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Promoting Aviation Career Education in High Schools and Community Colleges (2019)

Chapter: Appendix A - Actual Survey Comments

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Suggested Citation:"Appendix A - Actual Survey Comments." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Promoting Aviation Career Education in High Schools and Community Colleges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25643.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix A - Actual Survey Comments." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Promoting Aviation Career Education in High Schools and Community Colleges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25643.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix A - Actual Survey Comments." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Promoting Aviation Career Education in High Schools and Community Colleges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25643.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix A - Actual Survey Comments." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Promoting Aviation Career Education in High Schools and Community Colleges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25643.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix A - Actual Survey Comments." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Promoting Aviation Career Education in High Schools and Community Colleges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25643.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix A - Actual Survey Comments." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Promoting Aviation Career Education in High Schools and Community Colleges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25643.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix A - Actual Survey Comments." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Promoting Aviation Career Education in High Schools and Community Colleges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25643.
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87 A P P E N D I X A Actual Survey Comments High Schools • Tour of ATC, guest speakers • Flights, access to simulators, some in class support • Provide flights for students • Advice • Internships, volunteer hours, pilot connections, pilots who volunteer to teach classroom lessons to students • They provide guidance and potential employment opportunities for our students. • Scholarships, internships, job shadowing, job pathway • One-dimensional lecture supplemented by real-world • Get out of the classroom and see the real world, which reinforces classroom. • Provides job shadowing at the local MRO • The airport manager gives aviation students a great rate on an aircraft and a flight instructor if they become a lineman and work on getting their private pilot’s license. • It exposes students to possible careers at the airport, or any airport for that matter. • Field trips, flight training • Jobs, volunteer, and field trip opportunities What benefits does this airport partnership provide to you and your students?

88 Promoting Aviation Career Education in High Schools and Community Colleges • We are trying to establish a place for our students to take their classes at this airport. We may still be in negotiations with them. • Exposure to real aircraft and their operations • Internships, jobs, tours, shadowing, mentorship • Flexible program size • They lease us the building. • Long-term lease for campus • Lease property • Reduced training costs and use of equipment • Leased space on airport grounds for educational program location • Access to airport • Real estate rentals and industry partnerships • Reciprocity in maintenance and usage • They provide a place for our students to get a more airport atmosphere. • Space • Aircraft leasing • Part 141 Flight School Certification, Aircraft, Instructors High Schools • Open houses at the county level, open houses at the school, 8th grade shadowing • We are a small school. All students know about the new aviation program. In what ways do you promote your aviation program to prospective students? Community Colleges • Access and support • Low rent and various support

Actual Survey Comments 89 • Club fair at the beginning of the year and I promote to the students that I have in other classes • Word of mouth; electives catalog • Facility tours, career counselor informative briefings • Counselors talk to 8th graders • On school website, during student/family interactions, and at high school fairs • EAA Young Eagle rides, invites to the classroom simulator, summer programs • Facebook and Instagram • Flyers, vendor booths at air shows • We are starting an Explorers Post and will be in our feeder middle schools. • Magnetized school, recruit from middle schools • Speak, presentations, brochures, pathways instead of academy; also do a career night for 8th graders • Generally, show program to neighboring middle and elementary schools; also youth organizations that directly feed this campus • Career fairs at middle schools, tours, sporting events, local newspapers • Career counseling, guest speakers, industry professionals • In community and through visits • Newspaper covers aviation events and students’ solos • Present programs with junior high students • Open house, radio advertisement, word of mouth • I visit our 8th grade students and share at Parent Night. • 8th grade night • Showcase on Twitter and Facebook • High school open houses, student shadowing, district academy open house

