Daher (Booth P99, SD200) selected two natives of Wisconsin, home of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), for its 2019 internship program. EAA partners with Daher on the program, which provides first-hand aviation industry experience to two U.S. college or university students each year. Benjamin Van Handel and Jordan Paulson, both of whom have participated in the EAA Young Eagles Program, are the 2019 interns.
Van Handel and Paulson will spend five weeks in the June and July timeframe working at Daher Aerospace’s Tarbes facility in southwestern France. The internships further include a tour of the Airbus production facility at Toulouse, France, attendance at the Paris Air Show, and participation in EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
“This opportunity is a one-of-a-kind experience for the internship recipients,” said Nicolas Chabbert, senior v-p of the Daher airplane business unit and CEO of Daher Aircraft. “Spending time with our team in France will enable them to gain expertise in their aviation industry fields of interest. We hope the experience will make a difference in their future careers, while also benefitting our company by working with the next-generation of aviation industry decision-makers.”
A student at Saint Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin, Van Handel also has spent a semester at Bond University in Australia as part of his work toward a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He obtained his private pilot’s certificate with the help of a Phillips 66 aviation scholarship.
Paulson, meanwhile, is studying business management and economics at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. He was inspired to earn his FAA private pilot certificate and multi-engine rating after taking an introductory flight through the EAA Young Eagles program.
“Nothing is more important than first-hand aviation industry experience to help students explore future career opportunities. With industry exposure and cultural exchange, the impact on these former Young Eagles’ lives is tremendous,” said Dave Chaimson, EAA’s v-p of marketing and business development.
With the help of EAA-member volunteer pilots, the EAA Young Eagles introduces flight to young people age eight to 17. More than 2.1 million youth have flown through the program since 1992.
