Intro til flyging på videregående - Texas

For The First Time, Aviation Classes Take Off For Elementary Kids In North Texas


Sammie Perez went through the aviation program at Dallas' Skyline High 

North Texas aviation classes reach new heights today as elementary students study flight science for the first time in North Texas. KERA's Bill Zeeble reports on the soaring trend of classroom aviation that can develop technology and math skills, and help launch careers.

Some area high schools offer aviation courses that cover aeronautical engineering and aviation administration to piloting skills. But now, 14 DISD schools will offer such classes to 4th and 5th graders. Jim Thompson hopes they inspire students the way he was inspired decades ago.

"It changed the way I thought about things and the way that I learned things. It taught me about judgment, risk," says Thompson.

The successful investor has flown his own plane for 31 years. With his wife, he formed the Blue Sky Foundation, which is helping to fund this elementary program.