Beaufort County Government facilitated an immersive experience for 60 eighth-grade students from Hilton Head Christian Academy, who participated in an educational visit to the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) station at Hilton Head Island Airport. This exciting field trip to County aviation facilities was spearheaded by Science Teacher Michelle Judd, Hilton Head Island Airport Fire Chief Bobby Davidson. Participating agencies included the Civil Air Patrol, LifeStar (MedEvac), and the Coast Guard.

Throughout the academic year, Ms. Judd has employed an aerospace theme with her lessons: teaching aviation principles and physics, atmospheric chemistry, flight planning, and mapping. The visit to the ARFF station brings their studies to life, providing a firsthand encounter with airport operations, and a behind-the-scenes look at aviation careers.

Highlighting the event was a visit by a United Airlines 787 Pilot, who offered valuable insights into the life of a commercial pilot and the intricacies of managing one of the most advanced cockpits in aviation.

Beaufort County Government and the Hilton Head Island Airport extend our appreciation to all participating agencies and individuals for their collaborative efforts in inspiring these bright young minds. “It was such a pleasure to host these young aviators on site. We hope to host more educational events like this in the next year,” stated Fire Chief Bobby Davidson.