90 Promoting Aviation Career Education in High Schools and Community Colleges Community Colleges • Outreach to schools and attendance at aviation events • College website, hosting FAA seminars, attendance at FAA safety seminars, attendance at career fairs and airport open house events • Papers, billboards, radio, social media, etc. • High school visits, TV, radio, Internet, fairs, field trips, employer-affiliated partnerships, etc. • We offer guest speakers and promote Air Force programs that encourage aviation. • Campus talk, Aviation Club for younger students, promoted well by Dean of Academics • We have offered evening programs and publicize it through our e-mail programs. • Advertise in local media, sponsor career days on our campus, visit primary and secondary schools • Primary methods—web page, Facebook; Secondary methods—local advertising, radio • High school visits, air shows, and radio and print ads • We visit high schools and aviation companies. • Middle and high Schools, CAP, air shows • Primarily word of mouth • Varies, from job fairs to advertising • Everything possible • High school outreach and participation in aviation events • Monthly orientation and community outreach • Cannot promote individual program because of college. Will go to high school career events. • Recruit in middle schools • Open house presentations • Facebook, Twitter, visit local schools for presentations, aviation fair

Actual Survey Comments 91 • Visit high school, community events, air shows, college also does online and radio advertising • Various outreach events • Multiple advertising resources, social media, etc. • Tours, presentations, high school outreach • Career fairs, school visits, tours of our facility, local aviation events held at our facility • Very limited budget! We attend career fairs and visit high schools. We are struggling with the marketing aspect of getting the word out. • Fairs, social media, local media, through partnerships, alumni, air shows, and aviation days, etc. • Trade shows, apprenticeship fairs, school visits, open houses • We are not allowed to promote our program. • Local high school outreach • Open house twice a year, family day, guided tours with admissions dept. • Google ads, Facebook, college fairs • Tours, marketing events, recruiting events, booths at air shows • School fairs, college nights, recruiting visits, presentations to local civic groups, partnership with major airline • Program tours and an invitation to participate in our Aviation Exploration Day • College marketing and website • Open houses, information days, newspaper articles, NIFA [National Intercollegiate Flying Association], high school career fairs • Advertising • Social media, Aviation Career Night (over 100 students a night), partnerships with dual credit at local high school • Currently very challenged in this area; website and occasional radio commercials

92 Promoting Aviation Career Education in High Schools and Community Colleges High Schools • Contacting local companies and arranging face-to-face meeting • Tours of airline training facilities, volunteer hours at local airports, tours of local ATC, work with local EAA chapters • Attendance at symposiums; field trips to airport • Attend EAA meetings; tours of our facility to local CFIs • Advisory board • Aviation advisory committees, e-mails, contacts • Flyers, vendor booths at air shows, chamber of commerce meetings, Facebook connections • Through our advisory panel • Talk to airlines, MRO, phone/visit, FAA, rely on industry contacts, take advantage of opportunities to meet/mingle with industry professionals, static displays at air shows, etc., out in community • Biannual industry advisory meetings and monthly face-to-face with local businesses • Meeting with industry constantly to ensure they know what we are teaching and what credentials our graduates have • Sponsors, inviting industry professionals in-house • Advisory board and mentorship promotion • EHS has an Aviation Advisory Committee • Participating in on-worksite visits at Memphis International Airport, Federal Express • Reaching out directly • Job fairs and aviation fair Program Promotion to Industry In what ways do you promote your aviation program to industry?

Actual Survey Comments 93 Community Colleges • Cooperation with local airlines • Nothing formal • By ensuring quality graduates. The industry is well aware of the 90-year reputation of PIA graduates. Industry members reach out to PIA. • With our business associates • Ivy Tech has worked with our local aviation industry to provide textbook sponsors and field trip opportunities. • Invite industry members to our advisory committee meetings at least twice a year • Advisory committee membership; job fairs • The industry already knows about us. We have more employers contacting us than we have graduates. • We meet with them monthly to see their needs. • Trade shows; advisory committee • Advisory committee • We have an industry advisory committee that is active and meets twice a year to have input into the programs. • Industry-related field trips and cooperative efforts with employers • Employers that come in to promote their company • Community advisory board—try to get individuals from industry to join • Go to Alaska Airlines career event; got other career fairs for port employees. • Grant writing • Keep contact with industry leaders; foster job fair around graduation • Annual AMT Skills Competition at the NW Aviation Conference and Trade Show

