Adopt-A-Pilot®
Since 1997, the Adopt-A-Pilot Program by Southwest Airlines® has inspired thousands of fifth-grade students to explore the world around them through fun, STEM-centered activities and experiments. This program connects Southwest Pilots with classrooms across the country to provide mentorship and engage students in aviation-related lessons to further develop leadership skills and spark an interest in aviation careers.
Welcome to Adopt-A-Pilot
Each school year, students in classrooms across the country “adopt” Southwest’s Pilots, giving our passionate aviators opportunities to mentor students in and around the fifth-grade level. As part of the Adopt-A-Pilot Program, students are introduced to our F.L.I.G.H.T values and further develop life skills. Southwest is pleased to offer these opportunities at no cost to participating schools.
It's very gratifying to build the children’s confidence to believe in themselves, choose their goals, and have the tenacity to achieve their dreams. At the same time, I emphasize being kind, grateful, and honest. Real-world experience helps spark their math, science, and geography from a rote level to a correlation level of learning.
I love giving back; through listening and engaging with the children and I often gain more from them!
- Nancy Martin-Belitz, Southwest Airlines Pilot and Adopt-A-Pilot Ambassador
Since our award-winning program first launched more than 25 years ago, Southwest Pilots have visited thousands of classrooms around the country, teaching an aviation-themed curriculum and impacting the lives of more than half a million students.
How to Participate
Thank you for your interest in the Adopt-A-Pilot Program! Registration is available September 1 through December 15 of the current school year. Teachers may submit a request to participate in Adopt-A-Pilot using the link below.
Teacher RegistrationPlease note: We do our best to match Pilots with interested schools. Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee that we will have an available Pilot in your community. If we cannot provide a Pilot, please feel free to use the curriculum and resources available to engage your students in STEM-centered activities and fun aviation-related lessons and videos.
If you have questions, please email the Adopt-A-Pilot Crew at adoptapilot@wnco.com.
We are looking forward to another great year!
Curriculum & Educational Resources
Classroom Videos
Adopt-A-Pilot in the classroom
This video introduces the Adopt-A-Pilot Program, helps Pilots connect with the students, and provides an overview of what students will learn.
Watch the video
Curriculum
- Games
- Game 1: Ding
- Game 2: Paper Airplane Contest
- Game 3: Bingo
- Handouts
- Addendum includes:
- A mileage chart between Southwest Airlines cities
- A list of cities and airport codes
- A Southwest Airlines route map
- Tie Handout
- Teacher Certificate
- Completion Certificate
- Coloring Book
- Addendum includes:
Educational Resources
Supplement our Adopt-A-Pilot curriculum by exploring these additional resources and organizations!
- Careers in aviation
- Elementary – High School Resources from Southwest – Students, parents, and educators can learn about various careers at Southwest Airlines.
- Southwest Airlines Destination 225° Pilot Pathways Program - Discover multiple pathways and opportunities to become a Southwest Pilot.
- Community partners
- Latino Pilots Association (LPA)
- NGPA – The Worldwide LGBT Aviation Community
- Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP)
- Aerospace Career Education (ACE) Academy – middle and high school youth
- Professional Asian Pilots Association (PAPA)
- Rotary To Airline Group (RTAG)
- The Pilot Network Conference (TPNx)
- Women in Aviation International (WAI)
Need more info?
Check out our Adopt-A-Pilot FAQs.
The Southwest Airlines One Report
Explore our annual corporate social responsibility report, the Southwest Airlines One Report. This integrated citizenship report covers significant social, economic, and environmental stories, as well as data tables, and reporting frameworks, all through the lens of corporate Citizenship. Our disclosures are informed by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), and aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).