With its long tradition of aviation technology, Kansas State University Polytechnic is offering high school students with dreams of a future in aviation an opportunity to start early.
Fly K-State Academy is a three-day piloting program, June 27-29, for high school students entering their freshman through senior year. In this immersive experience, students will complete four missions and earn 3½ hours of flight time.
The Kansas State Polytechnic Flight Team will host the academy. Winners of the prestigious Loening Trophy in 2014, presented annually to the nation’s outstanding all-around collegiate aviation program, the team developed the idea after assisting with other aviation programs on campus that only were offered to kids in elementary and middle school.
Fly K-State Academy will educate students on the industry standards required for completing a flight by grouping the training into four missions: 1) participation in pre-flight inspection, airplane takeoff and landing, and traffic patterns; 2) practicing flight maneuvers; 3) instrument flight using simulators; and 4) after competing in an E6B challenge, the final mission culminates in a cross-country flight to Wichita, followed by a celebratory lunch at the Stearman Field restaurant.
Academy students will stay in campus residence halls during the sessions and will eat in the school cafeteria for an authentic look at college life. They will participate in activities in the campus Student Life Center and offsite around Salina. On the final day of the program, parents and guests are invited to a graduation ceremony honoring the students’ accomplishments.
The cost of the program is $800, which includes instruction, meals, snacks, lodging, transportation, a logbook, an E6B computer, plotter, Wichita sectional chart, evening activities and a university polo. In addition to the 3½ hours of flight time, students will accumulate one hour of sim time.
For registration details and to check out the program schedule, go to polytechnic.k-state.edu/profed/flyacademy, or contact the Office of Professional Education and Outreach at (855) 552-0079 or profed@k-state.edu.
