Andrews – The Western Carolina Youth Aviation Foundation is hosting a Pancake Fly-In beginning at 9 a.m. until noon Saturday at Western Carolina Regional Airport.
The proceeds will benefit the 501(c)3 in efforts to provide flight training and educational scholarships for high school and junior college students in Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties.
The foundation began in spring 2019 out of the Hayesville High School Yellow Jacket Aviation Program, which started after Scott Hanna approached Clay County Schools about using flight simulators to introduce students to and stimulate interest in an aviation career. President David Hourdequin said the program was centralized to Tri-County Early College in 2019 due to efficiency.
“None of the regional high schools in the tri-county area can generate sufficient interest in aviation to afford a dedicated instructor and offer classes for a handful of students,” he said. “Centralizing the program at Tri-County Early College and eventually offering follow up courses makes an aviation program accessible to all students in the area.”
In fall 2019, the new program had 21 students enrolled in the course “Careers in Aviation” taught by Bryan Byrne at the Early College. Hourdequin said aviation careers are great choices for local students because the career field is wide open and it is a tremendous opportunity.
“Delta Air Lines announced a new hiring program as have one or two other airlines,” he said.
“The future of the industry is sound because the number of retiring pilots will create
a huge demand for new pilots, co-pilots, air traffic controllers, maintenance personnel and all kinds of airport support personnel and managers.”
Western Carolina Regional Airport Manager Gayland Trull said the program has helped a lot of local students see their potential in a satisfying and stable career.
“This program would have been great for me when I was in school,” he said. “Flying an airplane was the last thing I thought about doing.”
Trull said his career changed from being a cabinet maker to a pilot after he traded out flying lessons with Edgar Wood for some custom cabinets. He said helping local students and giving them an opportunity to do what he did is his way of giving back to the community.
“People helped me, and
if I can help these kids I have a lot of satisfaction,” Trull said about giving local students flying lessons.
“For these kids to be so focused in high school and dedicated to learning is really amazing.”
Trull and Hourdequin invites everyone interested in aviation career programs and helping local students to attend this event. The guest speaker for the fly-in will be Jeannie Aldrich, who became a helicopter mechanic in the military and excelled in an aviation career.
The WCYAF Board of Directors is comprised of area pilots who have a passion for aviation education and supporting the youth in our area. For details, call 828-421-6216.