Have you ever wanted to fly? To soar through the clouds? Well, it’s easier than ever to fly in the new aviation class with Mrs. Nelson to guide you.“I really do think it’s worth it because I think giving you guys a chance to see the aviation field as something you guys could possibly do – whether it be a drone pilot or an actual pilot – is pretty cool,” Mrs. Erika Nelson, math and aviation teacher, said.

While the course is supposed to be an unmanned aircraft (drone) course instead of a manned aircraft (plane) course, they focus mostly on planes. The specific name of the first class you must take is “Launch into Aviation.” It’s only available in seventh hour this year.

In this class, students learn about the four forces of flight, advancements in aviation technology, lots of plane vocabulary, how to operate a drone, aerial battles in WWI and WWII, different types of planes, and more aeronautic topics. 

“The AOPA’s claim is if you have a student that takes all four years, they should be able to take and pass the FA107 test which would give you your drone pilot’s license as you graduate high school,” Nelson said. 

The school wanted to give students a chance to explore careers in aviation, and was provided the course and curriculum by the non-profit organization, the AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association). The curriculum allows for many hands-on projects and some field trips within the class’s budget. 

“The drone license allows you to get paid for flying a drone,” Mrs. Nelson said. “So like, if you work for a company – like I know Ameren UE has a drone group – because instead of having people up and climbing, they can send a drone to take pictures. And if something’s truly wrong, they can send somebody up who can fix it.”

Jobs in aviation are becoming more high in demand, and companies are looking for drone and plane pilots fresh out of college (and in somecases, fresh out of high school). If a student is unable to partake in all four years, there is a possibility that they could take the FA107 test on their third year.

“I like the scope, like how broad all the topics are, and I like how it’s progressing. So we started with just kinda knowing the history of aviation in general and then we talked about the mechanics of flight and now we’re moving through World War I and World War II,” Nelson said.

“It’s most definitely an oppurtunity for high schoolers to get into a prosperous career. Something that will be fun, and something that will provide them something to do for the rest of their life, if they want,” Khamon Stewart, junior, said. “But at the very least, it’s a break from the normal classes, and it’s a way for people to express creativity.”