94 Promoting Aviation Career Education in High Schools and Community Colleges • Direct contact with our in-house employment facilitator • Career fairs; outreach events • Career services • Direct contact by phone, e-mail, and personal visit • Word of mouth, Facebook, career fairs • Through partnerships, alumni, press releases • Industry trade shows, guest speakers, and field trips. • We are not allowed to promote our program. • Two advisory council meetings a year, Job Expo, IA seminars • Google Ads, Facebook, Linked In, professional networking • Interaction with companies interested in entering into partnerships • Employers make presentations to students in the classroom and tour the facility. • Guest speakers, aviation experts • Advisory committee meetings Challenges High Schools • Money! There’s never enough for all the projects. • I am not a pilot. I am a math teacher, Air Force veteran. I have had to do training, etc. It is an extra class load and a new lesson prep but well worth the efforts. • Lack of knowledge on my part • Going to meetings and speaking to whoever I find in aviation. Reached out to groups on Twitter to be speakers. What challenges have you encountered in developing and/or maintaining your aviation program and how did you overcome these challenges?

Actual Survey Comments 95 • Keeping students in the program for the full four years has proven to be a challenge. If the students could have access to flying, I think this would keep their motivation going. • We need more space, better facilities, and more teachers in order to expand the program. • Financial resources for flight sim and drones with which to teach • The challenge of finding a state-of-the-art curriculum. We have adopted the AOPA curriculum with good success. For the Private Pilot Written, we use the Jeppesen-Sanderson textbook. • Lack of money/resources. Have not figured this out. • Learning the content can be a challenge for the teacher. This is ultimately overcome via support from the AOPA. • Connections with the aviation community to develop job shadowing /internships. • Our staff is education-minded, not aviation-minded. We need to integrate aviation in all we do. This has been a challenge. • We are in our first year so we are working out a number of issues. But would like to start numerous new programs within the next few years. • Difficulty finding and maintaining instructor base • Lack of understanding with those who don’t understand aviation; not everyone speaks aviation; intimidated. You must roll your sleeves up and roll with the punches. • Student interest and local business participation have been a challenge. • Funding • Obtaining insurance to conduct flight training; we overcame this with research and relationships built. • Funding, interest from students, knowledge of the program • Increasing the number of highly motivated students to become involved in the aviation program • Financial challenges, grants

96 Promoting Aviation Career Education in High Schools and Community Colleges • It has been a challenge to get families to understand what our program is and what we have to offer. I have spent a lot of time talking to various groups and promoting the program myself. • Time, space, scheduling, and inexperience • Learning is fun; the schedule is always an issue each year trying to fit it into the master schedule. Still struggling with time and space Community Colleges • Decisions are made very slow by our administration. Funding is very difficult. We have turned to our foundation for grants and funding. • Keeping up with growth • FAA Part 147 regulation creates a challenge in continuing to add new content for updated technologies or practices without adding more education time and expense to the learner. Additionally, the cost of aviation equipment is extremely high. A reliance on donations from industry members is very important. • Local flight schools may see the program as a competitor. • We have a very strong partnership with our neighboring school districts, Ivy Tech Columbus, our CTE district, and local aviation industry. We’ve only had the program one year, but it came together nicely and we expect more students will be interested next year. • Cost - we seek funding from sources other than student tuition (grants, donations, etc.) • Recruiting highly qualified adjunct faculty is a challenge. Pay is not an issue, but travel time to the college keeps many applicants from applying for job openings. • Low enrollment –promote program as stated above. • Shortage of instructors – don’t have a good answer for this. The industry is short of mechanics and they pay much better than colleges.

