Aviation academy takes flight on first day back
Students in the Coachella Valley Unified School District headed back to school Thursday.
The start of the new year also means the start of a brand new program for Desert Mirage High School.
The Aviation Academy at the school is the first of its kind in the valley.
Some students in the program already know what career they want to land.
“A pilot, definitely a pilot” ninth grader Ximena Ramirez said.
“Mechanic or the helicopter for the firefighters,” ninth grader Emily Martinez said.
Revone Bauwens’ time as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force makes her the perfect teacher for the job.
She hopes her students will gain skills they wouldn’t get in regular classes.
“For four years they’ll be able to explore all sorts of math, science, technology, engineering and apply it towards aviation. Mechanics, air traffic control, piloting, fixed base operations and they may decide to go into different fields, but this is where they learn the discipline of learning,” Bauwens said.
The Aviation Academy is part of their career technical education program.
It gives practical experience in a career path as well as options other than college.
“There’s this heavy push in the U.S. for everyone to go to college and it’s just not for everyone and not everyone is meant to go to college. And the big things with the aviation industry is you can go to a trade school and make just as much if not more than someone who went to college,” said Alexander Dobrecevic, customer service supervisor for Landmark Aviation.
Through the program students will take trips to the Thermal Airport and learn from industry professionals. By the end of their four years they will have a better idea of what career in aviation they want to pursue.
In an industry dominated by men, Bauwens said she’s happy to see girls interested in the program
“The more that these young women see women as mechanics, as pilots, as engineers, then they start to think, ‘OK, I have someone to model myself after,'” Bauwens said.
No doubt these students are ready for their careers to take off.
