An immersive after-school program in Michigan is helping a group of fourth- and fifth-grade students learn to fly a plane.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — It’s not uncommon for fourth- and fifth-graders to be afraid of heights. But an after-school program at Coit Academy for the Creative Arts in Grand Rapids, Mich., is helping some students combat that fear and teach them valuable skills.
According to WZZM, Students in the program have spent the past few weeks doing something most adults have never learned to do: fly a plane.
With the help of former airline pilot and West Michigan Flight Academy instructor Keith Rickle, the students spent several months in the classroom learning ground operations and flight procedures using relevant lessons and games.
All of this preparation is to help students actually fly in a propeller aircraft.
“This is actually my first time flying, so it can be scary, but also very, very exciting,” said Kaia, a student at Coit University.
“I used to have a fear of heights, but this class helped me get over it a little bit, so I’m really excited to go,” said Charlie, another student.
Ricker said the impact of the program extends far beyond aviation. It teaches students valuable communication and navigation skills and even embeds deeper layers for their futures.
“Even if it’s not an aviation career, they find out, oh, I can do something that I absolutely love to do,” Ricker said. “I wake up every day and I love working 9 to 5 so that’s really the goal and maybe not everyone does that [be an] Airline pilot, but learn the skill of, ‘Hey, choosing a career is a great thing and it’s going to help prepare me for the rest of my life. ‘”
The partnership between Coit Academy for the Creative Arts and West Michigan Flying Academy is one of several immersive extracurricular programs offered at the school.
