Joani

Marietta’s STEM, Robotics, and Aeronautics Instructor, Erin Hansen, has recently returned from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s “You Can Fly” annual training.

More than 144 Oklahoma schools are slated to implement the AOPA curriculum across the state this fall, but Marietta High School is one of only a small handful of state schools who will add a fourth class to the three it already offers.

Oklahoma’s aerospace education program was instituted just four years ago, and has quickly spread throughout the state’s schools, who are working to build an aerospace workforce pipeline for the state’s prevalent aerospace industry.

The state’s aerospace and defense industries employ almost 120,000 professionals, including engineers, technicians, mechanics, pilots, and air traffic controllers, earning an average salary of $73,300. The state’s education programs play a crucial role in preparing the next generation of aerospace professionals. Positions in the field require various levels of education, from certifications to college degrees, making the field accessible to a diverse workforce.

Hansen’s three-day summit for AOPA curriculum training was held at Rose State College in Midwest City, with a special session at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, which provided teachers with essential information about the Federal Aviation Administration’s Air Traffic Control Academy.

MHS began three years ago by offering an aeronautics class that studies the history of aviation. The second year, the program added the study of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, and fuel systems.

The third year an 11th grade class was included in the program, focusing on the effects of weather and navigation on aeronautics, with an emphasis on studying for drone certification or ground school pilot certification.

This fall, a fourth year of aeronautics will be offered. The 12th grade class curriculum will concentrate on aviation careers and will include a capstone project centering on an area of interest to the student, as well as additional aeronautical certification and pursuing an aviation internship at a local airport.

“By attending this training,” commented Hansen, “I’ve gained tools, knowledge, and connections to elevate our aeronautics program, directly supporting my students’ pathways to rewarding careers in Oklahoma’s thriving aerospace sector.”