Three brothers from Tampa Bay, known as the Patel brothers—Shaan, 16, Sahil, 15, and Krishiv, 13—recently achieved a notable victory in the FAA Student Airport Design Challenge and celebrated their win with a visit to Tampa International Airport (TPA). On January 10, the trio had the opportunity to meet the Airport Planning and Development team and showcase their award-winning airport design.
During their visit, the brothers enjoyed an exclusive tour of TPA, which included the Airport Operations Center, the SkyCenter One office building, and an inside look at the airfield and baggage handling system. This experience was particularly thrilling for the siblings, who are passionate about aviation.
“It was incredible to see all the hard work we put in come to life at TPA,” Shaan Patel expressed. He shared how his childhood interest in making model airports and collecting planes has blossomed into a profound love for aviation.
The Airport Design Challenge invites students from Kindergarten through 12th grade to create virtual airport designs in Minecraft, guided by aerospace and engineering professionals from the FAA. Participants are divided into categories based on their grade levels, and the Patel brothers secured first place in the Primary Airport design category for grades 7-12 under the team name the Aviator Bros.
The competition encourages students to engage with industry experts, collaborate with peers, and delve deep into the aviation sector. By choosing TPA as their foundational model, the Patels enhanced their design with innovative features, which included unique dining options, a garden and observation deck atop the Economy Parking Garage, and seamless access to a cargo port designed for delivery drones.
This exciting accomplishment not only highlights the brothers’ creativity but also emphasizes the importance of engaging young minds in aviation and engineering, fostering an environment where the next generation can explore and innovate for the future of travel. Their journey serves as an inspiration for other young individuals to dream big in engineering and aviation.