Take-Off & Grow is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing high school students with an opportunity to learn how to fly, or to acquire other aviation career-related skills.
Many have observed that the cost of aviation training - especially pilot training - is high; therefore fewer and fewer people are seeking aviation careers. TOAG's goal is to lower the financial barriers and provide a bridge from HS to post-HS aviation training that leads to an aviation career.
In exchange for community service, high school students earn credit that they can apply to flight training, training as an aircraft mechanic, air traffic controller or other aviation specialties.
In addition to training, TOAG exposes students to the aviation industry by sponsoring events and trips to air shows, airports, air traffic facilities, manufacturing facilities, and so on. Participating students form close bonds of shared interests.
TOAG provides additional incentives in the form of training software, hats, shirts or even free trips, rewarding those students who meet the high standards of the program and achieve objective milestones.
Take-Off and Grow does not provide training itself; it funds the training at TOAG-approved training facilities that partner with TOAG.
Back to Top
Pilot Training
The great thing about becoming a pilot, whether or not it leads to an aviation career, is that it is a highly-structured training experience, calling on the student pilot to acquire many skills and knowledge in a variety of disciplines. For example, the student learns about aerodynamics, aircraft engines and systems, avionics, weather, air traffic control, communications, navigation, and so on. Acquiring piloting skills generates confidence; an essential ingredient in any learning environment.
Pilot training is conducted by professional FAA-certified flight instructors (CFIs). After a student demonstrates that he or she has acquired the requisite knowledge and proficiency, he/she can fly solo, gradually earning the privilege to fly farther, under more varied conditions.
Once a student passes a FAA knowledge exam and has demonstrated proficiency in the cockpit, he or she can earn a private pilots license. The serious pilot can continue his or her training to acquire an instrument rating, a commercial license, a multi-engine rating, a helicopter rating, a glider rating, and so on. Each step has rigorously defined requirements and standards. None are easy, but it is precisely because there are well-defined goals and structure that the experience is so satisfying and educational. Not only will students be exposed to flying; they will also be exposed to other career opportunities such as airplane mechanic, flight instructor, air traffic controller, airline pilot, military pilot, and so on.
Back to Top
Aviation Technician Training
Aviation technician opportunities are plentiful and they pay very well. Like pilot training, technical/maintenance training is highly structured, calling on the student to acquire skills and knowledge in a variety of technical disciplines and systems.
Whether your goal is to work on single engine airplanes, for a major airline, or for a corporate jet service, you will learn what you need to become proficient. And, as in pilot training, acquiring skills generates confidence; which spills over into other academic pursuits.
Back to Top
Air Traffic Controller (ATC) Training
Air Traffic Control Specialists work in airport control towers and in air traffic control facilities that control traffic arriving and departing airports and in enroute facilities that control traffic between airports.
There are many great opportunities to become an Air Traffic Controller, especially since so many controllers that were hired during a ATC strike in the early 80s are retiring over the next ten years. As is the case with pilot or mechanic training, training is rigorous and well-defined. ATC jobs are exciting, satisfying and, yes, demanding . and they pay well too.
Back to Top
Identifying Student Applicants
Initially, the program is available only to students at Conval High School, in Peterborough NH.
Working with high school teachers, counselors and administrators, we will identify interested students who have the aptitude, drive and interest, but not necessarily the means, to learn in their chosen field of interest.
Students are required to complete an application and attend interviews with their parents before being accepted into the program.
While the program is opened to all, enrollment is limited, and acceptance is based on a variety of criteria intended to identify those students most likely to fulfill the obligations required of each participants.
Students earn credits by doing community services. That credit is applied to training performed by a certified instructor. For example, in pilot training, two hours of community service earns one hour of ground school. Three hours earns one hour of flight training in a flight simulator. Four hours earns one hour of flight training with an instructor in a single engine airplane. Four hours earns one hour solo time, single engine, and so on.
Back to Top
Application Requirements
To apply, students must be at least 15 ½ years old and be able to read, write, speak and understand the English language. Students with disabilities may qualify with restrictions, subject to the approval of the program director.
Student pilots must be at least 16 years of age and must pass a physical exam. TOAG students under the age of 16 years may participate in ground school, flight simulator training and other ground-based program activities.
To qualify for a Recreational and Private Pilots Certificate (Pilot License), the student pilot must be at least 17 years old and must hold a valid medical certificate and photo ID.
The program will be opened to Students to apply annually, in the fall. Each student must complete the TOAG Application and attend two interviews. Also, at least one parent or guardian must participate in the interviews and both parents/guardians must approve their student's participation in TOAG, in writing.
Back to Top
The Student "Contract"
Students are required to sign an Agreement in which they pledge to fulfill certain obligations to "maintain currency" in the program. Parents are required to complete a liability waiver.
