Last week I volunteered at the two-day Sustainable Skies World Summit 2025 and Careers Fair in Farnborough with the Air League, and it ended up being one of those events where you leave having learned a lot more than you expected.
Sustainable Skies Summit.
The first day brought together airline leaders, engineers, policymakers and innovators to talk about one big topic: how aviation can reach Net Zero. Sitting in on the panel discussions was really interesting because it showed just how complex the challenge is. There isn’t a single solution. Instead, the industry is working on lots of things at once — sustainable aviation fuels, more efficient aircraft, new technologies, and better collaboration between companies.
One thing I took away from those talks was that the future of aviation won’t just be shaped by pilots. Engineers, scientists, sustainability experts and designers are all going to play a huge role. For young people interested in aviation, that’s actually good news because it means there are more pathways into the industry than many people realise.
Careers Fair for 12-15 year olds.
The second day was the Careers Fair, where I spent the day volunteering at the Air League stand. We ran a hands-on activity where students engraved their own name tags, and over 200 students came through to try it. It was great seeing how much people enjoyed doing something practical. Some students had never used tools like that before, but once they started they really got into it.
What I noticed most was that a simple activity like engraving a name tag often started bigger conversations. Students would begin by asking how the tool worked, and then suddenly we’d be talking about engineering, aviation careers, and the different opportunities available through the Air League.
Reflecting on the two days, there were a few lessons that really stood out for me — especially for young people thinking about aviation.
First, stay curious. Almost every professional speaking at the summit talked about how curiosity led them into their career. Ask questions, go to events, and explore the different areas of aviation.
Second, don’t assume there’s only one route. Aviation is full of different pathways. Some people start in engineering or sustainability, some go straight into flying, and others find their way into the industry later on.
Third, get involved early if you can. Volunteering, attending careers events, joining aviation organisations or applying for scholarships can open doors and help you meet people already working in the industry.