Author: Joe Canepa

Career Profile: Brent Zimmerman, Aviation Mechanic

Brent Zimmerman, aviation mechanic A&P, IA

SIA has been interviewing aviation industry professionals in an effort to share all of the career paths for high school students to explore. Here is our interview with Brent Zimmerman, A&P and IP aviation mechanic located at the Baraboo-Dells airport’s Spring City Aviation facility. What is your present career in aviation? I’m working at Spring […]

Milton School District Receives Their SIA Sim

Milton students try out newly donated SIA Sim flight simulator

Library Media Tech Specialist & District Library Coordinator Christina Nording immediately saw the value of having a flight simulator for her students at the Milton Middle school. She applied for the free SIA Sim and now has a tool at the school for her students to explore aviation, “Exposing students to a flight simulator in […]

Career Profile: Ashley Campbell-Flight Instructor

SIA occasionally reaches out to people in the aviation industry and talks with them about their career journey. Ashley is one of those people! We recently talked with her about her journey so far. Ashley Campbell What is your present career in aviation? I’m the Assistant Chief Certified Flight Instructor at the Baraboo location for […]

Port Washington High School Receives SIA Sim

Port Washington High School students posing with Joe Canepa and their new flight simulator

Technology Education Leader and Teacher Ryan Volke at Port Washington High School in Wisconsin received their free SIA Sim flight simulator. Ryan said “it was like Christmas for me and the students”. Joe Canepa delivered their SIA Sim Thursday and worked with Ryan and some of the eager aviation students on using the simulator in […]

Mineral Point School District Hosts Career Day

Student discusses aviation with SIA and Wisconsin National Guard representative

Mineral Point School District hosted a Career Day recently and invited Students In Aviation to attend. Wow! What a great event for middle and high school students to explore all career opportunities available to them. Over 60 organizations had booths there including SIA. Are you having a career day at your school? If so, reach […]

Mandalay Middle School Receives Their SIA Sim

Mandalay MS SIA Sim Students

We recently shipped out Mandalay Middle School’s SIA Sim, located in Golden Colorado. STEM Teacher Pamela Laidley, who is also a pilot had this to say, “So far, the sim is rocking! We have kids waiting to get time, and I have students that are working on coordinated turns, and take offs. Just started giving […]

Student Profile: Jocelyn Morales-Dominguez

Jocelyn is currently a student pilot and works at the Baraboo Dells Airport. Recently, we talked to her about her time as a student at SIA’s ground school and her plans for the future. How did you find out about the Students in Aviation Foundation? In the high school I went to in the Wisconsin […]

Student Profile: Will Pointon

Will was in the one of the first groups of students taught at SIA’s ground school. He is a certified Airplane and Powerplant Mechanic and attending college to gain his Avionics Certification. We spoke with him about his goals in aviation. How did you find SIA? That’s a tough one to answer, actually. My dad’s […]

Student Profile: Isaiah Ruddy

Isaiah works at the Baraboo Dells Airport alongside taking courses at the airport’s ground school. We asked him some questions about what he plans to do in the aviation industry. How did you find out about SIA and become a student? I found out through my father and grandparents. Joe [Canepa]’s other job is IT, […]

SIA Sim Flight Simulator Recipients Respond to Questions

LaCrosse Logan High School SIASim

We asked several SIA Sim flight simulator recipients how they plan to use the free SIA Sim flight simulator at their schools. Here’s what they said… Our robotics classes focus on flight during the last 9 weeks of the school year. We will utilize the flight simulator as part of our robotics class as we […]

Chuck Yeager Day Gives Students a Chance to Fly a SIA Sim Flight Simulator

Students flying the SIA Sim

The Chuck Yeager Day Annual event held at the Jackson County Airport located in Millwood, WV was a huge success thanks in part to the donation of a SIA Sim flight simulator. Several students got a chance to fly the simulator. “We plan on bringing kids through the airport and putting it on an enclosed […]

Good Hope Middle School Update

Good Hope Middle School Students using SIA Sim

Good Hope Middle School in West Monroe, LA is getting lots of use out of their SIA Sim! Career and Technical Education Teacher Russell White says “The students love the flight simulator.  We have had to close it down the last few weeks due to another competition.  They ask daily when I’ll open it back […]

