Back row (L to R): Caleb Leismeister (Penhold Crossing School - Gr. 12), Dane Nielsen (Didsbury High School - Gr. 12), James Ellingsgaard (Olds Koinonia Christian School - Gr. 12), Owen Hillman (Spruce View School - Gr. 12) Front row: Maxine Bates (Didsbury High School - Gr. 10), Brooke Rosevear (Sundre High School - Gr. 11). (Chinook's Edge School Division)

By Chinook's Edge School Division

Ground School Training

New aviation career pathway elevates opportunities for students

Apr 24, 2024 | 1:37 PM

Six Chinook’s Edge students are letting their dreams take flight.

The high school students are participating in a new career pathway opportunity available, through a partnership between Chinook’s Edge School Division and Skywings Aviation.

“We are incredibly happy to provide this opportunity for students,” said Brianne Fletcher, Chinook’s Edge Career Connections Coordinator. “This course has caught the imagination of students, and that’s what we want to see. We know that as students are able to explore possible careers it gives them direction as they transition out of high school, and it also helps them become more engaged and successful at school,” said Fletcher.

Participating aviation students are enrolled in ground school training at Skywings Aviation, near the Red Deer Regional Airport. Students cover the cost of their books, while Skywings Aviation is sponsoring the full cost of the ground school training for each student. The program began April 9 and will wrap up by the end of the month, with students attending the facility three times each week, during evenings and weekends.

Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools also has six students attending the program. There is already a wait list for future sessions. Current students were recommended to the program by staff at their schools. To be admitted students need to be on track for graduation, and have an interest in aviation. Each had an entry interview with Fletcher.

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Owen Hillman, a Grade 12 student from Spruce View School, was at work when he got the interview call from Fletcher.

“I told my supervisor ‘hey, I’ve got an interview for becoming a pilot’ and he said ‘ok!’”

Hillman said he has a number of family members that have a private pilot’s license. “I figured this would be a good opportunity to learn and decide if I want to do it.”

James Ellingsgaard, a Grade 12 student from Olds Koinonia Christian School said, “I’ve always been interested in airplanes. I thought maybe I want to do this as a job, so why not try it first.”

Brooke Rosevear, a Grade 11 student from Sundre High, said, “I had no idea what I wanted to do for a career. A counselor at my school said ‘how about aviation’? And I thought – hey that could actually be cool.”

Maxine Bates, a Grade 10 student from Didsbury High School, said, “I thought this would be a great experience. I’m starting this journey to see if I want to go into aviation.”

Students completing ground school training can choose to take a next step, if they’d like, by enrolling to obtain their private pilot’s license (not part of the Chinook’s Edge aviation career pathway), or exploring other career opportunities within the aviation industry.

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