FlyTech pilot school experience benefitting students and instructors
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- A local pilot academy based at Rosecrans Memorial Airport recently graduated its second pilot as it closes in on a year of operating.
New private pilot Sam Jackson remembers growing up nearby and watching C-130 military transport aircraft take to the skies, fueling his desire to fly planes.
“(Having an) eye in the sky is how I really got interested and it’s something I always wanted to do,” Jackson said.
The flight school gave Jackson a structured plan and a nearby outlet to safely train and work toward his pilot license.
“It's convenient,” Jackson said. “These guys are all class guys. I've got nothing but a great experience—a world-class experience with the FlyTech.”
Certified Flight Instructor Conner Musser started his position at FlyTech in July. He commuted to Kansas City for training when he worked to gain his pilot license, but now he’s helping other nearby aviation enthusiasts acquire theirs without having to make a lengthy commute.
“This is actually a lot closer to home for me,” he said. “I grew up about 25 minutes south of here in Gower. So, just having the opportunity to bring that up here to St. Joe and just to see all the growth and the actual need for aviation up here in St. Joe has been really cool.”
Jackson said he would love to own a plane eventually, but he plans to continue his lessons with FlyTech after earning his license.
“I think I'll try to go with some instrument training and stay here and see this through,” he said.
Musser enjoys watching students like Jackson grow in the program and gain their certifications.
“One of the really cool things is I get to see those people make the connections about their training and that whole journey,” Musser said.
FlyTech co-founder Lute Atieh hosted a hangar hangout this week to allow students, instructors, and prospective pilots to meet each other.
“It was current students wanting to meet each other because how our schedule works is you sort of get on and schedule your instructor in the plane around your schedule, so you could never meet half the students just doing it that way,” Atieh said.
Atieh plans to host these meets quarterly and invites anyone in the community to attend even if they are not interested in joining the FlyTech program.
Information on upcoming events like these will be posted on Flystj.com and the FlyTech Facebook page. About 22 people are flying in the program at least once a month.
“I am surprised at how many people wanted to get their license and just didn't have an avenue,” he said. “And so we tripled what we thought we would fly last year. And we're already on pace this year to have a maxed-out schedule.”
