Long Beach Airport’s Fourth Annual Careers Taking Flight Program Connects Students with Aviation Professionals

Above: City of Long Beach leaders celebrate the graduating class of the fourth annual Careers Taking Flight summer externship on Aug. 21, 2026.

Long Beach, CA - Long Beach Airport (LGB) celebrated a new class of future aviation professionals today as students from Cabrillo and Jordan high schools graduated from the fourth year of LGB's annual Careers Taking Flight summer externship, a weeklong program that gives Long Beach high school students the opportunity to explore jobs within the aviation industry.

"Careers Taking Flight gives Long Beach students a chance to see themselves in careers they may never have considered before," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "When students walk onto an airfield and experience the industry firsthand, a career that once seemed out of reach can suddenly feel possible."

From August 17 to 21, students gained hands-on experience through behind-the-scenes tours, career panels and personal conversations with industry professionals, exploring opportunities ranging from aviation operations and aircraft maintenance to aviation safety, security and piloting.

Conducted in partnership with the Long Beach Unified School District, the 40-hour externship is a short-term, career-exploration experience that gives students hands-on exposure to the aviation and airport industry and is offered in two cohorts each summer. Students are selected through a competitive application and interview process, with hundreds applying each year for a limited number of spots. Each student who successfully completes the program receives a $500 incentive. The program also provides opportunities for students to continue building toward aviation careers after graduating from the program through internships, networking and training opportunities with LGB and its partners.

A total of 82 students have graduated from the Careers Taking Flight program since it began four years ago.

"Long Beach has a long history as a nationally significant aviation hub," said Long Beach Unified Superintendent David Zaid. "Careers Taking Flight allows students to explore careers, build confidence and see new possibilities in aviation. We're grateful to Long Beach Airport for investing in our students and helping bring those possibilities to life."

Throughout the externship, students learned directly from Airport tenants, aviation companies, federal agencies and airline partners. Participants toured aviation facilities, heard from aviation professionals about their career journeys and took part in interactive activities designed to give them a firsthand understanding of the industry.

Partners that provided tours, guest speakers and learning experiences include Aeroplex/Aerolease Group, AMPAIRE, Atlantic Aviation, CLEAR, the Federal Aviation Administration, FlightSafety International, Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines, JetZero, Sling Pilot Academy, SoCal Jet Services, Southwest Airlines and the Transportation Security Administration.

"Careers Taking Flight is more than introducing students to aviation-it's about uplifting students with meaningful experiences that can shape the future," said Long Beach Airport Director Cynthia Guidry. "We want students to leave this program with new skills, connections and a clearer sense of what's possible. It's about helping dreams take flight."

On the final day of the program, students were offered exploration flights through Chapter 7 of the Experimental Aircraft Association's Young Eagles program. For many participants, the flights provided their first opportunity to experience general aviation from the cockpit and put the week's lessons into a whole new perspective.

The Careers Taking Flight externship is part of Long Beach Airport's broader initiative to inspire the next generation of aviation professionals through a suite of programs that span from grade school outreach to college fellowships. In addition to the externship, LGB hosts an average of 2,000 members of the public, most of them students, on free tours of the Airport.

This program aligns with the City's Strategic Plan for Youth and Emerging Adults, which prioritizes academic enrichment and workforce development for Long Beach youth. The program is also one of many activations taking place during the summer to foster positive youth development as part of the City's Summer of Opportunity initiative.

Officially trademarked as america's coolest airport™, Long Beach Airport offers a distinctively stress-free travel experience and exceptional customer service, conveniently located between Los Angeles and Orange counties. LGB currently offers nonstop service to 21 airports nationwide through Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest Airlines. Learn more at lgb.org.