Flight School

by South Metro Standard

Photos by Mark Doescher

Setting students up for success is the driving force behind Moore Public Schools' new aviation program, with additional program enhancements in place and future plans under-way. Flight simulators are the latest addition to the course offerings, which are an elective series for high school students that creates a career pathway as an airline mechanic or drone/personal pilot.

First offered in 2023, the program is part of a districtwide emphasis on STEM, with national award-winning curricula by Project Lead the Way. Funding is made possible in part by the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, which provides federal funding for career and technical education programs.

"As we were looking at the possibility of implementing an aviation and aircraft mechanics program, we wanted to be sure certifications would be available as a next step, tools they can use to prepare for exams that can get them workforce-ready," said Jimmy Martin, assistant superintendent of Alternative Education, CareerTech, Child Nutrition & Federal Programs at Moore Public Schools (MPS).

With the new flight simulators, students can experience real-world conditions and log actual flight hours. They feature side modules and screens where teachers can change weather, air pressure and wind to simulate different conditions. Both types of simulators, Gleim and Basic Aviation Training Device (BATD), are Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved.

VR headsets also allow teachers and students to navigate diverse modules and scenarios, with a dashboard to time and score lessons, which can then be personalized to address individual needs.

Aviation mechanics students could choose to sit through testing after their senior year for general maintenance certification. Administrators hope the program could include internships in the future.

"A student who went all four years in our program would be ready to go onto next steps that put them at a tremendous advantage for state tests, certifications and career opportunities. After four years of aircraft maintenance, for example, they could take the general aviation test, get a certification and go to work," Martin explained. "Even though flight hours would have to be completed and paid for separately, our graduates would already be familiar with so much that is involved."

Jobs in aviation at Tinker Air Force Base and in private industry abound in the state.

The need for airline personnel has grown acute, with industry experts warning that more than 50% of current commercial pilots are expected to retire in the next 15 years. Military opportunities are also a ready outlet.

Drone pilots can find work in land surveying, CLEET, law enforcement and emergency response services due to their thermal detection and mapping capabilities.

Approximately 40 students are enrolled at each high school in the aviation program, with between 60 and 70 at each site for the airline mechanic path.

Bradley Black, an aviation and aircraft maintenance instructor at Southmoore, described the flight simulators as a game-changer for the program.

"Last year was the first year for MPS to offer aviation and we were all learning together. This year, the new flight simulators have made all the difference," he said. "Students ask me if they can come before school and fly, if they can stay after school and fly, and of course, if they can come in during lunch and fly.

"The students want to do it every day, but we still have coursework that we have to do throughout the week. I truly have the best teaching job ever. Students want to come to aviation class; they are excited, and that gets me even more excited."

Rocky Dickinson, MPS career education coordinator, agrees the program is unique and a great opportunity.

"It is different from a typical high school program. All four of those years include practical information to carry students directly into a career and help fill an employment gap," said Dickin-son. "They can go right to the workforce and be successful."

Currently, there are no prerequisites to join the program in freshman year.

"We care so much about our students and their future. We are laying a great foundation, not just for work-ready kids but also for college-bound students," he said. "This is a pathway into the career world. When I talk to people about the program, they say I wish that had been available when I was in school.' The program will help (students) gain a lot of life experience and make their lives better." - SMS