But Moving The Airplane Across The Street Was A Major Undertaking

American Airlines donated a retired MD-80 jet to George T. Baker Aviation School Friday, making it one of the only accredited aviation schools in the country to have a commercial airliner on school grounds.

But there was a slight problem. The 39-ton plane had to be moved from Miami International Airport (MIA) to the nearby Aviation School. The job required lifting the plane over State Road 112 and LeJeune Road, using a 500-ton crane equipped with a 400-foot telescoping boom, and then hauling the plane to the school.

"Moving the airplane was truly an engineering feat, requiring extensive collaboration between American, Odebrecht and almost a dozen companies and government agencies," said Peter Dolara, American's Senior Vice President based in Miami. "It was a tough job, but we couldn't be more thrilled for the students at George T. Baker, who will get invaluable hands-on experience with a commercial aircraft."

The move took place around 0100 Friday. Miami-Dade County and airport officials had to close a runway and surrounding roads, remove light poles, trees, and fencing, as well as build a temporary gravel road to transport the plane to the school, located adjacent to MIA.

"This is the kind of challenging project we eagerly meet head-on," said Gilberto Neves, President and CEO of Odebrecht USA. "You can't just fly an MD-80 into a school parking lot. It takes a lot of planning and careful execution."

File Photo

The students at George T. Baker have already gained experience with the MD-80, prepping it for the move by taking off the wing tips and jet engines.

"Here at George T. Baker Aviation School, we pride ourselves on graduating students that are ready to excel in the aviation industry from day one," said Principal Sean Gallagan. "Thanks to this incredible donation from American Airlines, I can say with confidence that our students are getting some of the best training in the country."

American is gradually phasing out its MD-80 series for more fuel-efficient aircraft such as the Boeing 737-800.

FMI: www.bakeraviation.edu, www.aa.com