Aviators work to inspire the next generation at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Inspiring the next generation was the goal of pilots and air traffic controllers at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK) on Friday.

It’s all part of the 2026 Atlanta Science Festival, giving students hands-on experience at Georgia’s second-busiest airport.

Geared toward middle and high schoolers, they got a close-up look at the old PDK control tower, tours of real airplanes and airport firetrucks, and a chance to try their hand at the flight simulator. Their parents, of course, joined in on the fun, too.

Flying is something Andre Lane has loved since he was 5 years old.

“You feel free once you hit the skies. The air, the scenery, it’s just a beautiful thing,” said the retired U.S. Army pilot.

Inspired by the Tuskegee Airmen and the movie “Top Gun,” he’s flown everything from UH-60 Black Hawks to C-130s, and now he wants to inspire the next generation of aviators.

“We just want to pass that torch over to the next generation coming up, so if we can inspire just one kid, that’d be perfect. Hopefully, we inspire a lot more,” said Lane.

Hosted by Inspire Foundation, Pink STEM Foundation and Aspire Aerospace Education, Moreno Aguiari said they’re talking to students with parents who are in the field and others who have never been this close to a plane before.

“We have 100 kids sign up for the event, and if only two or three will get inspired and touched by what we do, we consider that mission accomplished,” he said.

Sixth grader Nolan Graves wants to be a part of that next generation.

“The stuff that I have interest in in aviation is how it works and what I can do to innovate it, so fully electric planes,” he said.

It’s a love he gets from his dad, Tim, who is a private pilot himself.

“We’re here all the time looking at planes. It’s our thing to do on the weekends,” said Tim Graves.

The message of the day was to keep pushing toward your dreams. That is something Nolan is taking to heart.

“The smallest voices can make a huge change,” he said.

Registration for the event sold out in 24 hours, and volunteers call it a precursor for the September air show and STEM event at PDK.

“By the look of what’s going on on the ramp, the excitement, the many kids that sign up, it’s hopefully something that we’ll be doing every year,” said Aguiari.