Students 'take wing' in pilot, aviation maintenance classes
Issue date: 4/17/09 Section: News
By Christopher Sylvester
Staff Reporter
The next time you are sitting on a plane and you hear the words "Good day everyone, this is your captain speaking." there may be the possibility that he/she attended Midland College.
The professional pilot program and the aviation maintenance program have been a part of MC since 2004.
"It was started by a four-star General Ronald Fogelman," said L.C Durham, director of the aviation department, a veteran of the aviation business for 46 years.
"The hardest part of the initial process was setting it up," Durham said. "I spent my entire Christmas holidays getting it started."
The program was initially designed and implemented by Durango Pro-Focus and MC. In December 2003, Durango Pro-Focus ceased operations and MC decided to keep the program available for students.
"At present there are 36 students enrolled in the professional pilot program and six students in the CE program," said Karen Harris, technical program coordinator. "I co-ordinate the pilots' schedules, the aviation maintenance and also division recruiting," Harris said.
"We offer an associate program and upon completion students have 232 flight hours making them employable," Harris said.
Students can complete their bachelor's degree in the bachelor of applied technology program. "Students must have their bachelor's if they want to become a captain," Harris said.
"Out of probably 130 graduates, about 120 of them have flown for airlines," Durham said. "Some of who left at the age of 23 are captains already," Durham added.
"I always let students know, try and get as many hours in the air as you can," Durham said. "When it comes to making a judgment call, you have to react quickly. That comes down to good training and maturity."
Durham referred to the pilot who landed the plane on the Hudson River recently, "that showed that not only did the pilot have to make a judgment call but also that the crew on board was very well trained to debark 160 people as fast as they did.
"Of all the airplanes I've flown, I would say my favorite is the DC-3. The Lear jets, you climb to 41,000 and after that there isn't much to do.
"The oldest plane I've ever flown is a Kurdish Robin 1929 model," Durham said. Discussing the dangers of flying, "There's a saying; there are old pilots and there are bold pilots, but there aren't many old and bold pilots," Durham said.
He commented on a friend he lost in an air show in Canada many years ago, "Jimmy (Franklin) was one of those bold pilots."
For more information on the pilot and aviation maintenance programs, contact Harris at 432-685-4799.
Staff Reporter
The next time you are sitting on a plane and you hear the words "Good day everyone, this is your captain speaking." there may be the possibility that he/she attended Midland College.
The professional pilot program and the aviation maintenance program have been a part of MC since 2004.
"It was started by a four-star General Ronald Fogelman," said L.C Durham, director of the aviation department, a veteran of the aviation business for 46 years.
"The hardest part of the initial process was setting it up," Durham said. "I spent my entire Christmas holidays getting it started."
The program was initially designed and implemented by Durango Pro-Focus and MC. In December 2003, Durango Pro-Focus ceased operations and MC decided to keep the program available for students.
"At present there are 36 students enrolled in the professional pilot program and six students in the CE program," said Karen Harris, technical program coordinator. "I co-ordinate the pilots' schedules, the aviation maintenance and also division recruiting," Harris said.
"We offer an associate program and upon completion students have 232 flight hours making them employable," Harris said.
Students can complete their bachelor's degree in the bachelor of applied technology program. "Students must have their bachelor's if they want to become a captain," Harris said.
"Out of probably 130 graduates, about 120 of them have flown for airlines," Durham said. "Some of who left at the age of 23 are captains already," Durham added.
"I always let students know, try and get as many hours in the air as you can," Durham said. "When it comes to making a judgment call, you have to react quickly. That comes down to good training and maturity."
Durham referred to the pilot who landed the plane on the Hudson River recently, "that showed that not only did the pilot have to make a judgment call but also that the crew on board was very well trained to debark 160 people as fast as they did.
"Of all the airplanes I've flown, I would say my favorite is the DC-3. The Lear jets, you climb to 41,000 and after that there isn't much to do.
"The oldest plane I've ever flown is a Kurdish Robin 1929 model," Durham said. Discussing the dangers of flying, "There's a saying; there are old pilots and there are bold pilots, but there aren't many old and bold pilots," Durham said.
He commented on a friend he lost in an air show in Canada many years ago, "Jimmy (Franklin) was one of those bold pilots."
For more information on the pilot and aviation maintenance programs, contact Harris at 432-685-4799.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
russian girlfriend
posted 3/21/10 @ 3:01 PM CST
Cheers for writing about this. FYI - here's some more info about watch bones you might like!
Post a Comment