Newton Room introduces 180 young people to aviation technology and engineering
How do you calculate a flight route? Which factors determine flight time? And what technical and operational considerations are involved in flying an aircraft? Through Newton Room, 180 third- and fourth-year secondary school students are getting a hands-on introduction to aviation, technology and engineering in Zaventem.
The educational programme is a joint initiative by TUI fly, Boeing and FIRST Scandinavia. Over the course of two weeks, students have the opportunity not only to learn about scientific and technical principles, but also to apply them in practice.
From flight planning to a professional simulator
Under the guidance of a TUI fly pilot, students learn how a flight is prepared. They discover how routes and flight times are calculated and which factors need to be considered when making operational decisions.
They then put this knowledge into practice in a professional flight simulator. A visit to an aircraft is also part of the programme, helping students see how science, technology and operational processes come together in real-world aviation.
Building early interest in STEM and technical careers
Through Newton Room, the organisers aim to help young people discover their interests and talents in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at an early stage.
Students at this age may not yet have made final decisions about further education, but it is often a period in which interests in technology and technical careers begin to develop.
Initiatives such as Newton Room therefore contribute to the broader challenge of encouraging more young people to consider technical studies and professions.
Encouraging girls to explore technical careers
The programme explicitly aims to engage both boys and girls. In doing so, the organisers want to make technical and aviation-related professions visible to as broad a group of young people as possible.
For industry, ensuring a sufficiently broad pipeline of technical and engineering talent remains important. Giving young people an opportunity to experience these professions in practice can help create a more realistic understanding of what technical careers involve.
International collaboration in Zaventem
Boeing selected the TUI fly Belgium training centre in Zaventem for this international initiative. The educational programme is delivered by FIRST Scandinavia, an organisation that has been developing learning experiences in science, technology, engineering and mathematics since 2000.
On 7 October 2026, the project will also welcome international guests including Dr Brendan Nelson, President of Boeing Global, Liam Benham, Boeing President for EU and NATO, and Silje Kumeus, COO of FIRST Scandinavia.
Newton Room therefore brings education and industry together around a practical objective: showing young people the knowledge and skills behind technologies that are often taken for granted in everyday life.
Read the full press release (Dutch)
Discover all the details about Newton Room, the programme and the collaboration between TUI fly, Boeing and FIRST Scandinavia.
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