Teen ‘whirlwind’ leads invasion of 10 US, UK airports

A remarkable kid snagged the keys to the kingdom on Friday, just in time for National Aviation Day in the United States.

Seventeen-year-old Ryan Ewing and more than 100 other aviation enthusiasts are getting exclusive access to secured areas at 10 major airports in the U.S. and London, plus restricted areas of American Airlines facilities.

“I always had the idea of doing some kind of big-scale aviation meetup like this, but I needed somebody big backing me up,” said Ryan, founder of the aviation site airlinegeeks.com.

He pitched his plan months ago to American Airlines officials at Reagan National Airport, who loved it so much they expanded it system-wide.

Ryan then offered free tickets to each location through an online lottery – which were snapped up in about three hours.

Now a horde of self-described “avgeeks” of all ages are invading air traffic control towers, American Airlines’ operation center, cockpit flight simulators and one of the world’s largest airline maintenance facilities – places that airplane buffs would kill to visit.

On Twitter, @KyleSA01 geeks out about his rare chance to hang in the tower at London’s airport or – as he calls it – the “ATC TAAARRRR.”

Someday, many of the younger avgeeks at this event may end up working in the airline industry – which, by the way, flew about 3.5 billion passengers last year, worldwide.

How planes get their names

Showing ‘how the sausage is being made’

August 19 has been National Aviation Day since 1939, when President Franklin Roosevelt singled out the date (Orville Wright’s birthday) to “stimulate interest in aviation.”

This year, the day comes after American Airlines finalized a huge merger with US Airways. This month, the airline surprised the industry by giving ground workers raises ranging from 15% to 55%.

The pay hikes were the first for some American Airlines workers in more than two years and were separate from contract talks.

Related story: The last fight of US Airways

“I can’t help but think that leaders are serious at the new American Airlines about being more open, more transparent, doing the right thing and taking greater risks,” said American Airlines spokesman Kent Powell.

Letting outsiders into restricted areas for a day is an extension of that cultural shift, said Powell, who was among the first to hear Ryan’s pitch for Aviation Day. Powell sent the idea floating up the chain of command until it was green-lighted at the airline’s highest executive levels.

Related: 20 iconic aircraft you can still fly on

“We’re showing a little bit of how the sausage is being made,” he said. “Sometimes that isn’t always pretty. But we all love sausage so it’s important for us to understand the complexity of what goes into that. And that’s what this is all about.”

To-die-for avgeek treats

Avgeeks gained access to the air traffic control towers at Philadelphia International Airport and at London’s Heathrow, Ryan said – the world’s second busiest for international traffic.

Related story: Five ways to celebrate Aviation Day

In addition to Heathrow, Philly and Reagan National, the event allows access to usually restricted areas at other airports, including New York LaGuardia; Chicago O’Hare; LAX in Los Angeles; Dallas-Fort Worth in Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina and Miami International in Florida.

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, enthusiasts are seeing what happens behind the scenes at what’s described as the world’s largest airline-owned maintenance/engineering facility.

In Texas, they may get flight time in simulators pilots use to hone their skills.

They’re touring American’s Southern Reservations office, a sprawling workplace with about 2,000 employees.

They’re also visiting the brain of the entire airline: American’s new integrated Operations Center where route schedulers, flight dispatchers, weather forecasters and other team leaders all coordinate to keep the carrier running smoothly.

Along the way, they’re getting opportunities to ask workers across the system about their jobs, including managers and executives.

The face plastered against the airplane window

Ryan can’t remember a time when he didn’t love airplanes and the miracle of flight.

“I’ve always wanted to go to the airport. I was always that kid – and I’m still that kid – that’s plastered against the window on the airplane.”

Friends – including adults and teens – use words to describe Ryan such as “whirlwind” or “super-focused” and “workaholic.”

In 2013, at age 13, he launched AirlineGeeks.com out of his parents’ home outside Washington, offering news and features about the airline industry.

Although the site makes virtually zero money, it now gets about 12,000 page views a month. Its Twitter followers number 15,000 plus. The site has an unpaid international editorial team of 19, about half of which are adults, Ryan said.

As an online aviation journalist, he gets invited to industry press events. But some – like Delta Air Lines’ Media Day and Fleet Showcase in April – he can’t attend.

“I had school,” he explained.

A few avgeek details about Ryan:

SOARING SOCIETY OF AMERICA/ Grant Korgen

National Aviation Day is August 19. A federal act invites people to observe the day "with appropriate exercises to further stimulate interest in aviation in the United States." Gliding is one example. At many gliderports, pilots will introduce passengers to the wonderful world of gliding. Click through the gallery for more ideas on how to celebrate aviation.

SOARING SOCIETY OF AMERICA/ Boyd Willat

The estimated number of active U.S. glider pilots in 2014 was nearly 26,500, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The Soaring Society of America offers a handy gliderport map that shows where you can fly as a glider passenger for about $100.

