Some central Alberta students are letting their dreams take flight through a new program offered by Sky Wings Aviation.
Six students each from Chinook’s Edge Schools and Red Deer Regional Catholic Schools are getting ground school training at Sky Wings, near the Red Deer airport. This is the first step towards getting a pilot’s license, or it could also propel them towards other careers in the aviation industry.
The new dual-credit program started on April 9 and is expected to wrap up at the end of the month.
Students on track for graduation were recommended to apply for the program by school staff, and had to go through an interview process. Once accepted, they had to cover the cost of their books while Sky Wings is sponsoring the full cost of their training. This includes learning about air regulations, flight theory and getting a radio licence.
Teens who complete ground school training can choose to take the next step, by enrolling in further courses to obtain their private pilot’s license (on their own initiative and expense), or explore other career opportunities within the aviation industry.
Sherry Cooper, co-owner and chief flight instructor for Sky Wings, said this is the first time the company has been involved with offering a dual-credit program with local school districts. Sky Wings has supported young people in the past, however, including for local air cadet parades, school tours and career fairs.
“If you want to get people excited about something, you look to see what they are passionate about,” said Cooper, who hopes this training will get more young people interested in careers in aviation.
Pilots and aircraft maintenance technicians are in particularly short supply right across the country. Mayor Ken Johnston stated last week that he intends to talk to Red Deer Polytechnic officials about the prospect of starting a maintenance technician program at the facility.
Brianne Fletcher, Chinook’s Edge’s career connections coordinator, said the ground school program, which runs three times a week, during evenings and weekends, already has a waiting list of students wanting to enroll.
The course “has caught (their) imagination… and that’s what we want to see,” said Fletcher. “As students are able to explore possible careers it gives them direction as they transition out of high school, and it also helps them become more engaged and successful at school.”
Participating student, James Ellingsgaard, in Grade 12 at Olds Koinonia Christian School, said he’s always been interested in airplanes. “I thought maybe I want to do this as a job, so why not try it first?”
With a number of relatives who have private pilot’s licenses, Owen Hillman, a Grade 12 student from Spruce View School, said he figured “this would be a good opportunity to learn and decide if I want to do it.”