The FINANCIAL — “From the start of my career with Georgian Airways my intention always was not only to do good PR for the company, but also to promote Georgian aviation in general. It’s a very interesting sphere and should be popularized,” Nino Giorgobiani, author of the competition idea and PR Manager of Georgian Airways, told The FINANCIAL.
According to Georgian Airways, Georgia’s national carrier, more than a hundred children have taken part in the contest ‘Aviator’, a children’s competition in modelling aircrafts.
“This competition, which we held with the Ministry of Education of Georgia, generated a great level of response. The children and their model aircrafts came from all over Georgia, including Batumi, Poti, Khobi, and Tkibuli. The competition aroused great interest in the children, and not just boys, as some young girls also entered the contest with their model airplanes. This project also stimulated the interest of many adults, whom it appears have been encouraged to become aviators and thereby we have helped bring them closer to the sphere. Through ‘Aviator’ we helped distribute more information on aviation.”
Q. What were the main conditions of the competition?
A. Contestants were free in choosing the material for their models, but the criteria were as follows: quality and accomplishment, design, similarity to a real aircraft, artistry, technique and innovation. The children created some very interesting models, some of them made paper airplanes, some used iron as a material, and there were many other forms as well.
Q. Who were the adjudicators and what did the winners receive?
A. I was head of the panel of judges. Seven of them were qualified people, experts. The model had to have been accomplished by one student or group of students, a maximum of five children per airplane model. If a group of children worked on the model, then the prize was GEL 1 000 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. If a child worked individually on a model which won 1st place, then the prize was a computer.
Besides prizes for the winners, all participants received a diploma.
The official ‘Aviator Award’ ceremony will be held in March.
Q. Georgian Airways organized a flight to Batumi for schoolchildren from the Tskhinvali region within the limits of the competition, what was the aim of this action?
A. It was promoted by the Ministry of Conflict Resolution of Georgia. Children arrived in Tbilisi by buses organized by the Ministry. At Tbilisi international airport employees of Georgian Airways presented the children with caps and backpacks. This was the first flight ever for those children from Eredvi and Akhalgori. Most of them had never been to Batumi before. The children visited the Nobel Technical Museum of Batumi and the aquarium there. The Tourism Department of Adjara handed out souvenirs to the children. It was a great day’s experience for them.
Q. Are you going to make Aviator an annual competition?
A. We are always seeking new cadres and talented people and also assist children in choosing aviation as their future profession. Because so much skill and potential appeared during the project, Aviator is going to be an annual contest.
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