Shell Aviation and Eastern Aviation Fuels Pitch In

Shell Aviation announced Wednesday that Eastern Aviation Fuels, the national marketer of Shell branded aviation fuels in the United States, will provide the fuel for the national educational tour of 19-year-old pilot Jamail Larkins.

Larkins will undertake a 20-city tour in a new Cirrus SR20 aircraft provided by Cirrus Aircraft Design especially for this event. Sponsored jointly by Embry-Riddle and Careers in Aviation Inc., the tour will bring Larkins to middle schools and high schools where his goal is to raise awareness among students about career opportunities in the aviation industries.

Traveling from his home base in Ormond Beach (FL) each week, Larkins will pilot his Cirrus SR20 to a different city, where he will conduct three days of informational and educational events.

On Thursday he will be available for media interviews; Friday will be spent conducting programs and speaking at local schools; and on Saturday he will provide flights for "first-time flyer" students at a local airport. The first-flights event is part of the EAA's Young Eagles Program, for which Jamail is national youth spokesman.

"As a representative of the Young Eagles, I've had the privilege of giving a lot of young people the thrill of their first flying experience, and exposing them to the aviation industry," Larkins says. "Now, on this national tour, I have the opportunity to reach an even greater number of potential pilots, aviation engineers and mechanics."

Larkins is an extraordinarily accomplished young flyer, who had his own first flight as part of the Young Eagles Program at the age of 12. He earned his first pilot certification in Canada at 14; two years later he was certified for solo flight in the US, where the age requirement is 16.

Today he is the youngest of about 500 pilots permitted to fly in low-altitude aerobatics performances, and he recently had the honor of being named national spokesman for Careers in Aviation, a co-sponsor of this tour.

Jerry Toenjes, Shell Aviation Marketing Manager, says, "We've been working alongside Jamail since he was a Young Eagles first-flyer.  We're inspired to see how he's progressed, and how he's carving out such a unique and successful career in this industry."

Scheduled stops on Larkins' national tour include middle schools and high schools in the following cities, with additional stops announced as they are scheduled.

FMI:  www.shell.com/aviation