Building a bridge to the aerospace industry

SANDPOINT — The North Idaho High School Aerospace Program has several new faces bringing a wealth of knowledge to the board of directors.

"Each of the new board members brings a special skill that we need," said program co-founder Ken Larson.

Larson describes the program as a "bridge between school and industry," teaching students every aspect of aviation, from ground school to flying, even building airplanes.

For the new board, Larson will continue to serve along with new members Ryan Turner, Jennifer Brandenberger, Al Leavitt, and Ray King.

Turner is a pilot with advanced ground instructor certification through the Federal Aviation Administration, so his strength is in education and has been doing a "great" job in tutoring students, Larson said. Brandenberger is a pilot working on her instrument rating. She is a retired accountant, so she brings a strength of handling finances to board.

Leavitt is a pilot, airplane owner and retired businessman, so he brings a strength of business planning and business operations. King is the city administrator for Newport, Wash., and brings a range of skills, including organization, management, grant writing and more, as well as being a pilot.

"When I was selecting people for the board, I wanted to get people who could bring a particular history that could benefit us," Larson said.

While the board will manage the program and make decisions, an advisory panel has been established as well to provide advice and information to the board members.

Serving on the panel is Jack Jones, a retired vice president of Boeing and owner of JLJ Consulting, bringing knowledge of business and industry to the panel. Dr. Sundaram Nataraja, director of aviation at Central Washington University, is serving on the panel as well. Larson said some of the local graduates are now in his program. Some of the things he brings to the panel include knowledge of postsecondary education and scholarships. Jamie Slippy is an aeronautical engineer at Quest Aircraft, bringing knowledge of local industry. Hal Gates is an aeronautical engineer at Tamarack Aerospace Group, also representing local industry.

Program co-founder Barney Ballard is resigning from the board of directors, but will continue to serve on the advisory panel. As an advisor, Ballard will focus on community relations and local fundraising.

While the program is expanding with volunteer support from the community, raising funds to keep the program alive is no easy feat.

"We are not sure we can continue doing this without sustainable, long-term funding," Larson said, adding that the board may begin a campaign to help find funding for some of the fixed costs.

The fixed costs include hangar rent for ACES Aviation Workshop, liability insurance, utilities and other expenses at approximately $1,500 per month, Larson said.

The program is in part supported by organizations like Rotary and the Community Assistance League through grants. While grants are "really hard to come by," Larson said the support is greatly appreciated and plans to expand on grant writing. Other support comes from individual donations, including Patti Rechnitzer, who makes regular donations to the program in the name of her late husband, Paul Rechnitzer.

A local businessman has donated large scholarships making it possible for three flight students to pursue private pilot licenses and aviation careers. Winter Ridge Natural Foods donates toward the hangar rent. While every donation helps tremendously, the funds coming in will not be enough to support the program long-term.

Because the program is a bridge for high school students into the aerospace industry — proven by the many success stories Larson can recite of students moving on and the feedback he has received — he said he would like to get pledges from the aerospace industry to cover some of the basic minimum expenses, but any help from the community is appreciated.

Although funds are limited, interest in the program continues to grow with nearly 50 students signed up. The academic classes are currently going through a reorganization. The classes are offered at Sandpoint High School, which includes career pathways in aerospace and FAA ground school. The two classes are being combined in the second semester, Larson said.

Several students have received, or are working on, their pilot licenses. Through the program, students can earn a sport pilot license or a private pilot license.

One thing Larson said he would like to add to the program is "unmanned aerial systems," better known as drones. The objective would be for the students to design, build, program and fly fixed-wing drones. Students 13 and up would have the opportunity to get a remote pilot license as well.

The ACES Aviation Workshop continues as a successful part of NIHSA with the students rebuilding a 1945 Taylorcraft, which was stripped down to a skeleton. Old planes like the Taylorcraft are fabric covered, so Larson said covering it is a "system." The one the group is using is called a "Stewart System," where everything is eco friendly, water-based with no toxic chemicals, Larson said.

"And because of our program, they are giving us a 50 percent discount," Larson said, adding how valuable such discounts are to the program. "It will allow us to do a lot more than we ever thought we could do.

Another small plane was donated to the program as well, which was sold to fund the Taylorcraft project. And the Taylorcraft did not come with an engine, so a farmer in Nebraska donated one.

Monetary donations are accepted through the program's website at highschoolaerospace.org/donate or PayPal highschoolaerospace@gmail.com. In-kind donations of tools, equipment, airplanes and labor/mentoring are welcome as well.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.