HANCOCK, Mich. (WZMQ) – Meet the future of aviation. These are the students who have earned the right to sit in the co-pilot seat in the final day of their introduction to flight.
The final exam of sorts, for these 20 high school students enrolled in Michigan Tech’s aviation course. They practiced in a simulator learned about navigation aerodynamics, and how to operate the instruments. They spent hours in the classroom, where they studied all the details of how to fly a plane. Kevin Cadeau, a pilot and instructor with the Civil Air Patrol says this introduction to flying is vital in attracting the pilots of tomorrow.
“It’s a week long course and, at the conclusion of the week, today, they have the opportunity to fly actual aircraft under our supervision.” said Cadeau.
Although much of the course was spent in a simulator. Today’s flights were the real deal.
“If something goes wrong, and they, say, crash the simulator, you just laugh and turn it back on or restart it. Over here is serious. It’s for real, what we do here, you have to do things correctly.” said Cadeau.
I was able to go up with student Patrick Heckel and pilot Dave Schmidt. And for a portion of our flight, Patrick took the controls.
“And I usually I let the kids fly on that stretch along Michigan Tech for about three, four minutes. And they all did great.” Said Schmidt.
“I learned that there’s a lot more to flying the plane than I originally thought with all the navigation and stuff.” Said Heckel.
The main goal of the course is to attract the pilots of the future. But even if a career in aviation is not in the cards, the sheer joy of flying was obvious.
“I think just getting to see the world from up there and like sitting in machine that can actually fly is the coolest thing ever.” Said student Madeline Chopp.
all the pilots, instructors, and support staff are volunteers. to learn more or find out how to enroll in their next round of classes, visit their website at EAA.ORG
