Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance presents Award to MRJ

Posted on: May 30, 2019

Written by: GrantEDC

Hitoshi “Hank” Iwasa, COO & Head of Moses Lake Flight Test Center, accepts the Inspire Award from PNAA on behalf of Mitsubishi.

Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance (PNAA) s a coalition of aerospace companies that serve North America’s largest commercial aerospace manufacturing cluster.

On May 28, 2019 PNAA took a bus tour across Washington State to tour Mitsubishi Aircraft in Moses Lake and to attend the Inland Northwest Aerospace Consortium, I-90 Corridor Aerospace Conference & Expo in Coeur d’Alene.

During the stop in Moses Lake, Mitsubishi was able to present about the Moses Lake flight center as well as their community involvement for STEM educat

ion. For their dedication to the Aerospace industry and STEM education, PNAA presented Mitsubishi with their Inspire Award.

PNAA’s Inspire Award honors businesses and individuals in the aerospace community that have shown exceptional creativity in working with schools to share the activities of manufacturing in to cultivate interest and skills leading to aerospace careers.

Partnering with Big Bend Community College and the Port of Moses Lake, Mitsubishi Aircraft launched its first educational STEM event with Reach for the Stars with STEM in 2017. The event welcomed 600 ninth grade students to learn about STEM careers from aerospace professionals, including a retired NASA astronaut, and explore a Life Flight helicopter, firetrucks, and an MRJ flight test aircraft. In conjunction with the event, two high school students won a fully sponsored week-long visit to advanced Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.

Mitsubishi Aircraft continues to contribute to local STEM education and awareness of aviation career opportunities. The company has established four $2,500 scholarships at the local community college. The company’s flight test pilots and mechanics attend Moses Lake career events and job fairs to explain their trades and job opportunities in aviation to local students.

Hitoshi “Hank” Iwasa presents at the Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation Showcase in Moses Lake to PNAA members and the local community.