The flight program has always been a special part of the Major Signature Program. Students begin with lessons on the flight simulator with a private instructor, and as they gain more hours and experience, they transition to flying on a real plane at the nearby airport.
On January 31, Feven Hailemeskel ‘28 and Anthony Flagg ‘26 went on a discovery flight with one of their instructors, along with several other members of the Major. Adelyn Skibitski ‘29 said, “It was truly an amazing experience to be in the cockpit of a plane, especially since the plane we were on was small, so you could almost feel everything going on in the air.” Half of the Major was also there for the discovery flight, and it was an exceptional experience.
Flagg and Hailesmeskel travel to the Lakeville Airport during blended days and weekends to fly. Feven summarizes her routine before she flies, “We first do pre-flight, which is inspecting the outside of the aircraft and the inside to make sure it’s safe to fly. When you get on the plane, you get ready to take off and fly to a specific destination. Or it could just be maneuver training, where you follow instructions to get the plane to a specific angle or perform a turning maneuver”. These flights help build confidence and allow students to apply what they’ve learned on simulators to real-world situations.
Mr. Peck, Director of The Major Signature Program, comments on the two pilots, saying, “Anthony and Feven have worked very hard and had to jump through a lot of hoops to get where they are. I am incredibly proud of both of them. It’s one thing to say you want to be a pilot, and it’s another to put in the hours and make it a reality.” He wants them to know that it’s an extraordinary experience to aim for getting their license in high school, and excited to see what the future holds for the pilots.
Students in the Major are beginning to log real flight hours after training on the flight simulator. Feven and Anthony would continue their training for the rest of the year at Lakeville Airport, both working to earn their private pilot license with the help of Mr.Peck and the guidance of their instructors.
