Outreach and education is a key component in growing the aerospace industry, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America (MHIA) showed its commitment to the future by sponsoring an aviation education night for more than 400 students at Las Vegas Rancho High School during NBAA 2013.

Speakers at the event included Yoshiyuki Ishii, CEO and president of MHIA, along with Barrington Irving, founder of the nonprofit organization Experience Aviation and the first black pilot to fly around the world solo. The event is a part of a much larger initiative known as “Dream and Soar,” supporting Irving as he travels the country presenting his inspiring message to more than 12,000 students in the past five years.

“I want to show them that pursuing a career in aviation and science or technology can enable them to realize their dreams as I did,” said Irving.

The outreach event is one of many that MHIA supports in a variety of venues. Just this past summer the company hosted its biennial MU-2 owner’s meeting in Green Bay, Wis., just before EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh. The event drew dozens and included a tour of Lambeau Stadium and a mixer with Rep. Reid Ribble (R-Wis.).

MHIA was voted as provider of the best turboprop product support in AIN’s 2013 product support survey. The MU-2 product support program is administered through Turbine Aircraft Services in Addison, Texas.