Barrington Irving plans to undertake a second solo flight around the world in 2027, using a business jet to promote aviation career pathways and expand apprenticeship opportunities. The expedition will build on his record-setting 2007 journey in a Columbia 400 piston single and will seek company commitments for apprenticeships, job shadowing, scholarships, STEM education and technical training.
Executive Air Services founder and CEO Fabio Alexander Vasquez will sponsor the flight, as he did the original expedition. The Aircraft Electronics Association and the National Business Aviation Association are also expected to support the project.
Irving is seeking companies prepared to offer apprenticeship positions as part of what he aims to make one of the largest aviation apprenticeship programmes. The initiative is intended to cover business aviation, manufacturing, maintenance, logistics and other industry roles, extending the focus beyond pilot careers.
Irving previously founded Experience Aviation, Flying Classroom and the Barrington Irving Technical Training School. The organisations provide scholarships, STEM curricula, career guidance and technical training for prospective aerospace workers.
His 2007 flight established him as the youngest person and first Black man to fly solo around the world. NBAA interim chief operating officer Dan Hubbard described the 2027 expedition as a platform for developing the future business-aviation workforce. No specific aircraft type, route, flight date, duration or final number of participating companies has been disclosed.