Champion James Flight Academy highlights internships, FAA ground school and student outcomes to trust

Cliff Curtis, president of the General Daniel ‘‘Chappie’’ James Flight Academy, presented Oct. 14 to the Escambia Children—s Trust and described programs that use hands-on aviation education to reach students from fourth through 12th grade.

Curtis said the academy runs weekend classes, a ground-school program that prepares students for FAA private pilot testing, and a week-long summer camp. ‘‘At the end of the week, that went up to 85 percent,’’ Curtis said, describing pre- and post-tests for summer-camp students. He said five students scored 100% on post-tests.

Curtis described a glider unit in which students build balsa-wood gliders and use 3D printers, and said 26 students attended the week-long summer camp. He also highlighted a paid internship at Pensacola International Airport secured for a student and an Air Force aviation scholarship awarded to another student who then soloed in fewer than three weeks.

Curtis said instructors and staff are volunteers and that the academy raised about $4,000 at a Blue Wahoos fundraising event. He also said the group is working with Pensacola State College and other partners to develop aviation maintenance pathways and that the program partners with Dixon School of Arts and Science to reach neighborhoods with higher need.

Board members asked about participants— home ZIP codes and outreach; Curtis said organizers target schools and community centers and that staff can provide ZIP-code information from their data system when the board requests it. The board encouraged collaboration between the trust—s provider network (including community centers) and the academy to improve recruitment of students from underrepresented neighborhoods.

Ending: Board members praised the volunteers and asked staff to follow up on ZIP-code outreach data so the trust can consider targeted partnerships to expand access.