Auburn Adventist Academy Takes Flight

Everyday millions of people fly from all four corners of the world, airlines carrying passengers to and fro their destination safely. Yet little is known about the person or persons that are responsible for getting the passengers from point A to point B. Many people know there is a lot of training but the extent of that training is not realized. Here at Auburn Adventist Academy, an aviation program is offered to our pupils and for those who finds it fascinating to be in the sky; an opportunity that later in life will turn into a career. 

The student’s training is an introduction to the world of flying. First, we learned about the airplane itself and how the airplane obtains lift, how it turns, what kind of engine it has, and all the why’s and how’s associated with it. We begin our training in a small plane. As our training progresses, perhaps the size and complexity increases. We then move on to learn how to operate the aircraft. The flight instructor teaches us how to take off and land, and all the knowledge needed to fly the small planes.

 During the last week of the month of September, the aviation class was able to fly in our first introduction flights. My experience was surreal, I entered the aeroplane in the morning, at first it was no better than getting into a car or bus. The noise of the machine made me feel that it was different. The buzzing sound which had fascinated me from ground now belonged to me. The things below looked so tiny. After an hour of flying I switched seats with Heisler, funny thing I fell asleep; perhaps I was too comfortable because it was a female instructor or it must’ve been Heisler’s experienced of being up in the air over time either way I was excited. 

Sammy Moudy, a sophomore and also a current student in ground school recalls his experience up in the air. “It was really fun, I wish I could fly longer! Seeing everything from a different perspective was amazing. It was cool to see the various instruments in the actual plane because it really helped me in class.”After our first flight, I was able to put a face on the small details that was already covered in class, my classmates and I were able to understand the flight instructor much more clearly, whenever he was explaining the movements of an aircraft and the feeling as pilot in command. 

Once the availability of ground school opened, it became, “the beginning of possibilities, an opportunity that allows me to get my pilot's license and fly whenever and wherever I need to be,'' Keagan Griffin states. For others, the class was expected to be different. 

Jack Pacheco says, “I thought it was an introductory class, but no it’s the real thing!” He continues, “Now that I am able to get my pilot’s license, it is definitely one of the many career choices that I can pursue.” As for Ethan Hesiler “I understand that putting in effort and hard work will help me towards my goal and it is pretty cool to fly you kinda go up and have fun.”

This aviation class is a possibility because of God, it is also because of your never ending love and support, through the lenses of Christ you have made it possible for us to be part of this privilege. “A lot of people dream of being pilots but few do anything about it.” Len Morgan; for this you Alumni have been our stepping stone into this dream. As we continue to move forward it is very clear that we must be highly motivated and must learn to do everything we can knowing that in Phil 4:14 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”