The dream of becoming a professional pilot is not beyond the reach of Kentucky's youth. A new program in Adair County is helping students get a head start on just such a career. Adair County High School's Air and Space Academy is a unique program that can spark interest and give a head start in this very in-demand profession. The academy teaches students principles of flight, engineering, aeronautics, and allows for hands-on learning opportunities like building planes and flying on a computer flight simulator. 

After only two years of the program, more than one student has earned their private pilot's license, and one student is currently pursuing a degree in Professional Flight at Eastern Kentucky University.  EKU offers the only professional aviation degree program in Kentucky and is among a small number of universities authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration to certify graduates as eligible for Airline Transport Pilot certificate. The demand for commercial pilots and aviation support staff is predicted to be very high in the coming years.

To learn more about the Adair County program, read this story from the Adair County High School website.