3/24/14 - A new aviation program at a local high school is helping dreams take flight for students. Howell Public Schools has partnered with Crosswinds Aviation to launch the Howell High School Aviation Program, which helps students like senior Ryan Lawrence on their path to a career in aviation and actually obtain their private pilot license before they head to college. He took off on his first solo flight Friday in a Diamond DA-20 two-seat aircraft out of the Crosswinds hangar at the Livingston County Spencer J. Hardy Airport. He's pictured after landing safely before a crowd of peers, family, friends, media and school officials. Lawrence says he had already done a couple of take offs and landings before so he was ready and felt good once he got up there but it flew by. Crosswinds Aviation owner Matt Dahline says the students are great to work with and will be able to get a big leg up on their college career because of the program. The program started last fall and at the end of the current school year, 34 students will have gone through it, with five students currently flying and getting their private license through Crosswinds. Since it is a rather expensive endeavor, the district is hoping to establish student scholarships with help from community donors or others with a love of aviation through the Howell Education Foundation to get more students off the ground. (JM)
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