Features
Training
Eagle’s Wings celebrates inaugural graduating class
August 18, 2020 By Wings Staff
The first Eagle’s Wings graduates with instructors Josh Cordery and Ken Baker. (Photo: Eagle’s Wings) Eagle’s Wings Flight School based in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, commemorated the graduation of its inaugural class of student pilots. Six Indigenous youth from across Southern Manitoba were selected for an intensive 16-day summer flight training program, which consisted of three days of aviation ground school, cultural awareness sessions hosted by Dakota Ojibway Child and Family Services, and 12 hours of individual airborne instruction per student.
Eagle’s Wings Flight School (EWFS) explains the students covered key ground school topics like theory of flight, weather, navigation, and radio communications before taking their first flights.
In the flying phase, which took place out of Southport Airport, each student flew 12 hours over the course of 12 days focusing on take-offs, landings, stalls, and emergency handling in an Allegro 2000 Advanced Ultralight aircraft. The accomplishments of the student pilots were well celebrated in Keeshkeemaquah at a small gathering with, their families and flight instructors.
-
A student prepares for a flight in Eagle’s Wings’ Allegro 2000 Advanced Ultralight aircraft. (Photo: Eagle’s Wings)
-
Chief Dennis Meeches welcomes Eagle’s Wings students and staff to Keeshkeemaquah to celebrate their achievements. (Photo: Eagle’s Wings)
-
Each of the graduates received a custom set of wings, designed by Sophia Smoke, that incorporates elements of the Indigenous medicine wheel with the traditional pilot wings emblem. (Photo: Eagle’s Wings)
-
Six students were recognized for their achievements at Keeshkeemaquah. (Photo: Eagle’s Wings)
-
Students flew daily for 12 days in the school’s Allegro 2000 ultralight, nicknamed The Beast. (Photo: Eagle’s Wings)
-
Eagle’s Wings Class of 2020 student address. (Photo: Eagle’s Wings)
-
A student plans out his flight. (Photo: Eagle’s Wings)
-
Eagle’s Wings chief flight instructor, Ken Baker. (Photo: Eagle’s Wings)
-
Eagle’s Wings students tour the Southport Airport (Portage/Southport CYPG) control tower. (Photo: Eagle’s Wings)
-
The 16-day flight training program began after students were off from school for about four months. (Photo: Eagle’s Wings)
“This program was more than I’d hoped or expected,” said Cayden Chaske, an 18-year-old participant from Canupawakpa First Nation. “I didn’t think I would get as much time in the air, but we flew every day. I liked planning and flying my 3-hour cross country trip back home – that was awesome.”
EWFS is a not-for-profit organization that relies solely on volunteers to maintain the ultralight aircraft as well as instruct, drive and supervise students throughout the program. The school explains the cost of this year’s flight training was offset by several generous sponsors committed to inspiring at-risk youth to explore their innate gifts, build self-confidence, and develop practical life-skills through aviation training.
