Airhawks are logging a really busy year

||| FROM ROBERT WAUNCH for AIRHAWKS FLYING CLUB |||

The Airhawks Flying Club has been exceptionally busy this year, especially when Orcas High School started summer break.

Airhawks awarded scholarships to four High School students: Sam Delia-Alley, Knox Key, Kia Gilliam and Jack Carson. An additional scholarship from the Orcas Aviation Association (OAA) was awarded to an adult to eventually assist with the Mercy Flight Program.

All Scholarship Students have successfully passed their Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Written Examination (a 70-question exam from a possible 1000 questions). Sam is close to completing his last flights prior to his Oral and Practical (flight) exams from a Designated Pilot Examiner to qualify for his Private Pilot License (PPL). The other Scholarship Students, Knox, Kai and Jack are pushing hard to catch up.

Most students have been flying 2 to 4 times weekly. Each flight consists of a briefing first, then the flight, with in-flight corrections for the maneuvers, followed by a de-briefing. The students then continue to study on their own, or with each other, in preparation for their next flight. It’s a significant time commitment.

In addition to the Scholarship students, six (6) adults are currently in training. Airhawks has twice as many students presently in training as normal. The students have really kept our Certified Flight Instructors (CFIs) busy!

A special note: one of Airhawks CFIs this summer is Nicholas Rivera. Nick was a former Airhawks Scholarship recipient who received his PPL several years ago, graduated from the Orcas Christian School, then continued his fight training in college where he received additional qualifications and ratings. Thanks for the help Nick!