley Occupational Aviation Center, ROTOR FX, Skybird Aviation, TWC Aviation, and various airport departments including facilities maintenance.

"The event was absolutely wonderful. I enjoyed sharing my personal experiences and showing the students the various jobs available in aviation," said Cindy Goodfellow of Aerolease. Lety Miranda, MP Aero, added "We not only need to educate younger generations about how vital the aviation industry is to the Los Angeles region, but to also expose students to the myriad of career opportunities available to them."

About Van Nuys Airport:

VNY is one of three airports owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), a self-supporting branch of the City of Los Angeles, governed by a seven-member Board of Airport Commissioners who are appointed by the mayor and approved by the Los Angeles City Council.

One of the world's busiest general aviation airports, VNY serves as a valued San Fernando Valley resource, providing ongoing leadership in general aviation, business and community service. Dedicated to noncommercial air travel, VNY had over 270,000 operations in 2013. More than 100 businesses are located on the 730-acre airport, including four major fixed-base operators and numerous aviation service companies.

Annually, the airport contributes approximately $1.3 billion to the Southern California economy and supports over 12,000 jobs. In addition, VNY provides programs to benefit local residents, along with educational initiatives and aviation-related career and training opportunities. For more information, visit