The first program of its kind just took off, literally, for Miramar High School students in grades 10-12. These students get to experience the first career dual enrollment program at the Emil Buehler Aviation Institute on the Judson A. Samuels South Campus in Pembroke Pines through Broward College. Thirty-nine teens are currently participating with an astonishing thirty percent of the group being female.
The first of its kind in Broward County, the high schoolers enrolled in the Broward College Postsecondary Adult Vocational (PSAV) Aviation Maintenance program will complete one Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certificate, either Airframe or Powerplant, by the time they graduate Miramar High School. The participating students can then continue their education at Broward College to complete their Associate of Science (AS) degree in Aviation Maintenance Management and have the future opportunity to obtain their Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Science by 2024.
“Broward College is committed to offering programs like this that will benefit students’ education and the future of our community,” said Broward College President Gregory Haile. “Thanks to our strong relationship with Broward County Public Schools, these students will have the opportunity to become initial leaders in the aviation industry which is one of the fastest growing industries in the region.”
The students recently gained real-world experience working on a Cessna 402 Businessliner, twin-engine piston aircraft donated by Wayman Aviation. This brings the total number of aircraft at Broward College’s Emil Buehler Aviation Institute to eight, more than the national average for aviation schools.
The Cessna 402, valued at nearly $150,000, is considered a workhorse of the Caribbean. It’s one of the most popular piston charter aircraft in the industry, which means students will be able to easily apply their knowledge to jobs in the Bahamas and the Caribbean. The Cessna is located in the hangar adjacent to the high school classroom and will be instrumental in students completing the general requirements of their FAA Airframe and Powerplant certifications.
This program is a great opportunity for me. A lot of students speak about being a pilot and flying. I want to know what gets the plane in the air,” said senior Miramar High School student Kiara Shannon. “My family is so proud of me. I come from a family of mechanics, but none of them are aviation mechanics. I find it very exciting. It’s not only a man’s job!”