By the Time Most Teenagers Are Learning to Drive, These High School Students Are Working on Obtaining Their Pilot’s License
Houston Airport System, January 12, 2008
Although learning to fly is no small feat, in Houston, students as young as 14 years old are getting a head start on their lifelong ambition of becoming pilots. William P. Hobby Airport is providing the training field for their curriculum and exposing them to real world aviation scenarios.
Through a partnership with the Houston Independent School District (HISD) and airport tenant Flying Tigers, Hobby Airport is providing access to their airfield for students enrolled in the aviation magnet program at Ross Shaw Sterling High School. These students are enrolled in a specialized curriculum that enables them to obtain their pilot’s license before or shortly after graduating from high school.
Roughly 160 teenagers are currently enrolled in the program, which has been in existence for more than 16 years in the Houston area. Hobby Airport is one of the few commercial airports in the country that allows student pilots to train in their Class B-rated (commercial) airspace.
“We’re happy to be able to contribute to the future of these students’ lives and career goals by providing a safe flying environment to learn in,” says Mary Case, Hobby Airport manager. “At Hobby, students have the advantage of flying in and out of the same runways that commercial aircraft use to transport the major airlines’ passengers.”
Through the HISD magnet program, students are offered a number of specialized educational programs that provide both strong academic studies and a specialty enrichment program, such as Sterling High School’s aviation program.
Roger Thompson has been teaching students at Sterling about the world of aviation for more than a decade and a half and has enjoyed seeing his students excel in the field.
“It’s fascinating working with these kids who are interested in learning to fly,” says Thompson. ”We’re preparing them to develop a career in the Air Force, corporate aviation and private aviation and at the same time, (having) fun.”
According to Thompson, one of Sterling’s standout students is Cory Shepard. A graduate of the high school and currently a first officer on a 737 Continental Airlines aircraft, Shepard is also a part time teacher for the magnet program at Flying Tigers.
The licensed pilot confesses to feeling a special connection to the students at Sterling High School.
“My flying career started at Sterling and working with these kids is just great. It gives me a chance to reconnect with them,” says Shepard. “Many of the students are already ahead of the game and further along in training than I was at their age. So, I want them to get where I am and beyond; I want them to do better than I’m doing.”
While most high school students spend their extra time shopping, hanging out with friends or going to parties, the advanced level students – which consist mostly of seniors and juniors – are spending their extra time gaining flight hours, and inching forward towards their goal of obtaining a pilot’s license.
Clayton Wilkinson, a junior at Sterling High School, says he has known he wanted to fly since he was a child.
“It’s a great opportunity to fly here at Hobby. You have to have a lot of responsibility and determination, but it’s worth it,” he adds. “Not everybody gets to say they have a pilot’s license. Some kids my age don’t even have a driver’s license.”
Robert McCorvey, owner and operator of Flying Tigers flight school, is very impressed with the students from Sterling’s aviation program and encourages anyone who wants to learn how to fly, to make use of the commercial airspace training provided by his school.
”We at Flying Tigers are happy to help with this program that exposes high school kids to opportunities in aviation,” says McCorvey. “I’m able to enjoy training students young, old, rich, poor and everything in between. It’s great to see future aviators come out and eventually become pilots.”
Students learn to fly in ground school and flight training. They have the opportunity to earn 30 hours of actual flight time and take the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) written exam. Their curriculum consists of learning the theory of flight, computer science and aviation management.
To participate in the aviation magnet program students must meet certain criteria including maintaining a top grade point average and demonstrating a keen interest in aviation. For more information on the aviation magnet program at Sterling High School, call 713/991-8125.
Copyright© 2008 – Houston Airport System
