Area aviation program first of its kind in U.S.

High school seniors will get experience working at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport.

When he decided to develop an aviation program for high school students at the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center, it never occurred to Rich Payne he might have a hard time finding an example of other such programs in Missouri.

In fact, there were no examples in the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom.

"It's extremely unique. We didn't realize that when started down this road," said Payne, director of the CTC.

This fall, high school seniors at the CTC will have their first opportunity to take the course, which includes a classroom component as well hands-on experience working in various jobs at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport.

Payne said the idea for the program stemmed from a "ground school" class Jackson High School has offered for several years.

Don Grossheider, who taught the class at Jackson and retired from there this year, has been hired to teach the yearlong course at the CTC.

"We talked about flying in that class. It's one thing to talk about it, it's another thing to get to really experience it," said Grossheider, who has held a commercial pilot's license for 20 years.

The program will be limited to between 12 and 15 students, who will rotate in groups through jobs in the tower, management and maintenance at the airport.

"A lot of people have tried this, but one of the cogs was missing," said Grossheider. "It takes a special setup to get this to happen."

The students will receive five hours of actual flight time and 10 hours of observation time toward a pilot's license.

The course should prepare students for entry level employment, provide dual enrollment for aviation program at local colleges or give them a head start in a military career.

"If this would have been offered when I was in high school, I would have jumped through my shorts to be part of it," Grossheider said.

cmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128