Weyauwega-Fremont High School Using 6 New SIASims for Aeronautical Class

SIASims in use at high school

High School Science teacher Michael Hansen is getting the most out of the SIASim. They have 6 flight simulators now. 2 were donated by the SIA Foundation (Students In Aviation) and the rest were purchased from the SIA Foundation at a reduced cost. We’re looking forward to working with Mr. Hansen to enrichen the career […]

Next Batch of SIASims Ready for Shipping

SIASims ready for shipping

We are constantly working on improvements to the SIASim. The current Gen2 flight simulators are easier to use than ever. Contact us if you would like to get a SIASim for your school district at no cost.

Good Hope Middle School Receives Their SIASim

SIA flight sim

Career and Technical Education teacher Russell White at Good Hope Middle School in West Monroe, LA received their free SIASim flight simulator recently. Russ will use the SIASim to teach students about aerodynamics, how to fly flight simulators and what careers await them in aviation.

AOPA Announces New Scholarship Availability

Airplane and Pilots Association (AOPA) has announced the availability of scholarships to flight training students. Please check out this website for more information on how to apply at https://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/students/aopa-flight-training-scholarships. The deadline for application submission is February 7th, 2025.

WAI Announces New Scholarship Availability

WIA Scholarships

Woman In Aviation International (WAI) has announced new scholarships available for woman (young and old). Please check out their website for more information at https://www.wai.org/scholarships.

Jocelyn Dominguez Awarded SIA Foundation $10,000 Aviation Scholarship

SIA Student helping young aviator

Jocelyn Morales-Dominguez was awarded the SIA Foundation’s $10,000 aviation scholarship. She will use the funds to pay for her Private Pilot’s license. Jocy, presently works at Spring City Aviation https://springcityaviation.com/ at the Baraboo-Dells Airport (KDLL). She is very excited about her future career in aviation and says she would like to pursue a career as […]

SIA At AirVenture 2024

Young aviators try out the SIASims at AirVenture 2024

SIA was graciously invited to the AirVenture 2024 AeroEducate tent this past summer. Future young aviators got a chance to try out two SIASim flight simulators that The SIA Foundation donates to school districts across the country. A special thanks goes out to Alyssa Horpendahl, EAA’s Youth Education Center Program Manager and Danielle Schmick, AeroEducate […]

Mineral Point High School Receives SIA Sim

SIASim students

Technology Education Teacher Kyle Carey and Communications Director Joelle Doye were on hand to receive the SIA Sim flight simulator donation from The SIA Foundation last Thursday. Students were already using the sim that day! We look forward to working with Mr Carey and his students to get more of them involved in aviation.

LaCrosse Logan High School Receives Their SIASim Flight Simulator

LaCrosse Logan High School SIASim

Technology and Engineering teacher Mr. Andrew Scott at LaCrosse Logan High School helped us setup the SIASim simulator for the school. He said they will get a lot of use out of the simulator with students. We were happy to work with them on getting the sim installed and running!! Special thanks to Mr. Steven […]

Janesville Craig High School Students Receive New SIA Sim Flight Simulator

Janesville Craig High School student using their new SIA Sim

Students in Aviation donated another flight simulator to Janesville Craig High School last week. The students are already getting a lot of use out of the simulator according to teacher Andrew Udell. We look forward to working with the Janesville School District to bring students into aviation careers!

SIA donates SIASim Flight Simulator to Weyauwega-Fremont High School

SIASim with Jared Bohringer, high school student and Joe Canepa SIA CEO

SIA delivered a SIASim flight simulator to Michael Hansen, High School Science Teacher, and Emily Mykel, Community Outreach Coordinator, at Weyauwega-Fremont High School. Emily had a chance to fly the simulator and did a great job! We’re looking forward to watching your students grow into young aviators!

