From the Skies to the Classroom: The Nine Lives of KQ’s Decommissioned Boeing 737

Kenya Airways, seeking to inspire the next generation of aviation professionals, has donated a decommissioned Boeing 737 -700 Next Generation (NG) aircraft to Mang’u High, one of Kenya’s top secondary schools. According to the backers of this initiative, the donation will provide students with valuable hands-on learning experiences, cultivating a deeper understanding of the aviation industry.

The Kenya Airways donation comes after a delegation from Mang’u High School inspected and formally accepted the decommissioned Boeing 737-700 NG aircraft in 2023. This initiative, the first of its kind in Africa, highlights Kenya Airways and Mang’u High School’s shared commitment to advancing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and aviation education.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Kenya Airways Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, Ms Hellen Mathuka, said the aircraft, which once soared through the skies connecting people and places, had begun a new chapter in its story. “At Mang’u High School, it will become a unique classroom, a hands-on resource to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary for careers in aviation, engineering, and technology,” Ms Mathuka said.

The Boeing 737-700 NG will enhance the school’s existing aviation teaching, which already features a caravan aircraft used for aviation classes. This addition will provide hands-on learning opportunities, enabling students to gain practical insights into aviation systems and operations at the secondary school level.

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Mr Anthony Maina Mithanga, Chairman of the Mang’u High School, described the aircraft’s arrival as a gamechanger, solidifying the school’s reputation as a hub for aviation studies. “The aircraft will serve as an educational tool to reinforce the principle, ‘What you can see, you can be’ inspiring our students to dream big, innovate, and take the lead in the aviation industry and beyond,” he stated.

The project was made possible through a collaborative effort involving Kenya Airways, the KCB Foundation, Crown Paints, and technical teams from Kenya Airways and Bonafide Group. Once reassembled and installed on the school grounds, the aircraft will serve as an innovative educational tool allowing students to explore aviation systems, operations, and technology in a real-world context.

Beyond this initiative, Kenya Airways actively engages students from various institutions at its Embakasi hub, to witness firsthand the operations of a major airline, interact with pilots and engineers, gaining valuable industry exposure.

This approach, driven by the airlines commitment to inspire future aviators, aims to address the aviation industry’s growing need for skilled professionals, ultimately contributing to the growth of a thriving aviation sector in Africa. So far, Kenya Airways has benefitted from hundreds of experts from Mang’u High School over the years. There are currently over 40 pilots and over 20 aeronautical and aerospace engineers that are alumni of the school.

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