My City August 2022

MYSTORY

“ We e proud to off students an opportunity to get a head st t on a v y viable c e .”

A

Diana Allard, Executive Director GISD Career Technical Education

ccording to Dahline, the major steps required to become a pilot for a major airline are as follows:

STEP : Obtain your Private Pilot License (PPL).

STEP : Obtain your Instrument Rating.

“We have no GPA requirement and if a student is inter ested in the program, they need only let their school coun selor know and then they can be recommended.We accept up to four students per Genesee school district.”e academy is available to high school juniors and seniors. e rst year of the training program sets a student up to nish their ground level pilot license with actual ight hours earned toward their Private Pilot License (PPL) with Crosswinds Aviation after school hours. In their second year, students can earn drone certication. ere is a possibility that a student who is committed can graduate high school with their ground level license, PPL and drone license, putting them far ahead of the competition when it comes to a career in aviation. “ere is such a pilot shortage right now that anyone who receives a commercial license can easi ly choose where they want to work,” adds Dahline. “Young pilots have nearly 100% job placement right now.” For those planning to enter the military, hold ing a pilot ’s license can be a phenomenal advantage. “Training a pilot is an expensive gamble for the military,” explains Dahline. “Nearly 60% of those who enter training as a pilot quit before they receive their Private Pilot License. Either they don’t have the men tal toughness needed or they balk at all the book work. If you show up with a private license already in hand, you have a major advantage over other candidates.”

STEP : Obtain your Commercial Pilot License (CPL). On average, this takes 250 ight hours to achieve. STEP : Earn your Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certicate, the highest pilot license the FAA

issues. Students must accrue 1,500 ight hours to earn it. Most accomplish this by acting as a ight instructor or working jobs such as banner-towing or aerial photography.

STEP : Work for a regional airline or corporate ight department, moving on to a larger airline such as Delta. Of course, there are more opportunities in aviation besides becoming a commercial pilot. Enrollment and completion of the GCI Aviation Academy curriculum can prepare a student for a job in air trašc control, aircraft maintenance, airline/airport administration and more. e GCI Aviation Academy has provided an exciting option for students who tend to nd a non-traditional route to a rewarding profession. “We are proud to oœer students an opportunity to get a head start on a very viable career,” states Allard. ®

54

MYCITYMAG.COM