Students fly high with aviation classes

AUSTRALIA – A secondary college in Victoria is the state’s first government school to offer flying lessons as part of the curriculum, the Australian Department for Education reports.

Thanks to the support of a local anonymous benefactor who approached the school last year with an offer to cover the cost of flying classes, the Year 10 students at Brentwood Secondary College have taken to the skies for their weekly flying lessons.

After more than six months of aviation theory, students are currently manning the controls alongside an instructor, but will be flying solo by the end of this year.

One student said the classes are a dream come true. “Being a pilot is what I’ve always wanted to do but I thought it was something I could only start doing when I was older and it is just so amazing to be able to start now.

“I am so grateful to the person who has made it possible for us to do this. If I ever meet him, I’d give him a big hug, before hopefully taking him up for a flight. That would be great,” he said.