Three brothers from Tampa Bay recently achieved a remarkable feat by winning a prestigious FAA student airport design competition, and last week, they had the opportunity to celebrate their success with a visit to Tampa International Airport (TPA). The Patel brothers—Shaan, 16; Sahil, 15; and Krishiv, 13—visited TPA on January 10, where they met with the Airport Planning and Development team and presented their award-winning airport design.
During their visit, the brothers were treated to an exclusive tour of TPA, exploring key areas such as the Airport Operations Center, SkyCenter One office building, and the airport’s impressive airfield and baggage handling system. For these young aviation enthusiasts, the experience was a dream come true.
“I used to love making model airports and collecting model planes,” remarked Shaan Patel. “Now planes have become a part of me, and I love it so much. Being able to come to TPA and see all this after all our effort is fantastic.”
The Airport Design Challenge, an annual event organized by the Federal Aviation Administration, invites students from grades K-12 to design virtual airports using Minecraft. The competition has categories divided by age, allowing younger participants in grades K-6 to compete alongside older students in grades 7-12. The Patel brothers, known as the Aviator Bros, took home first place in the Primary Airport design category for their age group.
Throughout the program, students engage with aviation professionals and are provided with instructional modules covering various aspects of airport design, including layout, pavement, lighting, and innovative growth ideas. While not mandatory, participants are encouraged to focus on their local airports, allowing them to better understand FAA specifications.
In their design, the Patels drew inspiration from Tampa International Airport and expanded it with creative features, such as unique dining options, a rooftop garden and observation deck atop the Economy Parking Garage, as well as convenient access to a cargo port equipped for delivery drones.
This initiative not only encourages young minds to engage with aviation but also fosters creativity and innovation in airport design, paving the way for the next generation of engineers and architects in the aviation industry. The Patel brothers’ success serves as a testament to the power of imagination combined with practical experience.