Up, up and away: Aeronautics Capstone students take Discovery Flights

The late morning sun beat down on the Flying Cloud tarmac as the Cessna 172 propeller cut through the hot air. Seatbelts and headsets were secured. It was time to fly. Inside the small plane were three EPHS students and one Thunderbird Aviation instructor. This wasn’t the flight simulator the high schoolers had gotten accustomed to in their Aeronautics classroom — this was a real plane. The instructor would guide the takeoff and then, one at a time, turn over controls to the students. It was time to see if being a pilot was what these Eagles wanted to pursue.

This “Discovery Flight” celebrated the end of a three-course learning path in aeronautics at Eden Prairie High School that falls within the Engineering, Technology & Manufacturing Pathway. Ten students had come to Flying Cloud Airport for a chance to feel what it was truly like to fly. Over the course of the school year, they’d learned most of the Pilot’s Handbook and all about charts, taxiways, airspaces, weather and airport signage. Dr. Michael Nehring, the Aeronautics Capstone teacher, had introduced students to a variety of career paths in aviation, from engineering to design to air traffic control to drone piloting. Students, he said, were so close to the emergence of drone technology that they could influence the future of what the next careers in this field could look like. This was an exciting time, and the Capstone he was teaching was an opportunity for students to explore their interests in aeronautics while learning about all the possibilities for pursuing it as a career.

Today was just that: a chance to see if being a pilot was the right fit for students. 12th grader Quang Luong seemed ready. “I could have fun with anything that moves with four wheels and an engine,” he said at the start of the day. Others were more cautious. “I hope they’re a little scared,” joked Karen Brettingen, the industry partnership coordinator for Eden Prairie Schools. “They are,” Nehring replied with a smile. 

Many students were a bit nervous — but a great deal excited — as they gathered in the Thunderbird Aviation lobby. The local flight school, along with aviation school Academy College, is a community partner for the Aeronautics Capstone, helping to provide real-world applications of students’ learning. “It’s one thing when you’re sitting in the classroom learning, but it’s another when it’s experiential,” said Paula Piazza, senior admissions coordinator at Academy College. “When they’re considering a career in aviation, they have to [fly]. This is that experience that really solidifies that decision.”

Before students took flight, they each needed one important piece of equipment. Josh Smith, sales director for the Thunderbird Aviation flight school, was there to hand them out. “This is not just a log book,” said Smith as he passed students the small black books filled with green paper. “This is your new adventure in life.” These books would record each flight that the students would ever make in their careers, starting today. Soon, half of the students would begin filling out their books, as they’d be flying first. The other half would tour the hangars and planes at Thunderbird. Then they’d switch.

As the first group of students headed toward their planes, Superintendent Dr. Josh Swanson appeared on the tarmac. As a pilot himself, he’d come to support students on their first flight. He even brought a radio to listen to their communications with the tower as they took off. It was a proud day for Eden Prairie Schools, and the culmination of a great deal of work from students, staff and community partners.

For 12th grader Maya White, it was the final element of a series of classes that had fueled an interest in aviation, which she planned to study in college next year. “I always knew I didn’t want to be in an office,” she said, waiting on the tarmac for her chance to fly. She’d brought her camera with her and was excited to take pictures while she was up in the air. Being a pilot would give her a chance to travel, but for Maya, the day was all about “seeing if I’m actually up for the job.” She hadn’t expected to fly when she started her aeronautics courses. “[When I found out we were flying], I thought it was a little bit of a joke,” she remembered. But it was real, and the day had come.

Maya had never been in a small plane before, but she had been training on the high school’s flight simulator. When she got into the cockpit, all the controls were familiar. Still, she was nervous. “I just need to keep the plane stable,” she thought to herself as she took over the controls. She was flying! It was a bucket list item she could check off, and she learned something about herself up there, too. “Flying a small aircraft isn't for me,” she reflected after the flight. That realization didn’t mean aviation wasn’t a future career for her, though: “I can confidently say that I chose the right major studying aviation and will continue to explore different avenues in college that pertain to aviation,” Maya shared.

Maya’s experience, though unexpected, showcases what Pathways courses are all about: discovering interests, exploring possibilities and pursuing passions through real-world experiences and career-focused opportunities. Some Eagles wanted to take to the skies. Others learned they’d rather stay grounded, but all were exploring how they wanted to spread their wings. “I do still want to work in the aviation industry,” Maya affirmed, “just not up in the air.”