Actual Survey Comments 97 • Money/beg • Our largest headache is working flight training into a traditional college that uses semesters. Square peg in a round hole • Mostly administrative • Persistence • Equipment, weather, VA rules • FAA oversight and restrictions and funding/working with FAA inspectors • Integration of FAA curriculum with CC standards, as they are not compatible. Have had to explain to CC that we have to work this way due to federal regs, need to educate admin. • Finding funding for prospective flight students. Trying hard to find scholarships and internships for funding. • Primary challenge is helping pilots find funding. Also challenge to find hiring path for ATC students. Dealing with VA and clearing that funding. Finding qualified staff for ATC and flight programs. Having college admin understand needs of program. • Biggest challenge has been the VA. GI bill funding has own set of “hoops” to jump through. Spent first year without veterans funding. Administration also can’t understand that weather impacts flight training, have been needing to educate and have policies changed. • Enrollment is the biggest issue; knowledge of availability of jobs. Unadvertised. • Actively recruit and make as much noise as possible • Recruitment is biggest challenge; ongoing efforts through outreach activities • At this time, our biggest challenge is student retention due to a percentage of our students getting hired through industry partners before program completion and graduation. Our program is at such a high demand at this time. • Student population falling off

98 Promoting Aviation Career Education in High Schools and Community Colleges • Different ways to recruit students • Acquiring teaching aids, i.e., aircraft and equipment • The challenges are the workforce is thriving so kids are not attending. High school counselors try and get high school students to go to a four-year institution. We need more students to take a trade program. But there is no money set aside for marketing. • Lack of flight instructors who want a career in education. Keeping up with the pay scales, which cannot be done at a CC. • Qualified Instructors are the greatest challenge. Increasing salary has helped, but college is very reluctant to pay industry “going wages” to attract and retain qualified Instructors. • Lack of qualified interested instructors • Low enrollment, better advertising, great reviews and write-ups • Primary challenge is dealing with the VA. Over 70% of our students are military veterans, using educational benefits. The VA has made it exceedingly difficult to train and educate veteran students. • Creation of brand-new, first of their kind community college bachelor’s programs in Professional Pilot training and UAS, [and problems] were overcome with support of college employees and curriculum developers. • Challenges - High cost of training devices/aircraft. Overcome [by] college, state, and federal support for acquisition coupled with endowment funds. • Name recognition, and we have not overcome this challenge yet • Sole faculty member responsible for all aviation programs, lack of support/knowledge/understanding of aviation w/admin. Continuous admin turnover • Keep moving forward and educating admin to the best of my ability

Actual Survey Comments 99 High Schools • Do it! It’s never been a better time to be in aviation • Get the AOPA curriculum, especially if you’re a novice to aviation like me. • Talk with others who have done it to learn about the curriculum. • Students, even if they are not planning a career in aviation, really like applying their science and engineering skills to such an authentic activity as learning about the problems and principles on the manned and unmanned flight. • Look at AOPA’s curriculum - plug and play • Develop a relationship with a local corporate flight department, flight school, or FBO. • Be sure your district understands and supports the financial needs required to start this kind of program. • Use the AOPA’s curriculum as it is engaging, comprehensive, and well supported • Start with a club, develop interest, expand and build upon that. • Make connections with your local EAA chapter. These pilots are fabulous and are willing to help promote the future of aviation to students. I wish I had made these connections sooner. • Reach out to groups like AOPA, EAA and CAP. • Make sure to find a flight school that’s close by, and closely monitor flight students, university partnerships are key. • Takes a lot of work, need someone with aviation knowledge and experience, show mgt the need for aviation professionals, reach out to aviation experienced individuals in the local community - get them teacher credentials Advice to Other Programs What advice might you share with other high schools and community colleges that are considering developing an aviation program/pathway?

