SKY’S THE LIMIT: BHS drone classes teaching students about careers in aviation

Published 7:20 am Sunday, December 15, 2024

Roberto Hornung-Filho is challenging and inspiring students in his classroom every day to dream big and consider a job in the aviation industry.

Hornung-Filho is the drone instructor at Baldwin High School in Milledgeville.

Since becoming employed with the Baldwin County School District, Hornung-Filho has increased student interest in flying drones and thinking about aviation jobs — from becoming private pilots to commercial pilots and even working as air traffic controllers at major airports around the country. 

Soon after Hornung-Filho, a speciality-trained commercial drone pilot and licensed private pilot originally from Brazil, became instructor of the drone program at the high school, he got actively involved with the Baldwin County Airport Advisory Committee.

A new Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter was also forming at the airport. Once the local EAA Chapter 1685 was up and running, Chapter President Kalina Milani invited Hornung-Filho to be the new coordinator of the EAA’s Young Eagles Program.

Since then, several students from area high schools have become involved in the program.

Founded in 1992, the Young Eagles program is dedicated to providing youth ages 9 to 17 an opportunity to go flying in a general aviation airplane. The flights are free to the Young Eagle members, paid for through donations made by EAA member volunteers.

Since he began teaching drone classes at the high school, Hornung-Filho has reached nearly 150 students. He currently has 68 students involved in the program.

“Every six months, we have more and more teenagers discovering something about aviation,” Hornung-Filho told EAA members and guests at a recent meeting. “Eighty percent of the teenagers that join the class, they are not interested in aviation, which is part of the strategy I think that the high school is using.”

He bases that on the fact that so many teens do not know what they want to do with their lives after graduation.

Learning about jobs in aviation helps open doors for opportunities in the field, he said.

Earlier this year, the school received two new Redbird TBH2  simulators.

Hornung-Filho said he would like adult airplane pilots to come and visit the classroom and talk with his drone students.

After meeting certain requirements, including a background check, the adults can talk with students about important topics in the field.

They help teach instrument approach, which is useful for both private pilots as well as commercial pilots. Flight students also can learn flight maneuvers using the simulator.

At a recent meeting of the Young Eagles, Hornung-Filho brought one of his students, 16-year-old Dale E. Rice, a sophomore, who already is a certified Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) drone pilot.

Rice talked about the EAA’s Aeroeducate program.

“The EAA’s Aeroeducate program was created to engage, inspire and empower youth to achieve their dreams through exciting opportunities in aviation and aerospace and encourage the industry leaders of tomorrow,” Rice said. 

His brother and parents attended the meeting, and so did other local aviation enthusiasts and pilots.

Rice said the EAA’s Aeroeducate program breaks down the barriers to participation in aviation so it can be enjoyed by everyone.

He explained that United Aviate is the official airline partner of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) youth education programs via Aviate.

“Together, they are opening doors for young aviators worldwide to foster their passion and reach their aspirations,” Rice said. “There are vast opportunities awaiting young people seeking a career where the sky’s the limit.”

For more information email Hornung-Filho at  robertohornungfilho@gmail.com