AirFEST Supports Aviation Academy

When visitors to the AirFEST Air Show in Janesville, Wisconsin plunk down their money for a ticket, they're helping fund a program that helps high school students earn a pilots' license.

The Wisconsin Aviation Academy is funded primarily through proceeds from the AirFEST show, according to a report on WISC-TV's "Channel 3000". the program, perhaps the only one of its kind in the country, combines academics and flying, and until recently was free for students said Tom Morgan, Southern Wisconsin AirFEST founder and director.

Morgan started the academy in 2001. In a biography provided to the Janesville Kiwanis Club for a speaking engagement, The idea came from a program in 1995 where low income youth were given the opportunity to not only fly an airplane but be paid to participate. Because they were paid they needed to follow strict guidelines to remain in the program. The Academy now offers Private, Instrument, and CFII ratings to students.

The Academy, headquartered at the Southern Wisconsin Regional Airpark in Janesville, is in danger of losing its funding, according to the TV report. Officials said they hoped that the proceeds from this year's AirFEST would be enough to continue to offer the program at no cost.

FMI: www.wisconsinaviationacademy.org