District I

Edition: Model Aviation - 2026/09
Page Numbers: 103

District I

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont

New England FAA Regional Administrator Colleen D’Alessandro and FAA Unmanned Aircraft Systems Collegiate Training Initiative (UAS-CTI) Project Manager Ed Cormier first invited AMA District I officers to participate as exhibitors in the Aviation & Maritime STEM Education Expo in 2024, which is hosted each May at the Delta Air Lines hangar at Boston Logan International Airport.

This year marked AMA’s third year of exhibiting and joining forces with industry, government, and academia to show youngsters and educators the direct correlation between STEM education and rewarding careers in aviation and maritime fields.

More than 1,200 middle and high school students from 47 Greater Boston schools attended this massive science and technology showcase. They explored 83 unique, hands-on career exhibits and 33 full-scale aircraft, including a FedEx Boeing 767, gliders, private airplanes, and a Delta commercial jet. While the FAA provided full-scale flight simulators, the AMA exhibit featured UAS and model aircraft simulators, drawing long lines of students who were eager for virtual RC flying all day.

District Associate Vice Presidents (AVPs) Doug Thompson and Steve Brehm, Concord Aero Guidance Society President Mike Stevens, and I arrived at 6:30 a.m. to set up. As seen in the interior photo, we occupied the back right wall, placing our branded AMA popup canopy over two tables with three flight simulator computers. To the left, we arranged two more tables that were packed with district club handouts, copies of Model Aviation magazine, and several entry-level RC airplanes and drones.

Aviation and Maritime STEM Expo in an aircraft hangar

Once the students flooded in, we were answering questions nonstop about aeromodeling and guiding them on the simulators. Similar to previous years, we successfully sparked educators’ interest in partnering with local AMA clubs for student STEM mentoring. Although we lacked the free FAA drone kits that we offered teachers last year, we are currently purchasing replacement kits by using district funds to ensure the seamless continuation of our STEM educational outreach.

If your club or members establish a connection with a local school for a STEM initiative, please contact a district officer—we might be able to supply you with airplane kits to help engage the students.

Doug Thompson answering students’ aeromodeling questions — AVP Doug Thompson answers students’ aeromodeling questions.

Mike Stevens instructing an educator on simulator flying — Concord Aero Guidance Society President Mike Stevens (kneeling) instructs an educator on simulator flying.

Steve Brehm providing simulator instruction — AVP Steve Brehm (red cap) provides simulator instruction.

Andy Argenio
Vice President
amadistrict1@modelaircraft.org;
brandshobby@gmail.com
3 Sheila Ln., Smithfield, RI 02917
(401) 575-6215
amadistrict-1.org