Wright State aviation students to celebrate milestone at Dayton Air Show

Twenty-eight Wright State aviation students will celebrate their first FAA certification milestone at the Dayton Air Show this weekend. (Photos by Erin Pence)

Wright State University will honor 28 aviation students who have earned their first FAA pilot certification with a ceremonial wing pinning and presentation of a flight jacket, name patch and earned level of wings. This milestone achievement recognizes completion of the rigorous first year of collegiate flight training and will take place at the Dayton Air Show.

Incoming students will also be invited to attend, offering both inspiration and a chance to connect with peers in the same program, as well as gain a better understanding of the rigors of flight training.

“Aviation is remarkable, wondrous and contagious, but it’s a lot of work,” said Diane Vitas, director of Wright State’s Aviation Science and Technology Program. “Air shows can make it look so easy and effortless, but these students are right in the middle of the grind. Seeing firsthand that hard work pays off is something to celebrate and gives them extra motivation to keep going until the next milestone — becoming a certified flight instructor.”

In just two years, students with little or no prior aviation experience can become paid professional instructors training the next class of Wright State students and on their way to help address the nation’s pilot shortage.

Wright State students in the Aviation Science and Technology Program receive hands-on flight training at First Flight Aviation, an educational training facility at the Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport in Miamisburg.

Students who are being recognized have successfully earned a Federal Aviation Administration pilot certification through the aviation program. To do so, students must complete the ground course for the specific certificate being pursued and then be endorsed by their instructor to take the FAA Knowledge Exam.

After passing the exam, students continue to complete their remaining training requirements — including flight training hours, specific maneuvers and ground instruction — and take the FAA check ride with an FAA-designated pilot examiner. Achieving all of this is just the first step in a four-year program to attain their Bachelor of Science in Aviation Science and Technology.

Wright State students in the Aviation Science and Technology Program receive hands-on flight training at First Flight Aviation, an educational training facility at the Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport in Miamisburg.

The Dayton Air Show, scheduled for June 13–14 at Dayton International Airport in Vandalia, highlights the human and technological advancements in aviation, bringing together industry leaders, aviation enthusiasts and the public. The event also celebrates the region’s enduring aviation legacy, tracing its roots to the pioneering work of the Wright brothers in Dayton, Ohio — the heart of the National Aviation Heritage Area.

“Dayton International hosting their own air show makes it a great place to recognize the next generation of professional pilots, who are investing in their future through Wright State and our aviation program,” Vitas said.