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 them a 10 knot head wind, but I don’t want to teach any bad habits. I want to give them more foundation and combine that with flight time. We have an upcoming trip to our local regional airport. Hoping I can get students into the tower and into Pilatus. On the drone side, we had the local police department drone pilots in. One thing led to another and one of them wants to get his PPL, so you know what I did. Put that police officer in the sim as a student pilot with one of my students instructing….loving this!!!!! We have challenged the police department drone pilots to a match in January.”
Mandalay Middle School Launch
Our students and community are so thankful for the support of Students in Aviation!
We are a middle school in Westminster, Colorado and one of over 150 schools within Jefferson County Public Schools. We are continuing to build an Aviation Pathway in our district for students that are in middle and high school, and Students in Aviation has supported our student engagement while developing an understanding of aviation.
We currently have students with a variety of interests, some are flying with Civil Air Patrol, some are interested in becoming commercial pilots. The simulator is currently in an office, adjoining the Aviation classroom. The office windows enable students to view flight instruction without interrupting. When students use the SIA sim, they have specific roles. Initially, we are working with students in the role of Student Pilot or Instructor. Soon, we will be offering a flight experience to the entire school population with our student instructors. In addition, we are fortunate that we have parents ready to volunteer to support our students, all during the instructional school day.
Last week, we launched this newest addition to the Aviation pathway at our school’s Open House. The simulator was the talk of the evening!
Joe, thank you for your support of our future aviators!
In appreciation,
The teachers, staff, students and community of Mandalay Middle School, Westminster, Colorado
Thanks to teachers like Pamela, students across the nation are seeing aviation as a viable career path.
Thank you Pamela for your efforts!!!
