Santa Fe High School introduces a new elective for the 2024-2025 school year, aviation. The statewide program, started by the Department of Aero Science and Aeronautics, supports students interested in pursuing careers in piloting planes or operating drones.
Zack Boatman teaches a curriculum presented by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), this course will provide students with the foundational knowledge to successfully pilot and fly drones.
“Everyone’s working toward their FAA 107 certification and it’s to be certified to fly drones,” Boatman said.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) not only allows students to become certified drone pilots but students can also eventually get paid to fly them.
Aviation has First Person-View racing drones that can reach up to 100 hundred MPH. Boatman wants to increase the number of drones they have from two to 15 to 20 drones. Learning to fly these drones is essential to the program.
“Racing drones, you compete with those, and then that’s how you also get part of your certification,” Boatman said.
Colleges may offer financial assistance to those who enroll in aviation courses. Francis Tuttle also offers 18-week courses. If students choose to continue down this career path, a higher-paying job will be available right out of high school.
“You can go to work for Tinker right out of high school,” Boatman said. “You get paid right out of high school, 20 to 25 bucks [an hour].”
Santa Fe’s aviation course offers students the opportunity to pilot planes and drones. Students who are interested in taking this course can sign up during their annual enrollment period.