100 Promoting Aviation Career Education in High Schools and Community Colleges • Make sure there is actually a reason to do it and have LOCAL support above and beyond anything else. • Determine what the end result of the graduates will be, which can be what job skill set or what company and work backwards to develop the program. Outcome based program is easier to develop. • Research, build relationships and have a high standard. • Determine your aviation goals and objectives. • Aviation courses are not just another math or history course, there is a lot of liability in aviation. Make sure it is done and taught correctly. It is better to not do it than to do it poorly! • Hire the right person for the job. • Get industry involved. • The teacher needs to be prepared to promote and run the program as opposed to just teaching a class. • Do it, but work out the logistic first and have a solid curriculum. The curriculum is still somewhat hard to come by. Finding an experienced pilot to teach, or at least consult, would be a GREAT idea. • It is a wonderful idea because of the amazing job opportunities. Community Colleges • FAFSA student benefits are only available if the college operates under Part 141. The Post-9/11 GI Bill only covers private pilot flight training if the college owns the aircraft and the CFIs are college employees. • Own and operate your own fleet; outsourcing general not recommended. • Hire the right overseer of the program. It takes excitement from the start.

Actual Survey Comments 101 • Get with other schools within your FAA geographical coverage to get some ideas so it will be as painless as possible. • A successful program would consider: o Part-time or full-time clerical staff is a must because multitude of vendors used to support an aviation program, plus FAA recordkeeping requirements. o Buy and fly district owned airplanes. An aircraft has an extraordinary long life compared to the purchase price. Aviation insurance is very low compared to insuring a football team. o Create a close partnership with the college’s research office to assure that good data will be captured about the new program graduates. o Create a close relationship with the college grant writers to facilitate applying for federal grants (technology and equity grants). o Recruit graduates as adjunct instructors. o Recruit graduates as advisory committee members. o Start one or more aviation student groups. • It is very expensive per student. Find good instructors that are focused on your program. • Get the local city government involved. • Make sure you are located in a region with a large volume of aviation activity. • Have deep pockets. • Program is complex, Admin needs to fully understand before starting program. Must understand federal regs, planning should probably take a few years. • Try to start small, only one major, and get admin to understand need of program. Have someone that can build industry relationships.

102 Promoting Aviation Career Education in High Schools and Community Colleges • Do not outsource delivery of instruction; will cause issues with VA. Need to have plans set up for rolling admissions and what to do if weather prevents completion of courses. Know your weather! • Shadow one that is already up and running. Have had 2 colleges that have done so, welcome the sharing of information. • Develop career pathways with industry partners. • Get the FAA involved with program implementation from the very start. • Industry support • Reach out to young students • Partnering • It is expensive and finding people is critical to success. • Bring lots of money! • You better have a lot of funding. • It is hard to get the newer generations interested in Aviation. • If they are going to accept veteran students be prepared for unreasonable, non-standard, conflicting VA practices. • Do right by the students. Flight training is expensive. Be good stewards of the students’ funding. Strive to create professionals, not just pilots. • Explore all options and do not hesitate to ask other programs for advice or guidance. Network with organizations such as the FAA for support. • Very capital-intensive program. Adequate space for storage and teaching is critical. • Own your own equipment. • Follow the FAA guidelines.

Actual Survey Comments 103 • Important to have appropriate personnel to understand aviation and academia and the interaction between the two • Good Luck High Schools • Reach out • Do it! It is valuable in many ways outside just the aviation aspects. Students will work harder in math if they see more clearly how they can use it. • Talk to the superintendent. If they decide they want it to happen, it can happen. But be prepared to support the program with knowledge, flights, funds . . . • There are several students who are very interested in flying but believe it is too expensive for them to get their license. If local businesses would reach out more to encourage these students to fly, they would, in return, get them as students one day. • Remember . . . they are just kids. • Guest speakers and field trip opportunities welcomed; internships needed; Young Eagles flights. • Offer airport facilities, corporate hangars, and FBO maintenance shops as field-trip destinations. • Talk to the teachers directly. • Visit and partner with schools that already have an aviation program first. • Students are ready and eager to learn a skill that is relevant to their future and engaging. • Jump in and offer support. Most programs are struggling to figure out all the pieces. • Establishing a single point of contact and providing mentors to work directly with the students. • Need more mentorship, talking with pilots and others in the field to hear how they made it. What advice might you share with aviation industry personnel interested in partnering with a local high school to develop a new aviation program/pathway? Advice to Industry

