The community of aviation has since been a long time expanding and ever-changing community since and before the Wright flyer had been developed by the Wright Brothers. If it wasn’t for the curiosity, dedication, and determination to fly one day, a key asset to transportation and trade may have been changed forever from what we see today. There may never have been space exploration until who knows how long until it may have been done.

Most recently, here at CKHS, a new simulator has been put in the library! For students who have an interest and would like to log personal flight simulator hours, they can go up to the library and try it out. Included in the simulator are real buttons that would be on an aircraft including; the yoke, rudder pedals, indicators, throttle, and so on.

Jesse Hayes IV, is the president of the Red-Tailed Hawks (RTH), a local chapter within the Puget Sound with the Black Pilots of America. When asked how would he define RTH, he said that “The mission of introducing underrepresented youth to the world of aviation. We engage, expose, educate and empower our student members” he added. RTH gives students many opportunities and gives students the opportunity to dive into the world of aviation. The Red-Tailed Hawks achieve this mission by operating three yearly programs to get students involved. They hold an Aviation Day Camp, A year-round Youth program to immerse student members into the aerospace industry, and lastly Red-Tailed Hawks FlY. RTH FLY is a two-week opportune for  FAA-certified flight training and ground school included.

Below is a link for those who may like to be involved and want to connect with the Red-Tailed Hawks and The Black Pilots of America.  http://www.bpapilots.org/join-bpa/ https://www.aopa.org/CAPComm/flyingclubs/flyingclubfinder/flying-club-detail.cfm?id=32766

Jesse is a Private Pilot who has also served in the US Air Force for 13 years flying the C-130 Hercules primarily with over 3500 flight hours recorded with 150 of them were in combat. He also holds a BS in Aeronautical Engineering and over 40 years of experience in the aerospace industry.

The Cougar Chronicle asked the following Questions;

1. The ways to find your way to wanting to be involved in aviation are limitless, what made you decide that you wanted to be a pilot?
2. As a person, what do you think makes you different as a person that people who haven’t flown or are a pilot?

3. Does being a pilot require skill?

Jesse said that his decision to become a pilot was in “stages”. Much of his childhood was connected to the Bronze Eagles Flying Club. Where his father was one of the founding members. He added that it seemed to be expected from him. He took flight lessons as a teenager and soloed a Piper 140 and a Cessna 172. Soloing an aircraft as a student of aviation is a huge milestone for the student in the aviation community.

He also stated, “However, once I set my eyes on the Air Force I decided to let the government pay for my training and did not fly privately for 31 years. I stayed connected to general aviation through Black Pilots of America, Inc.” Jesse to this day is still involved with the Black Pilots of America as he leads the chapter Red-Tailed Hawks.

“I flew along with my father and others but had no desire to pay to fly when the USAF was paying me to fly all over the world in C-130s.  At that stage of my life, flying was work, not a hobby. It was not until I was out of the USAF for 13 years and I grew tired of talking about what I used to do that I decided to fly privately”.

Jesse emphasized that his primary motivation was, “to introduce young students in Waco, Texas to the world of aviation”. He told us that Waco has three airports and 30 aerospace companies located there. “At that time, I was counting on the number of black pilots and engineers that were employed in the industry”. He added that he challenged the members of the Greater Waco Aviation Alliance to find qualified black candidates. The answer that they came up with was sadly a no. Jesse said that his goal then was to eliminate that excuse.

For the Cougar Chronicle’s second question, Jesse said: “ I firmly believe having the knowledge of a pilot makes you better prepared for any career or phase of your life”. “Being a pilot requires having broad knowledge that spans across numerous career fields”. “It also teaches you the importance of planning and preparation with the skill and value of using checklists”. In the aviation community, safety during, before, and after is vital so that it may be ensured. This must be ensured not only for the purpose of being safe, it is so that aviation can keep the name it has built for itself over the decades from wood to aluminum.

Does being a pilot require skill?

Jesse effortlessly responded with a yes. He added that “Being a pilot takes a set of skills that takes practice to master, unlike any sport or profession.” The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has specific regulations set to ensure that pilots have these skills and are regularly able to ensure any flight that they may do. The FAA does these examinations every two years and requires you to have recent flight experience before you can carry passengers.

Becoming a pilot is a very long runway, and you have as much time to get there depending on how long your runway may be. Your runway is your life, you may choose to do whatever you want with it. There may be obstacles such as rain, ice, or snow. None of those can bring you down to get into the air unless you let it. The sky is not the limit, and you can go as far and wide as long as you keep at it and succeed.

“Pilots.” Federal Aviation Administration. FAA, 09 Feb. 2018. Web. 15 May 2018.