SIA Visits Fox Valley Technical College

Fox Valley Tech A&P Hangar

Joe Canepa, SIA CEO, visited Fox Valley Technical College’s Spanbauer Center at Oshkosh Airport this past week. Eric Mandel, Enrollment Facilitator and Services, and Mary Retlich, Administrative Assistant Aviation and Construction, showed SIA the facilities for students including areas for Pilot Training, Aircraft Electronics, Airplane and Powerplant Mechanics, and Aviation Management. Fox Valley has a […]

Anastasia Eisen Named Vice President for The SIA Foundation

Anastasia Eisen, Vice President, The SIA Foundation

Anna has accepted the Vice President position at The SIA Foundation. Anna has been working with SIA since it’s inception back in 2016 and has been a major player in the formation and development of the foundation. We are so happy to have her working with us!!

New Batch of SIA Sims are Ready for Delivery

SIA Sims lined up ready to ship

6 new flight simulators are ready for delivery! We are working on the other 5 simulators which should be ready to ship in June. Please contact us if you are waiting for your simulator so we can make arrangements for pickup or delivery (we’d love to fly the sim to you!). These are the new […]

SIA Student Profile: Jace Larson

Jace is taking the 2024 SIA ground school at the Reedsburg airport. We recently talking with Jace about his aviation journey. Here is what he had to say. Why are you interested in aviation? My love for aviation started when I was a younger kid. I remember standing in the yard, staring up at the […]

SIA Student Profile: Kadence Funmaker

We recently talked with Kadence about her future in aviation. She is the recipient of the SIA/Ray Aviation $11,000 Scholarship and has already started her flight training. She started out in the SIA ground school that SIA holds at the Reedsburg airport. See her interview below. Why are you interested in aviation? From a very […]

SIA Students Use Latest Simulators for Training

The current SIA Class used the Sim Room at the Baraboo-Dells Airport this past week. Students learn the basics of flying using the simulators. SIA maintains 5 simulators at the Baraboo SIA office located at the airport.

Guest Speaker Profile: Alyssa McGraw, Project Engineer at Sierra Space

This Saturday, March 23rd, Alyssa McGraw, a project engineer at Sierra Space will be speaking with SIA students. Sierra Space is developing the Dream Chaser spaceplane, as well as the “Orbital Reef” space station, along with many other exciting technologies that will carry and sustain human kind in space.

Airframe and Powerplant with Inspection Authorization. What is that?

From big jets and military fighter jets to small general aviation aircraft, the one thing they all have in common is these aircraft have to be maintained. Aircraft airframes need to be inspected for wear and tear, engines need to be inspected for safe operation. An aircraft mechanic with an Inspection Authorization can “authorize” a […]

Waunakee Aviation Club Visits SIA

Waunakee’s Aviation Club visited the SIA Sim Room located at the Baraboo-Dells Airport. All 10 students had a chance to fly one of the 3 simulators and see the maintenance shop run by TC’s Aircare. Waunakee School District will be receiving a free flight simulator from SIA in the coming weeks. Rob France, a teacher […]

SIA Releases Cessna 172 Livery for X-Plane

We love flight simulators! All new flight simulator donations to school districts come with our default Cessna 172 paint scheme. Contact us if you would like a copy for your X-Plane flight sim.

SIA Hazel Green, WI Takes Off!

Hazel Green SIA Simulator and students

The Students In Aviation club, under the direction of Southwestern Wisconsin School District, is up and running! Several students are now learning about aviation. Lead instructor and United Airlines Captain Britt Solverson works with the students along side aviation students from the University of Dubuque to teach young students how to fly aircraft using the […]

FAA Moves to Accelerate Air Traffic Controller Hiring by Enhancing College Training Program

FAA Moves to Accelerate Air Traffic Controller Hiring by Enhancing College Training Program FAAST Blast — Accelerating ATC HiringNotice Number: NOTC3449 FAAST Blast — Week of February 19 – 25, 2024Biweekly FAA Safety Briefing News Update The FAA is working to accelerate its training and hiring of air traffic controllers through an Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate […]

AOPA Foundation High School Student Scholarships for Aviation Students

Time is running out to apply for a wide array of aviation scholarship opportunities from the AOPA Foundation. Whether you’re a high school student, educator, or seasoned pilot, our scholarships are tailor-made to accelerate your journey in aviation. Don’t miss this chance to fuel your aviation journey and turn your aspirations into reality. High School […]