104 Promoting Aviation Career Education in High Schools and Community Colleges • Industry realizes the need for aviation professionals – shortage, the high schools are the next generation. Donate unneeded equipment, etc., to schools. • Many opportunities are available to help with the students in many capacities: classroom volunteer, mentoring, training on simulators, etc. • Establish concrete requirements for a new employee who has just graduated from high school. Build the high school program to fit those requirements. When the high school is a solid foundation, start recruiting in middle school. Endless supply of new employees. • Research, build relationships, and have a high standard. • The best pilot in the world may not be able to relate to high school students in a way to create a positive experience. It takes a very special person to have the aviation experience and also be able to be a great teacher, and communicator with high school students. • The quality of our curriculum • Listen to the needs of the program and let them know your willingness to help. • Find ways to get the kids out into the workforce to see what it’s all about. Work with admin to free up time in the day to do this. • Do the thorough research with the Part 147 FAA Curriculum. Community Colleges • Just ask! • Do the bean-counting. Offer a current employee a scholarship to attend the local program; that may help spur the program along. • Just ask if they’ve ever thought about implementing this program or would be interested in exploring the option. • The colleges can always use donations, in either funds or materials.

Actual Survey Comments 105 • Showcase the community college quality instruction and low-cost tuition. • Promote the industry to prospective students. • Be willing to not only request but be willing to support funding new programs. • Make sure the college is going to go “all-in” to support the program. • Find good individuals to work with. • Partner with our local schools. It benefits everyone. • Need for equipment: donate any equipment that is no longer airworthy; can be gold. Even things that may be “junk” can be very beneficial. • Ensure that there is an alignment of the goals for both, open facilities to students, mentorship! Dedicate a person that will be willing to oversee the partnership. • Start advisory boards, letters of support for grants, take students as interns, speak as guests. • Look at all potential avenues, don’t just look at flight programs, need support staff. Internships or shadowing! Help with funding for student involvement in national organizations. Come visit programs and listen. • Do it! Both educators and industry must partner and collaborate to create pathways. • Get in contact, offer some expertise. • Hire students especially during their training by an internship type program. • Students need help with offsetting the cost of training; industry can help to educate to fill in the personnel gaps. Providing real-life experiences to students. • Realize that there are already many dozens of pathways that we have partnered with; might have to step up to sponsoring students, as well. • We are not allowed to promote our program. • We are open to anything. • Help us recruit from their local areas.

106 Promoting Aviation Career Education in High Schools and Community Colleges • Pick one that has a proven track record of success in both education & training. • You need graduates. We have them. • Ensure employment opportunities exist. • Offer meaningful scholarships, money for flight time. • Work with community partners to develop the program. • $$$$. Students are fearful of debt and associated low-paying positions where they cannot afford to pay high debt with low income. • Good Luck

Next: Appendix B - High School Survey Questionnaire »
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More airport operations/management academic programs at both the high school and community college levels would help the airport industry. With baby boomers currently reaching retirement age at the rate of 10,000 each day, and later generations much smaller in size, new employees are not entering the workforce swiftly enough to replace those leaving because of retirement, illness, and other complicating factors.

As a result, the aviation industry, like others, is experiencing a significant labor shortage. With no end in sight, the industry has joined forces in a number of unique partnerships in an effort to not only enhance the quality of current aviation graduates, but also stimulate interest in aviation careers among college students, high school students, and even middle school and elementary school students.

The TRB Airport Cooperative Research Program's ACRP Synthesis 103: Promoting Aviation Career Education in High Schools and Community Colleges points out the many characteristics of high school and community college aviation programs throughout the country, which could prove useful to airport management. By better understanding the academic programs producing the next generation of aviation professionals, airports can develop proactive efforts to promote the airport profession to aviation programs in their local area and influence young people to seriously consider airports as a viable career path, thus positively affecting the future of the airport industry.

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