Her First Experience In An Airplane Was As A Pilot

Seventeen-year-old high-school senior Angela Xiong recently earned her Private Pilot Certificate. While we celebrate her accomplishment, there's a reason it deserves special attention.

Xiong was a student pilot before she was ever a passenger on an airplane, according to a report from MSN. She had been flying for the Civil Air Patrol in Fresno before the boarded an airliner to fly to Kansas State University to take advantage of a Flight Academy scholarship she had won.

Xiong spent the summer working on her private certificate, including 55-60 flight hours, and was awarded the license at the end of the program.

The newly-minted pilot says she would like to use her training to fly in support of rescue operations or emergency situations. She is also encouraging others to might be thinking about aviation, but not sure, to apply for the program. She was one of 120 cadets to apply for the Flight Academy scholarship program, which was established this year to address an anticipated nationwide shortage of both civilian and military pilots.

Air Force Major Malinda Singleton told MSN that 90 percent of Cadets want to become pilots, but many are put off by the cost. "With this scholarship, a lot of that training is paid for," Major Singleton said.

(Image from file)

FMI: Source report