The new school year is in full swing, and four Garvin County schools have made a big change to their curriculum. Elmore City-Pernell, Paoli, Pauls Valley and Maysville will all offer new aviation programs this year.
Aviation programs are becoming more and more common in high schools as the need for skilled pilots of airplanes and drones continues to rise. These aviation programs will provide students with important skills and bring them closer to being licensed pilots.
Garvin County’s aviation programs are all made possible with the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission (OAC) Aerospace and Aviation Education Grant. The curriculum for each school will be provided by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).
“Showing students how cool and fun science, technology, engineering and math can be is a win-win
for them and our entire state,” said Sen. Greg McCortney, R-Ada. “The aerospace and aviation
industry is the second largest in Oklahoma and offers some of the best-paying jobs out there.”
ECP
ECP is excited to add their specialized program titled “Taking Flight.” The four year tiered program will take students step-by-step through the official AOPA regulations and curriculum.
The program will begin at the elementary level with an aviation awareness program to prepare the students for what lies ahead in their school career. There will also be “significant focus” on aviation in ECP’s sixth through eighth grade STEAM electives.
Interested ECP high school students will complete the AOPA’s Unmanned Aircraft four-year program which will allow them to earn their pilot’s license through the FAA Part 107 Certification. The school’s goal is to supply students with the tools to succeed in many career paths in the future.
Superintendent Sheila Riddle stated that ECP will focus on teaching students about piloting drones as they prepare for their certification.
“We had the opportunity to choose between two tracks: a traditional pilot’s license or drone pilot license. We chose the drone track because it will provide students with a wide variety of opportunities in the future. From the private sector to the military, drones have become a necessity and with them, pilots have as well,” said ECP Superintendent Sheila Riddle.
At the OAC Commissioner’s meeting on August 11, ECP’s request for grant funding was approved in the amount of $8,300.
Paoli
The 2021-2022 aviation program at Paoli will be spearheaded by Corrynn Franklin, Paoli’s high school math teacher.
Paoli will implement the district-wide aviation program in two separate parts: Lil’ Pugs P.I.L.O.T.S. Introductory Program for kids Pre-K through sixth grade and Pugs S.O.A.R. Program for seventh through 12th grade. The high school’s program will include the AOPA “You Can Fly” curriculum and will allow students to earn their FAA Part 107 Certification.
Paoli’s aviation program will provide students with a range of flight related experiments and experiences. According to Franklin, this first year will allow students to launch homemade hot air balloons (made of tissue paper) and make balsam wood gliders. Year two will include a flight simulator for students to experience.
“I want to thank the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission for their support of STEM education for our Paoli students and students across the state,” said Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay.
Franklin said that Paoli has not decided on whether to offer a traditional pilot’s course or a drone pilot course as of now. Both tracks begin in the same way and have many of the same courses, so they will wait to see what their students lean towards.
“We’re really excited and can’t wait to see the program develop,” Franklin said. “We’re going to try for a sort of mentorship program, too. The high schoolers who are in the program will be able to go to the younger kids and show them some of what they’ve learned. I love that we’ll be able to get the little kids involved!”
Paoli School’s request for grant funding was approved by OAC in the amount of $10,000.
Pauls Valley
Pauls Valley will begin implementing their aviation program this year and continue it as a four-year program for upcoming students. Mark Green will be the program head for PV schools and will see students 10th through 12th grades participate in this program.
With the grant they received, Pauls Valley will be able to purchase a flight simulator for the program’s students and give them an opportunity to have hands-on learning about flying a plane.
Students will complete the AOPA’s unmanned and manned aircraft systems curriculum. Pauls Valley stated in the OAC meeting that they estimate around 200 students will participate.
Pauls Valley was granted $5,000 by the OAC.
Maysville
Maysville schools will begin their “Aerospace Discovery program this year which exposes fifth through eighth graders to aerospace and aeronautics concepts via visits with local historians and various hands-on activities.
“Building and firing rockets, understanding how design impacts the way gliders and kites fly may sound like fun, and it is—but it sparks curiosity and a love of science and technology that can propel these kids into some of the highest paying jobs out there,” said Sen. Greg McCortney, R-Ada. “I’m thankful Maysville has been chosen for this grant funding, and I’m excited about the potential of helping inspire students to become a part of the second largest industry in our state, aerospace and aviation.”
Maysville was awarded $1,500 by the OAC.
Oklahoma’s Aviation and Aerospace industry brings in just under $44 billion in annual economic activity, according to the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission, making it the second largest economic industry in the state. In Oklahoma, the three sectors of aviation economics are as follows: military aviation worth $19.3 billion; private aviation and aerospace business worth $13.9 billion; commercial and general aviation airports worth $10.6 billion.
Oklahoma’s aviation and aerospace industry supports 206,000 jobs with a total $11.7 billion payroll. The average salary in this industry is $73,300, one of the highest averages in the state.
