Hands-On Helicopter Instruction Landing at Canyon High School

Orange, CA – November 17, 2016 - Thanks to a partnership between Revolution Aviation and Canyon High School’s Aviation / Ground Pilot School program, students will have front row seats Friday morning when a helicopter lands on-campus.

The landing is a part of Aviation class instruction and will include hands-on helicopter ground training and information about the parts and aerodynamics of the helicopter. At the end of the second class, students will have the opportunity to watch the aircraft lift off the field and head back to John Wayne Airport. 

“We embrace Steve Smith’s desire to inspire, educate and guide students to a career through core and technical education experiences and the Aviation Career Pathway at Canyon High School,” said District Coordinator Kathy Boyd. “We maintain extreme pride in our ability to prepare students for a post-secondary experience that is relevant and lucrative while contributing to growing our regional economy.”

Canyon High School is home to the only high school Aviation program in Orange County. Now in its third year, a handful of the 45 students in the program have begun flight training with the goal of getting their pilot’s licenses before graduation. With shortages of pilots, aircraft mechanics, and air traffic controllers looming, the program prepares students for abundant career possibilities in Aviation. 

Aviation students also receive college credits through articulation agreements with Mt. San Antonio College and Orange Coast College. 

Canyon High School applied for and was granted a Specialized Secondary Program implementation grant for the Aviation / Ground Pilot School program in 2014. The funding allowed for the development of standards-based model curriculum that promotes advanced, in-depth study of the Aviation sector as well as instructional materials for students in this pathway.