Student pilots and flight scholarships
abound
|
|
October 17, 2012 |
 |
| By Ashley Glaza |
It finally happened. The larch needles and aspen
leaves turned golden and cast a warm glow in the
morning sunlight.
Ominous, dark purple storm
clouds billow over the mountain tops sprouting
rainbows and lightning bolts before they pour
down the canyons pushing brisk, blustery winds,
and then smother the valley in torrential down
pours.
As the rain tapers off, the sky opens up
into pockets of intensely clear, blue sky with
not a breath of wind.
Fall has arrived in Boundary County.
 |
|
Ian Wheeler |
In the last few days of that endless blue
summer, several more student pilots made time to
master their landings enough to take their first
solo flights.
On October 9, Ian Wheeler of Sandpoint did his
successful landings while his family watched on
the airport webcam. Ian began dreaming of flying
at the age of five when his dad would take him
to the airport to watch the planes take off and
land.
He began his flight training with Northern Air
on July 27 and is the first in his family to
pursue aviation. His plans are to study
aeronautics in college and eventually enter the
military.
On October 11, Ericka Johnson followed in the
footsteps of her three older sisters, Amanda,
Lydia, and Susan, to take her first solo flight
on her 16th birthday.
 |
|
Ericka
Johnson |
The whole family came out to watch and celebrate
her birthday milestone.
Ericka and her younger sister Monica attended
the private pilot ground school at Northern Air
last January, and have been taking their flight
training together with instructor Nathaniel
Cheshire.
Ericka plans to finish her private pilot license
and eventually become a flight instructor. Her
younger sister Monica turns 16 early next year,
so be ready for the next Johnson aviatrix to
take to the skies!
The local Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA
Chapter 757) has counted the donations earned at
the huckleberry pancake breakfasts this summer
and is happy to announce that they will be
offering two Youth Flight Scholarships this
year.
The scholarships (each up to $2,500 ‘non-cash’
value) will be awarded to Boundary County
residents between the ages of 16 and 18 and will
include ground school and flight training at
Northern Air Inc.
The ground school will be held two evenings per
week at the Boundary County Airport terminal
starting January 7, 2013.
Flight training will commence upon successful
completion of Ground School and a passing grade
on the Private Pilot written exam.
In addition to the EAA Youth Flight
Scholarships, the Bronson Parsons Memorial
Scholarship ($2,000 ‘non-cash’ value) is
available for ground school and flight training
at Northern Air.
This scholarship will follow the same guidelines
as the EAA scholarships, but will also be
available to youth ages 16-18 residing in and
around Troy, Montana.
Details and requirements for the scholarships
are available on the EAA website,
www.757.eaachapter.org.
The deadline all of the scholarship applications
is December 1, 2012. Stop by Northern Air at the
Boundary County Airport or call (208) 267-4359
for more information.
|
|
Questions or comments about this
article?
Click here to e-mail! |
|
|
|
|
