AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 38

BRIEFING

YOUTH

The other side of the fence
Encouraging the next generation of pilots
BY KEVIN GARRISON THE KENTUCKY INSTITUTE FOR AEROSPACE EDUCATION (KIAE) and other organizations like it are working to help solve a problem that aviation industry groups have been wrestling with for some time. It’s no secret that the pilot population is aging and flight schools are in constant need of new students. Started in a T-hangar with an airplane project provided by the Build-a-Plane organization, the high school students and volunteer adults at KIAE have grown to seven airplane projects, a flight training program, and a mechanic PAY IT FORWARD training program. VOLUNTEERS and their efforts are the heart of the Founding teacher organization. Larry Mooney is a great example. An expeDr. Tim Smith started rienced aircraft mechanic and pilot, Mooney is at the his program that later airport every Saturday instructing the kids in everything evolved into KIAE from from TIG welding to fabric work to engine overhaul. the bottom up, and the Every minute the students spend in the shop is logged idea soon grew from a toward their airframe and powerplant certificate. single school to a netWhile the training is at almost no cost to the students, work of 16 Kentucky high KIAE is not a free ride. The students spend three years of schools—with many more weekly work in the hangar and the classroom before they on the way, including high get a shot at the flying program. The ones who get that far schools in other states. have earned their flight training spot in a very special way, KIAE provides tool and have a special appreciation for the training. kits and resources to These students show up for their first flying lesson schools in the network at after having already built one or more aircraft. They STUDENTS Austin Plank and T.J. Sargent in no charge. These include work their way through classroom labs, model aircraft, a 1950 Cessna 195 (top); Sargent checks flight kits, aircraft mainflying simulators, model rocketry, engineering seminars, the wing of a 1940 Aeronca Champ tenance resources, and and countless hours of hangar talk before they take their (center); instructor Tim Smith with students Maggie Smith and Matthew engineering materials. first hour of dual flight instruction. Collins (bottom). The flight training KIAE’s ability to give the students an early exposure program is largely free. Students rebuilt a Cessna 152 they fly and mainto all facets of aviation—and to allow them to decide tain. Volunteers act as flight instructors, to keep costs close to zero. what they don’t like—is as valuable as finding out what Money for fuel comes from additional fundraising and contributions. they do like. It is much better to find out you don’t really Statewide, many other aircraft and aerospace building and educawant to be a professional pilot in high school, not after tional projects are under way, being accomplished by member schools signing up for a 10-year military commitment or dropwith their volunteer adult helpers. In addition, students at KIAE work ping huge money to attend a private aviation college. with the University of Kentucky and other colleges on aerospace engiMany students lean toward the engineering side of neering projects, as well as with NASA. things. At KIAE, one of the volunteer adults helped design Other programs of this type exist, but they most often were planned the spacecraft of the moon race for NASA and lives nearby and started from the top down. They are begun by an influx of money, as a retired professor. He is now offering interested stufollowed by the hope that students will sign up. Another facet of most dents a free class on spacecraft design and construction. other programs is that they are specifically training students for a single What can experienced adults who have had a career career in a single area. The KIAE model offers a wide variety of experiin aviation do to move things along for these ambitious ences that young people can try out. young people? Volunteer your time to pass along some of that hard-earned knowledge. You don’t need millions KEVIN GARRISON, a retired airline pilot, volunteers with the Kentucky of dollars of funding, a huge building, and a full-time Institute for Aerospace Education. professional staff to motivate and teach young people. All that is really needed are a mentor, an interested WEB www.kiae.org student, and time.

38 | AOPA PILOT January 2013

http://www.kiae.org

AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013