Dane Penland, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution

The Clipper Flying Cloud is the world's last surviving Boeing 307 Stratoliner. The 307 was the first successful commercial airliner with a pressurized cabin. That special cabin allowed the plane to fly high above bad weather, where the ride is smoother. Fewer passengers got airsick. The 307s virtually "eradicated" passenger airsickness, said Bob van der Linden, a Smithsonian curator. "Anytime you travel anywhere, you should tip your hat to 307 because that airplane allows you to get there with a lot more comfort and without throwing up all over the place."

Dane Penland, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution

It first flew in 1938. Only 10 of these airplanes were made, due to the outbreak of World War II. The Clipper Flying Cloud flew routes for Pan American Airways from Florida to Latin America. It now sits inside the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.

Image by Dane Penland, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution

Airline magnate Howard Hughes bought a Stratoliner for himself, according to Boeing. He transformed it into a "flying penthouse" with a master bedroom, two bathrooms, a galley, a bar and a large living room. Hughes sold it and it eventually became a Florida houseboat.

National Air and Space Museum

The museum doesn't allow visitors inside the Clipper Flying Cloud, but this cockpit photo gives you a pretty good view of the flight deck. Flying on the Stratoliner was expensive -- limited to high-roller passengers, the Concorde-fliers of their day. Back in the passenger cabin, the interior "is just gorgeous," van der Linden said, including 33 big, comfortable, reclining seats and cabin walls decorated with maps of the world.

Dane Penland, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution

"In 1940, the 307s started flying routes to Latin America and from New York to Los Angeles, California," Boeing says on its website. World War II forced production to stop, and five 307s were "drafted into the Army Transport Command as C-75 military transports."

Markus Dussy/Breitling SA

After their debut in 1951, Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellations became so popular they got a nickname: Connies. This one -- according to sponsor and watchmaker Breitling -- is the last Super Connie that still flies passengers. "Almost all aviators talk about the Super Constellation as the most beautiful airliner ever built," says chief pilot Ernst Frei.

Alexander Babic/Breitling SA

Wanna fly on Breitling's Super Connie? All passengers must first join the Super Constellation Flyers Association for around $120, and then purchase tickets starting at $230. But first you have to get to the plane. Frei recommends trans-Atlantic travelers fly to Zurich and take an hour-long train ride to Basel, where the plane is based.

Eric Coeckelberghs/Breitling SA

As a boy, Frei fell in love with the Connie's unusual curved lines, high-landing gear, dolphin-shaped nose and distinctive triple tail. He told his mother he dreamed to fly one someday. Eventually, his dream came true.

BREITLING SA

According to Lockheed Martin, the plane boasted features that were unheard of during its heyday, such as air conditioning, reclining seats and extra lavatories. Lockheed says the Super Connie was "at least twice as fuel efficient as the industry's first jets and as efficient as many of today's modern aircraft."

Timothy R. Gaffney

Want to experience flying the way the Wright brothers did? Travel to Dayton, Ohio, and climb aboard a look-alike of the Wright brothers' first factory-built plane: the Wright "B" Flyer.

Timothy R. Gaffney

For the price of a $100 membership, you can experience the wind-in-your-hair sensation of pioneer flight aboard the two-seater plane, nicknamed the "Brown Bird." This thing flies slow and low. It takes 10 minutes to reach just 500 feet of altitude. Top speed: 50 mph. Maximum altitude: 3,000 feet.

AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION

For the hard-core aviation enthusiast, there's the do-it-yourself option: take a flying lesson. Research local flight schools and take an hourlong introductory flight in a small plane with a certified flight instructor. Watch out, you might get hooked.

AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION

Getting a pilot's license -- officially known as a pilot certificate -- may be easier than you think. A 2004 FAA rule allows wannabe flyers to earn pilot certificates in less time -- albeit with more limitations. The Sport Pilot Rule is "a great way to get in the cockpit and get flying and be able to take a passenger and go somewhere," says Katie Pribyl of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

Ryan also wants to organize more avgeek events with other airlines. He spends almost all his free time working for the website and volunteering at Reagan National airport, where he works with the social service agency Travelers Aid.

A strong work ethic and a guilty pleasure

Ryan doesn’t think he’s a workaholic. He sees his busy lifestyle as “doing my day’s duties.”

Ryan still has another two years of high school ahead before college, where he expects to study aviation management and eventually work as a manager somewhere in the industry.

If his aviation goals don’t pan out, Ryan said he might look into a career in law enforcement.

That explains his guilty pleasure: The reality TV show, “Cops.”

“I’ve always wanted to make an aviation ‘Cops’ — ‘Airport Cops,’ because I think that could actually be halfway successful.”

Some of his friends are concerned that Ryan is a little too serious about his hobby. They worry that he’s rushing a bit too fast to grow up and may be missing his only chance to enjoy a full teen experience.

Don’t worry about all that, he said.

“Yes, I do goof off sometimes,” he admitted. “Tomorrow I’m working … and I guarantee you I’ll get distracted. I’ll probably end up watching 18 episodes of ‘Cops.’”