Delta Air Lines and the Organization of Black Airline Pilots joined forces to send more than 100 aspiring aviators to Pensacola, Fla. onboard Dreamflight 2001. The special flight hosted students from the Aviation Career Enrichment Weekend Flight Academy, FlightLine Flight School and the Atlanta Aviation Career Education (ACE) Camps for a special, one-day field trip to the home of the Naval Air Museum and Naval Air Station-Pensacola.

The day began with an early morning sendoff ceremony at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport hosted by Delta and OBAP officials, including Delta's Vice President - Global Diversity, Belinda Stubblefield. Speaking to the students, their parents and other guests at ceremonies prior to the departure, Stubblefield said, "Delta is pleased to support this significant event today. We are enthusiastic supporters of the Atlanta community, including some of its younger members joining us aboard Dreamflight. Participation in this event allows us an opportunity to share our resources in a special way with the communities that support us."

Dreamflight participants traveled to Pensacola onboard a specially chartered Boeing 737-800 aircraft provided by Delta. A crew of volunteer Delta pilots and flight attendants donated their time for this special event. While on board, students visited with two original members of the Tuskegee Airmen and received special "play by play" instruction on the aircraft's operation from OBAP members aboard the flight. Also during the flight, students had an opportunity to discuss aviation careers with pilots, flight attendants and other aviation professionals accompanying the group.

Upon arrival at Naval Air Station-Pensacola, students were greeted by Navy flight officers, then escorted to the Naval Air Museum for a guided tour. The Dreamflight students also had the opportunity to visit the Museum's IMAX Theater and to try their flying skills in a Navy flight simulator.

Talented Group of Student Participants on Dreamflight 2001 represents some of the area's most talented students, including:

• Atlanta Aviation Career Education (ACE) Camp -- The Atlanta ACE camp, hosted by Delta and OBAP, is now in its sixth year. Two separate camps were hosted at Delta's World Headquarters in Atlanta, with a primary goal of introducing students to aviation careers. Camp participants attended classes on aviation history, aerodynamics, meteorology and completed tours of Delta's training facilities, flight simulators and primary aircraft maintenance facility. This is Delta's second year sponsoring OBAP's Atlanta ACE Camp;
• FlightLine Flight School -- Ten students were selected from last year's ACE Camp program to attend this curriculum, also sponsored by Delta and OBAP. Students received 15 hours of intense flight training from certified instructors at the Flight School of Gwinnett at Briscoe Field;
• Aviation Career Enrichment Weekend Flight Academy (Academy) -- Local youth flying aces that participate in the Academy and its aviation and flight training programs comprise the members of this group. The Atlanta based academy is owned and operated by Julius and Joanne Alexander, well-known and respected aviation educators. Founded in 1989, the Academy operates primarily from Atlanta's Charlie Brown Airport, and has introduced more than 1200 students of all ages to aviation. In 1999, Delta's Community Affairs department donated funds to the Academy to refurbish one of its teaching aircraft.

OBAP was founded in 1976 when Ben Thomas, a young African American pilot, evaluated the state of the U.S. airline industry and found that the number of African American pilots employed by major U.S. airlines was very low. OBAP adopted the focus of preparing young people to realize a successful future in aviation. A 501 (c) 3 non profit organization, OBAP has four goals: (1) to enhance, advance and promote educational opportunities in aviation; (2) to develop and sustain a process for the on-going mentoring of our youth; (3) to monitor the development of aviation projects; and (4) to protect the general interests of its members. OBAP's national office is located in Silver Springs, Md. Additional information about the organization may be found at the organization's website, http://www.obap.org .