Aéro Montréal, in association with the Conseil du Loisir Scientifique de la region Métropolitain (CLSM) and the Foundation of the Society of Automotive Engineers of Canada (SAE) launched  “The sky is the limit” project, a series of science presentations that aims to demystify the world of aerospace and promote exciting careers in the sector among Grade 5 and 6 students. 

Through an educational activity that is fun and formalized, this initiative allows young people to put themselves in the shoes of an aerospace engineer during class presentations. This innovative program, interactive and representative of the real labour market, goes beyond the scope of traditional academic training.  By emphasizing three components of learning – scientific notions, a practical approach and experimentation – the two-hour presentations expose young elementary students to concrete activities and experiences.

Students are first introduced to the forces acting on an airplane in flight, notions intrinsic to the construction of an aircraft. Then, technicians and engineers from the aerospace industry visit schools and share with the students their career paths. Finally, the budding engineers entered a team competition where they had to build gliders respecting the four principles of physics learned beforehand. 

This initiative has been received with great enthusiasm in Longueuil. Building on the success of the pilot project, the Human Resources Working Group plans to deploy “The sky is the limit!” program in the Mirabel area, on the Island of Montréal and in Montérégie-Est in 2011.