Questar III and Richmor Aviation recently honored eight recent graduates for earning their private pilot’s license through Questar III’s two-year flight training program at Columbia-Greene Educational Center in Hudson.
Aviation students – Tom Manetta, Jillian Reeves, John Eisner, Alex Jameison, Gavin Beals, Josh Ryan, Avery Pellnat and Nik Soderstrom – recently met at Columbia County Airport in Hudson to celebrate the accomplishment with their instructors and classmates.
Gail Howard from Richmor Aviation, Bill Serritella, a teaching assistant at Columbia-Greene Educational Center/Richmor flight instructor, and Travis Costello, Questar III’s new Aviation teacher/Richmor flight instructor and Principal Jake Stomieroski recognized students for their hard work.
Questar III Aviation students Victoria Smith, Jessica Winoski, Corey Hough and Bernie Watt also joined their classmates. They will be starting their second year of training in September.
As the only high school flight training program in the Capital District, Questar III’s Aviation program prepares students for the FAA flight test for a private license. Possible career opportunities include pilot, air traffic controller and FAA administration.
Next month, Questar III will launch a new aviation program at Rensselaer Educational Center in Troy, site of the former Troy airport until 1964.
Led by John Mahony, who taught the flight training program in Hudson since its inception in 2002, the Aviation Maintenance Technology program will prepare students for a career as a licensed FAA 147 Power Plant and Airframe technician.
Students will gain both the hands-on experience and related knowledge need to service, repair and overhaul turbine engines, power plant control systems, instrumentation and other aviation systems. Like the Hudson-based flight training program, the new course will also provide hands-on learning opportunities at local airports.