For example, students must improve their grades in high school. They must commit to remaining (or becoming) drug, alcohol and tobacco free. They are required to voluntarily submit to periodic, random drug tests. (Any verifiable deviation would immediate suspend the student for a month. Three times, and they would be expelled from the program.) They must pledge to act responsibly in ground school and in the air. Misbehavior in the air is grounds for instant dismissal from the program. Students are required to complete, on average, a minimum of twelve hours of community service a month.
Parental Approval
Parent(s) or guardian(s) must approve their child's participation in the program and sign a standard damage waiver.
Each student is assigned a volunteer counselor who is responsible for monitoring student's compliance with rules, community service hours and training.
Back to Top
How it Works
TOAG is administered through its website, takeoffandgrow.org. Students apply online; members of the local community enters job requests online, students view lists of jobs online and volunteer; training school administrators view student information online. All records and administrative tasks are managed via our website.
The annual applications process starts in the fall, shortly after the start of the school year. Once their application is complete he or she submits it for review by TOAG staff, who then schedules interviews with the student and his or her parents or guardian. Once accepted, students are ready to begin.
TOAG maintains an on-line database of community service jobs for which students volunteer, via its website. Members of the community (individuals or non-profit group representatives) may register and enter job requests for volunteer workers. The TOAG administrator manages the jobs database.
The student prints the Work Order for which he or she has volunteered, contacts the requester (the person for whom a service is to be provided) and completes the job. Once the job is complete, the requester enters the hours worked on the Work Order form, signs it and mails to TOAG. The student's counselor and the requester certify that the student has performed the service hours satisfactorily. The administrator credits the student's record.
As the students community service hours accumulate, he or she will convert them into training hours in his or her chosen aviation discipline. The number of community service hours required for one training hour depends upon the nature and cost of the training. For example, in-flight training is more expensive than classroom training, therefore in-flight training requires more service hours than flight simulator training.
Each student can view his/her community service history, training history and on-line credits via the website at any time.
The training school administrator views the on-line student record and, after each training session, produces a "memo" invoice that is signed by the student and returned to TOAG. Periodically, the school sends a bill to TOAG for training performed during the billing period. School invoices are crossed-checked against "memo" invoices and then paid by TOAG. The TOAG administrator marks the on-line credit record as complete and paid.
In some instances, for example, classes at the NH Community Technical College, tuition is paid by TOAG in advance, prior to attending the first class.
In addition to aviation training, TOAG sponsors and organizes trips to airports, air traffic control facilities, flight schools, colleges, aviation museums, manufacturing facilities, aircraft repair facilities, trade-shows, fly-ins and so on.
TOAG also organizes informal discussion groups and dinners with students and volunteers in the program.
TOAG provides T-shirts, hats and other items. Many items will be awarded as prizes, as the student achieves a certain level(s) of proficiency.
Back to Top
Equal Opportunity Policy
Take-Off and Grow ("TOAG") prohibits discrimination against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation, except where Federal Aviation Administration medical regulations may supersede. This policy extends to all rights, privileges, programs and activities, including admission to the TOAG program, community service assignments, funded training, informal gatherings, and group outings. TOAG recognizes that non-discrimination does not ensure that equal opportunity is a reality for applicants to TOAG. Because of this, TOAG will take affirmative action to ensure that students are treated equally during their participation in all aspects of TOAG.
TOAG prohibits unlawful discrimination against any individual in relation to admission to or participation in TOAG activities, and the providing of, or access to, TOAG services or facilities. In doing so, TOAG acts in conformity with all applicable state and federal laws.
Any TOAG employee, volunteer or affiliated organizations judged to be in willful and deliberate noncompliance with any section of this Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Policy will be subject to disciplinary action.
Inquiries regarding the application of this policy should be addressed to the President, Take-Off and Grow, 6 MacDowell Rd., Peterborough, NH 03458, 603-533-3682.
Back to Top
Program Start Up
Initially, we are working with students at our local high school in Peterborough, NH.
Participating flight schools must present their curriculum for TOAG's approval. For example, we will probably require that the flight school or instructor adopt well-established system like the Jeppesen flight training curriculum or a similar system.
Once the TOAG program has proven itself, we will roll it out to other communities.
Back to Top
Funding and Future Plans
The program is funded by a non-profit corporation, Take-Off and Grow, Inc. Initial funding is provided by Paul and Joan Schlieben.
Future funding will come from donations, sponsorships and grants from individuals, scholarship funds and the aviation industry. In time, and as additional funds becomes available, our plan is to expand the TOAG program to other schools and states. One could say that we are in the "proof of concept" stage, right now.
Many have observed that the cost of aviation training is high; therefore fewer and fewer people are seeking aviation careers. Our goal is to lower the barriers and provide a bridge from HS to post-HS aviation training that leads to aviation career.
Back to Top
|
