Three brothers from Tampa Bay recently celebrated their success in the FAA’s student airport design competition with a memorable visit to Tampa International Airport (TPA). The Patel brothers—Shaan, 16; Sahil, 15; and Krishiv, 13—were awarded first place in the Primary Airport design category for grades 7-12 during the FAA’s Airport Design Challenge. They presented their winning project, created under the team name Aviator Bros, to the Airport Planning and Development team on January 10.
During their visit, the brothers enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of TPA, exploring multiple facilities, including the Airport Operations Center, SkyCenter One office building, the airfield, and the baggage handling system. This experience proved to be a dream come true for the young aviation enthusiasts.
Shaan Patel shared his passion for aviation, saying, “Growing up, I used to love making model airports and collecting model planes. 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 engages students from Kindergarten through 12th grade, encouraging them to design virtual airports in Minecraft while drawing on guidance from FAA aerospace and engineering experts. Participants gain valuable insights into the aviation industry by interacting with professionals and learning about crucial aspects of airport operation and design.
The Patel brothers focused on TPA for their project, enhancing their design with innovative features such as unique restaurants, a rooftop garden and observation deck on the Economy Parking Garage, and accessible infrastructure for a cargo port complete with delivery drone facilities.
This remarkable achievement not only highlights the talents of these young innovators but also underscores the importance of engaging the next generation with aviation and engineering. Their passion and creativity serve as an inspiring reminder of how the next wave of aviation professionals may shape the future of air travel.