For Navya Pottumutu, the rush of flying is a feeling like no other.
Her first experience flying a glider plane came when she was just 12 years old as part of a cadet program in Nanaimo. While Pottumutu admits she was scared out of her mind thinking of an aircraft without an engine, once she was up in the air, that feeling of nervousness vanished.
It was just her and the pilot, who let her take control of the aircraft for about four minutes.
B次元官网网址淚 was thinking B次元官网网址業 got to fly a plane by myself.B次元官网网址� It was a really cool experience,B次元官网网址� Pottumutu said. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e in a totally different world. YouB次元官网网址檙e not attached to anything and youB次元官网网址檙e free.B次元官网网址�
ItB次元官网网址檚 a feeling the Grade 10 Belmont Secondary student will be able to continue this summer after being accepted to the glider pilot scholarship. As part of the course, Pottumutu will travel to Comox in July, where sheB次元官网网址檒l learn how to fly a glider plane. If all goes according to plan, sheB次元官网网址檒l have her licence by the end of the summer and will be one step closer to becoming a commercial pilot or astronaut.
Pottumutu isnB次元官网网址檛 the only one with dreams of flying. Four other cadets from the West Shore have also been accepted to various aviation and army courses taking place this summer.
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Grade 10 Belmont student Jacob Thompson hopes to follow in PottumutuB次元官网网址檚 footsteps, as one of seven cadets from B.C. selected to take part in the advanced aviation technology course in Ontario. There heB次元官网网址檒l learn about airport operations and get a behind-the-scenes look at flying, including air traffic control, weather, marshalling and navigating. In the end, heB次元官网网址檒l learn how to taxi a plane.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know if I can wait the three months until I get to go,B次元官网网址� said Thompson, who wants to become a military pilot. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really excited, I canB次元官网网址檛 wait.B次元官网网址�
Fourteen-year-old Gabriel Golchin will start the basic aviation technology and aerospace course in the summer, where heB次元官网网址檒l learn the theoretical and hands-on side of flying, including how the Victoria aviation industry works.
After taking his first plane ride at the age of three, he quickly fell in love with flying. The sea-turned-air cadet hopes to get his glider pilot licence with the hopes of one day becoming a pilot with Air Canada and flying a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a fun thing to do,B次元官网网址� Golchin said. B次元官网网址淚 love that feeling. ItB次元官网网址檚 like youB次元官网网址檙e floating in space.B次元官网网址�
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Grade 12 Royal Bay student Samuel Staples has also been accepted to the glider pilot scholarship course.
Local cadets will represent Vancouver Island overseas as well.
Army cadet Jeffery Corney is also one of seven from B.C. who will travel to Ottawa, Wales and France to take part in the Maple Leaf Exchange. As part of that program, the Grade 11 student will take part in exercises with British cadets, visit museums and Vimy Ridge over a six-week period. The Grade 11 student hopes his experience will encourage others to join cadets.
Mandart Chan, a teacher at Belmont and commanding officer of 848 Royal Roads Squadron, said there are a number of benefits to the cadetsB次元官网网址� aviation programs.
B次元官网网址淚t gives them real life experience at a young age of what their careers could look like and it gives them the leg up in networking,B次元官网网址� said Chan, adding a number of his friends who were once in the cadets program have since gone on to become commercial pilots or pilots in the Armed Forces. B次元官网网址淚t really gives them a great introduction to being a pilot and the best part is B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 free.B次元官网网址�
The army, air and sea cadet programs are open to all youth between the ages of 12 and 18. For more information visit
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