Panola College's new
flight class takes off
skoonce@longview-news.com
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Panola College administrators are high on a new course even though students enrolled in the class are not yet off the ground.
For the first time, a private pilot ground school for students learning the basics of aviation is offered through the college's continuing education department.
Eight students are enrolled in the in-depth course that is deliberately designed for a small number of pupils.
"Normally, most ground schools like to see eight to 12 people enrolled," said Billy Gee, the class instructor.
Students enrolled in the Panola course range in age from 21 to 55.
"Most want to be private pilots, though some want to go on and be commercial pilots," Gee said.
The No. 1 reason for taking the course is the sheer enjoyment of flying.
"On a real pretty day it is just absolutely beautiful to get out and fly, especially in East Texas," Gee said.
A retired pilot with 42 years commercial aviation experience, Gee is a native of Kilgore who retired to Caddo Lake near Marshall after flying for Air Transport International.
The 10-week ground school course started in September and is set to wrap up in November, said Lillian Cook, vice president of instruction at Panola College.
Cook said the college had talked about offering a ground school for a number of years, but did not have anyone certified to teach the course — not until one of the college's instructors volunteered the services of her father.
"My daughter, Shelly Caraway, teaches English at Panola. When she heard they were thinking about offering a ground school she twisted my arm and got me to agree to teach the class," Gee said.
Students learn all the basics of aviation: flight controls, weight balance and performance of the plane, navigation, dead reckoning, meteorology and Federal Aviation Administration.
"Federal regulations govern anything that the pilot does. It is rather long and boring to study, but is a necessary evil," Gee said.
The class covers about everything a private pilot needs to know, with the exception of physically flying the plane.
To get behind the controls and actually fly, students must take additional flight school training.
After the ground school is completed, students are required to take a written exam from the Federal Aviation Agency. Locally, the test is administered in Nacogdoches or Shreveport, Gee said.
Students can start their flight training while taking their ground school.
"We actually recommend you do it simultaneously," Gee said.
Cook said the college plans to offer another ground school course during the spring semester.
"So far, we are just very happy with the course," Cook said.
Gee recently opened Bayou Aviation in Marshall. The new flight school is at the Harrison County Airport.
For information call Gee at (903) 935-6600 or (903) 240-0181 or call Panola College at (903) 693-2028.
Original article link: http://www.news-journal.com/featr/content/features/stories/10152006flight_school.html