Leveraging South African Childrens' Love of Science, Honeywell Launches New "Adventures in Aviation" Program

• More than 400 learners at five primary schools located in the townships of Gauteng Province experience flight through an interactive learning experience teaching the fundamentals of aviation science
• Honeywell will also fund scholarships for five teachers to attend the 2019 International Space Academy Educators program at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, Nov. 09, 2018 - Honeywell (NYSE: HON) has partnered with the U.S. Space & Rocket Center to develop an interactive learning program that will teach the principles of flight to young learners in South Africa through interactive learning. The program will work with more than 400 learners from five primary schools in Gauteng Province to demonstrate that science and aviation are fun, exciting and accessible.

The program will provide educators at the participating schools with tools to enable fun, collaborative experiences that encourage creative thinking, personal inquiry and team work. The five Gauteng Province schools that will participate in the program are provided with themed lesson kits, which helps teach the fundamentals of flight; from the forces that keep an aircraft in the air to understanding Newton’s laws of motion.

“We are very pleased to work with Honeywell and the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in bringing the Adventures in Aviation Program to Gauteng Province”, said Panyaza Lesufi, Gauteng Education MEC. “The program aligns well with our strategy for Schools of Specialization, particularly those with a focus on Aviation and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. In addition, we seek to expand our classroom activities to more project based learning in the future. We are eager to leverage programs such as this to help create a sound intellectual foundation in our learners that will help them develop their inquisitive and creative minds”.

The Adventures in Aviation program will be implemented in five primary schools located in the townships of Gauteng Province, South Africa. As an extension to the program, Honeywell will also provide scholarships to five teachers from the launch schools to attend the 2019 International Space Academy Educators (SAE) program. SAE is a week-long program that brings together the excitement of simulated space missions with the real-world applications and lesson plans teachers can use to further inspire their students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“This program fosters an excitement and interest in aviation as a runway to aerospace principles,” said Dr. Deborah Barnhart, chief executive officer and executive director, U. S. Space & Rocket Center. “The outreach kits we developed with Honeywell, include five modules with hours of interactive aviation lessons that will challenge students intellectually and stimulate their interest in aerospace careers.”

The fifth-grade learners, teachers and principals from the five recipient Gauteng Province schools were invited to spend a day together with Honeywell volunteers at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, exploring exhibits, attending a science show, and taking turns for a test-flight in South Africa’s National Aerospace Centre’s aircraft simulator.

“The mission of the National Aerospace Centre is to promote greater innovation and skills development in line with the needs of the South African aerospace industry,” said Phillip Haupt, National Aerospace Centre. “The aerospace sector in South Africa continues to grow at a steady rate, which necessitates that we introduce young people to exciting career opportunities in aviation, serving to ensure that we provide a generation of enthusiastic young engineers to maintain this growth path. This program therefore aligns itself with those aims perfectly, further reinforcing our mission to enthuse young learners with the fundamentals of aviation.”

“At Honeywell, we know the importance of encouraging enthusiasm in aviation at an early age, it helps to nurture future generations of aerospace specialists and keep our industry growing,” said Sean Smith, president – Africa, Honeywell. “We are thrilled to partner with the Gauteng Department of Education to implement this innovative learning program and to provide additional support to the educators.”

Supporting Resources

• Read more about Honeywell Hometown Solutions
• Read more about Honeywell Aerospace on the Follow the Aero blog
• Like Honeywell Aerospace on Facebook
• Follow @Honeywell_Aero on Twitter

About Honeywell

Honeywell Aerospace products and services are found on virtually every commercial, defense and space aircraft. The Aerospace business unit builds aircraft engines, cockpit and cabin electronics, wireless connectivity systems, mechanical components and more. Its hardware and software solutions create more fuel-efficient aircraft, more direct and on-time flights and safer skies and airports. For more information, visit www.honeywell.com or follow us at @Honeywell_Aero.