Three brothers from Tampa Bay, Shaan, Sahil, and Krishiv Patel, recently celebrated their victory in the FAA’s Airport Design Challenge by visiting Tampa International Airport (TPA) on January 10. The trio, aged 16, 15, and 13, respectively, met with the Airport Planning and Development team to present their award-winning entry in this annual competition, which challenges students to create virtual airport designs using Minecraft.
During their visit, the Patel brothers were given an exclusive tour of TPA, which included insights into the Airport Operations Center, the SkyCenter One office building, the airfield, and the baggage handling system. For aviation enthusiasts like the Patels, this experience was a dream come true.
Shaan Patel expressed his passion for aviation, reflecting on his childhood hobby of building model airports and collecting model airplanes. He stated, “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 encourages students from kindergarten through 12th grade to design virtual airports based on guidance from FAA experts. The competition is divided into categories for younger and older students, with the Patel brothers earning first place in the Primary Airport design category for grades 7-12 as the team “Aviator Bros.”
Participants in the program gain exposure to the aviation industry by interacting with professionals and exploring the intricacies of airport design. The Patels centered their project around Tampa International Airport, creatively enhancing it with unique features such as distinctive restaurants, a garden, an observation deck on the Economy Parking Garage, and a dedicated area for delivery drones.
This event not only highlights the brothers’ impressive achievement but also illustrates the importance of youth engagement in aviation, fostering the next generation of engineers and aviation professionals. Their innovative contributions could inspire future enhancements in airport planning and design.