Fabio Alexander, CEO, Miami Executive Aviation, has announced that he has donated $75,000 to support Barrington Irving’s 2014 Flying Classroom world tour project and issued a challenge to his business aviation colleagues to also contribute.

In fall 2014, Irving is planning to circle the world, in three 2-month legs, in the world’s first Flying Classroom, a converted Hawker 400XPR, donated by Beechcraft, engaging students in interactive adventures to promote STEM+ (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).

Via the Flying Classroom, he will provide a web-based experience that students can participate in from home or school, voting on everything from where Irving should make a fuel stop to what local food he should sample. He will call classrooms from the cockpit; broadcast live video from 45,000 feet; blog with students; collect atmospheric data; communicate with the International Space Station; and wear a NASA body suit that transmits his heart rate, blood pressure, and other vital signs.

Fabio Alexander (far right), CEO, Miami Executive Aviation, has pledged $75,000 to Barrington Irving’s 2014 Flying Classroom World Tour and is urging others in the business aviation industry to step up.

“Kids don’t have enough educational heroes; with Barrington and the Flying Classroom all of us in business aviation, have an opportunity to support a real-life educational hero kids can look up to and emulate,” said Alexander, who was the lead sponsor of Barrington’s 97-day flight in a single-engine aircraft in 2007, which made him the youngest person, at 23, and the first black pilot to fly solo around the world.

“I am challenging our industry to step up and help inspire our next generation of aviation professionals by supporting the Flying Classroom, which will show children from all socioeconomic backgrounds that they can live their dreams by placing a value on their education.” Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc. has pledged to provide complete trip logistics for the Flying Classroom, including developing Irving’s route, flight plans, weather, permits, handling and fuel. Universal also provided all trip support services for Irving’s 2007 trip. “It's great to reach a few hundred kids every year," Irving says, "but I also wanted to find a way to inspire on a larger scale. The Flying Classroom isn't just an aircraft; it's an exploration vehicle for learning that will teach millions of kids in ways they've never been taught before - making them part of the expedition and research." For more information about Barrington Irving and his educational initiatives and to make a contribution, visit www.experienceaviation.com, Barrington Irving on Facebook or Twitter at @BarringtonFlys.

Read more about the inspirational Captain Barrington Irving