It has been a long time dream for Luke Deford. He never missed an airshow at the Akron Fulton Airport when he was young. Maybe it began when he first went on a plane ride with a friend of his dad's. It was when he was 8 that he first approached his dad and asked, "Will you pay for me to get my pilots license when I am older?" It has been a long time dream for Luke Deford. He never missed an airshow at the Akron Fulton Airport when he was young. Maybe it began when he first went on a plane ride with a friend of his dad's. It was when he was 8 that he first approached his dad and asked, "Will you pay for me to get my pilots license when I am older?" When Luke turned 15 and was a freshman at Ellet High School he decided to take his dad up on the training and began to attend American Winds Flight Academy. He received his private pilots licenses and now just graduated from high school, He is just a few lessons away from taking his Instrument checkride. "I have enjoyed my flying career at AWFA and have been helped and mentored far more than just in the flying field, but in all parts of my life. I am attending Kent State University this fall to become an Air Traffic Controller, but plan to continue training at AWFA and get all of my ratings."

Jun

11

A Great Day for 8th Graders at AWFA

It was all about the future entrepreneurs on this day at AWFA!
These students from the National Inventors Hall of Fame Middle School took visited American Winds to get a lesson in entrepreneurialship. It was a hands-on adventure for the 80 students, as they each had a chance to climb in the pilot’s seat of several planes. The students are a part of Ed Garcia's, pilot trained at AW, class at the school.

This lesson was not just to show the students opportunities in the many aspects of aviation careers, but it was to show the eager students what it takes to achieve the goals of owning their own business as an entrepreneur. President of AWFA, Mike Kolomichuk gave the kids a lesson in the business end of as an owner of a company.

Chief Pilot and owner of American Winds, Denise Hobart talked with the students about the opportunities in an aviation career, that included being a commercial pilot, flight instructor and mechanic.

American Winds flight instructors were showing the students the ins and outs of the planes used to train pilots.

First Fly-In of the Summer!

The first Fly-In of the summer took place in Geauga County on June 23. 

Chief Denise said, "It was kind of like having an airport day."

 It was sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), which is designed to promote aviation. The EAA oversees a program called the Young Eagles. 
Chief said they had some neat war birds on display, sometimes they have an airshow and they gave free airplane rides to young kids. 



"We were there promoting American Winds Flight Academy and aviation while giving airplane rides. It is a way to open the airport and get people interested in the world of aviation," Chief Denise said. She is always telling everyone how they can become a pilot!

Representing American Winds were Kris Aquinde and Chris Stevenot. 

Good Time to be Thinking of an Aviation Career

It is being predicted that there is going to be a shortage of airline pilots over the next 20 years. 

May sound like a long time, but if you are thinking of being a pilot, or have any interest in aviation this is a good time to act on it.

It has been foretasted by one of the largest commercial jet makers, that more than 450,000 pilots will be needed around the world. Boeing said that growth is expected between now and the year 2031 in the industry. But, the company also says that it is expected that there will be a need for more than 600,000 new aircraft maintenance workers.

Chief Denise has been talking to groups expressing the concern that there will be a lack of well trained pilots over these next 10 or so years.

American Winds Flight Academy has been working to get the word out at local high schools that aviation career minded students can look forward to rewarding careers and a good job market. "It can be a real safety concern, if there are not enough qualified pilots and technicians to handle the amount of jobs that will be available," she said.

For more information visit http://www.teachmetofly.com/