Allegheny County Airport to Celebrate National Aviation Day

Officials at the Allegheny County Airport in West Mifflin will celebrate National Aviation Day on Monday, Aug. 19 by helping Boy Scout troops from across the region earn their aviation merit badges.

STAT MedEvac, Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Corporate Air, Pittsburgh Flight Training and other groups will conduct activities with the scouts at the airport.

Activities include interviewing pilots and mechanics, observing inspections and maintenance of aircraft and runway/ramp/security operations, as well as building model airplanes, all of which help fulfill requirements for the aviation merit badge. 

The day begins at 8:30 a.m. with registration for troops. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., scouts will break into groups and participate in various activities, as well as have lunch at the airport. 

AGC is the seventh busiest airport in Pennsylvania. The number of operations-- 75,000 takeoffs and landings per year--outpaces several airports that handle commercial or scheduled flights in Pennsylvania. 

In 1939, President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed August 19 to be National Aviation Day. The day coincides with the birthday of Orville Wright, who piloted the Wright Flyer. He and his brother Wilbur are given credit for building the world’s first successful airplane with aircraft controls that enabled them to steer the plane.