Three brothers from Tampa Bay recently gained recognition after winning an FAA student airport design competition. Shaan (16), Sahil (15), and Krishiv Patel (13) visited Tampa International Airport (TPA) on January 10 to meet with the Airport Planning and Development team and share their acclaimed design, which won first place in the Primary Airport category for students in grades 7-12.
Their visit included an exclusive tour of TPA, showcasing various facilities such as the Airport Operations Center, the SkyCenter One office building, the airfield, and the baggage handling system. For the trio, who are passionate about aviation, this experience was a dream realized.
“I grew up making model airports and collecting model planes,” Shaan Patel expressed. “Seeing all this after our hard work is fantastic.”
The FAA’s Airport Design Challenge, an annual competition, invites students from Kindergarten through 12th grade to create virtual airport designs using Minecraft, guided by aerospace and engineering experts. The competition encourages collaboration between students and industry professionals. Participants are inspired to investigate local airport specifications, which often helps enrich their designs.
The Patel brothers used Tampa International Airport as the foundation for their project, creatively enhancing the airport with features like unique restaurants, a garden, an observation deck on top of the Economy Parking Garage, and direct access to a cargo port equipped for drone deliveries.
This initiative not only showcases the creativity of young minds but also highlights the importance of engaging with the aviation industry from an early age, fostering interest and innovation in future generations.