9 get wings at airport

  • After getting his license, Seth Fullerton is congratulated by Grady Flynn, one of the instructors at the airport.
    After getting his license, Seth Fullerton is congratulated by Grady Flynn, one of the instructors at the airport.
  • Mary Deatrick celebrates getting her private pilot license with designated pilot examiner John Dennis and instructor Joe Rybicki.
    Mary Deatrick celebrates getting her private pilot license with designated pilot examiner John Dennis and instructor Joe Rybicki.

        Andrews – Nine people earned their private pilot license in August at Western Carolina Regional Airport.
        “That’s incredible for this little place,” airport manager Gayland Trull said.
        The airport has four instructors. An average of one or two people receive their license each month, with many months having no new pilots. Throughout the month, the airport had 18 students, including the nine who got their license.
        Trull said it was a record for the airport.
        The new pilots were Dillon Phillips, Kennedy Rogers, Seth Fullerton, Paul Seldahl, Nathan Madlock, Garrett Madlock, Kylan Bunch, Mary Deatrick and Jack Ford.
        Trull said they make the airport a really friendly environment for learning, plus students from local high school aviation class “float from the classroom into the air,” Trull said.
        Andrews, Hayesville, Murphy,  Robbinsville and Tri-County Early College high schools all have aviation courses.
        “That’s great for our students to have an opportunity like that,” Trull said.
        Three of the nine new pilots were high school students. For details, call the airport at 321-5114.