Lights, Camera, Aviation: Behind the Scenes at the LEAP Jet Engine Facility in Indiana

Students Shannon Newerth, Dengke Wang, and Jaedyn Zavala had no idea what awaited them as they pulled their massive RV into the parking lot at GE Aviation’s engine assembly plant in Lafayette, Indiana. One of GE Aviation’s newest facilities, the 300,000 square-foot plant glistened under a searing summer sun. But once they got inside, they realized just how cool aviation can be.

“GE Aviation blew my mind,” Wang said.

As the cast members of Roadtrip Nation’s “State of Change” PBS television program, the students traveled 829 miles over 14 days, and had the opportunity to interview workers in a range of jobs to find out what led them to their career, what challenges they face, and helpful advice for students looking to break into the workforce. Along the way, the met a diverse group of professionals, from a venture capitalist to agricultural scientists to Josh Cowan, a GE Aviation technician based in Lafayette.

See what they saw at the Lafayette facility and hear their impressions of advanced manufacturing in this behind the scenes look at the visit.



Want more?
 

• Watch the full one-hour program, State of Change, including their interview with Josh Cowan.
• Learn more about GE Aviation’s efforts to narrow the manufacturing skills gap.

Interested in a career with GE? Check out the GE Careers site.