Reading, Writing, and Runways: When High School Revolves Around Aviation

Thursday, December 16, 2021 at 09:29 AM ET

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From left to right, Jason Poon (11), Lyra Young (12), Atticus Bhat and Garett Griner in a Carbon Cub FX3 installing headset hooks that Raisbeck students designed and 3D printed. Courtesy: Lyra Young

Key Takeaways:

Establishing successful high school aviation programs requires overcoming challenges like recruiting FAA-certified teachers and integrating specialized curricula, often achieved by fostering a school-wide culture centered on aviation and STEM.
Raisbeck Aviation High School (WA) exemplifies this approach with project-based, hands-on learning focused on engineering and aerospace, supported by significant funding and strong industry partnerships.
Aviation Career and Technical Education High School (NY) provides a highly specialized, five-year curriculum for Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification, requiring 1,900 hours of practical instruction with real aircraft.
Both institutions demonstrate the critical role of dedicated facilities, instructors with industry experience and FAA certifications, and deep community/industry involvement in preparing students for diverse careers in the aviation sector.

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There are some basic challenges when offering an aviation class to high school students, such as:

Private pilot ground school at a public high school;
Finding someone who is qualified to teach the class, because in addition to a state teaching certificate, the person needs FAA certification;
Keeping the class from getting lost amidst college-prep courses, music, sports, social studies, and more.

“The secret to keeping the aviation program alive is to build the high school culture around aviation,” said Reba Gilman, a 40-year educator and the driving force behind the creation of Raisbeck Aviation High School (RAHS) in Tukwila, Washington. The school was established in the early 2000s after Gilman noted the popularity of technical aviation courses at the Puget Sound Skills Center (PSSC).