SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2014

Liberty University School of Aeronautics (SOA) Professor and Advanced Jet Training and Airline Hiring Coordinator Walt Reichard received the Letter of Agreement for the new SkyWest Bridge Program from SkyWest Captain Benjamin Lowe. SkyWest operates a fleet of 334 aircraft carrying over 27 million passengers annually to 193 destinations throughout North America. Liberty is proud to provide its graduates the opportunity to join SkyWest. In July, SOA 2014 graduate Matthew Sylvester was the first flight instructor to begin the SkyWest First Officer Training Program.

SKYWEST BRIDGE AGREEMENT

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LIBERTY 2014 NATIONAL INTERCOLLEGIATE FLIGHT TEAMThe Liberty University National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) team placed fifth at the flight meet hosted by The Ohio State University. This is the first time Liberty has finished as a top five collegiate flight school, a testament to the team’s hard work and an example of the quality training provided to Liberty students.

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School of Aeronautics

Our new advanced aerodynamics course hosted two guest speakers in one week — Kevin Kochersberger and retired Col. Joe Kinego. Kochersberger piloted the Wright Flyer replica at the centennial celebration of the first flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. SR-71 Squadron Commander Col. Kinego (pictured above with Professor Marselus), is one of only 87 operational SR-71 pilots. Both speakers gave presentations on the aerodynamics of each aircraft, allowing students to study both the earliest manned flights and aircraft that can go three times the speed of sound - all in a single week.

ADVANCED AERODYNAMICSFormer NASA Astronaut Col. Michael Bloomfield was a guest speaker for the Introduction to Space (AVIA 250) class. Using Google Hangouts video conferencing, Col. Bloomfield spoke to the class from his Houston, Texas, office about space flight, space shuttle missions, and developments in space travel and exploration. Col. Bloomfield was the pilot on two space shuttle missions and the commander on his third mission. The class also heard from NASA flight surgeon Dr. David Alexander via Skype from the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. Both video conferences allowed students to interact with the guest speakers.

FORMER NASA ASTRONAUT

To mark the 70th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy, the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia, hosted commemorative events on June 6, 2014. The School of Aeronautics and Freedom Aviation supported and coordinated a flyby for the event, which included four T-6 Texans, a P-51 Mustang, and a C-47. Approximately 300 D-Day veterans, nearly 1,000 World War II veterans, and thousands of local residents attended the ceremony.

NATIONAL D-DAY TRIBUTE

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Price Induction Inc., a French engine-manufacturing corporation, recently demonstrated the new DGEN 380 turbofan engine for Liberty University Aviation Maintenance Technician School (AMTS) students. This engine is a twin-spool unmixed flow, high-bypass ratio turbofan, weighing only 175 pounds. The SOA AMTS 12-month FAA A&P certification program welcomes new students in August, January, and May.

PRICE INDUCTION INC.

For the second year in a row, the Liberty University School of Aeronautics and Freedom Aviation, in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Aviation, hosted Women Can Fly. The event focused on showing young girls that careers in aeronautics are available to them. This year 140 girls participated in the event, which included free airplane and helicopter flights.

WOMEN CAN FLY 2014

SOA graduates met for a reunion in Kenya in the spring. Pictured from left to right are First Officer John Iazzi, a 2010 graduate, now with ExpressJet Airlines; Elsa Klarich, a 2012 graduate, currently a missionary with Flying Medical Service (FMS) in Tanzania; Ryan and Jenny Ball, 2012 graduates, serving with FMS in Botswana; Kristie and Bryce Kimmel, 2012 graduates, working with FMS; and Jeff Schlaudt, a 2012 graduate, now a pilot and mechanic with FMS.

SCHOOL OF AERONAUTICS MISSIONARIES

Liberty University is one of four universities to contract with Frasca International to upgrade its Frasca Flight Training Devices (FTDs) to level 5, the FAA requirement for maximizing training credits toward certificates and ratings. Pictured at left, during a recent visit by Frasca International to the Liberty campus, are SOA Simulator Manager Kevin Martin, Dean Dave Young, President and CEO of Frasca International John Frasca, Frasca Sales Representative Jeremy Brown, and Frasca Customer Service Supervisor Dagmar Neaville. This upgrade allows Liberty to continue providing the best-possible flight training as they prepare graduates for careers in aviation.

PROFESSOR OF THE YEAR

FRASCA INTERNATIONAL VISIT

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SOA Professor John Marselus was selected as Liberty’s top academic instructor for the 2013-14 school year. In addition to his classroom work, he was the faculty sponsor for Liberty’s National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) team, which placed fifth at the NIFA air meet hosted by The Ohio State University in May. Professor Marselus is pictured speaking at the annual Lynchburg prayer breakfast.

Eagle Aircraft owners John and Joy Sleger recently visited Liberty University School of Aeronautics to see firsthand the home campus of the Flight Training Affiliate (FTA) program. Eagle Aviation is the first FTA outside of Virginia. Pictured with the Slegers is Director of Business Development and Affiliate Operations Brian Hough. Liberty will also welcome the Slegers’ granddaughter, Keegan, as an incoming freshman this fall.

EAGLE AIRCRAFT

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SOA sent two teams to compete in this year’s Women’s Air Race Classic. Pictured (left to right) are Alicia Isacson, Melody Dowlearn, Megan Grupp, and Jessica Dyer. The cross country race began in Concord, California, and ended in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. Dowlearn and Isacson finished third overall, received second place in the collegiate category, and won the Fastest Piper Aircraft award. Grupp and Dyer came in fifth overall and were the third fastest collegiate team.

“LIBERTY BELLES”AIR RACE CLASSIC 2014 SOA graduated a record number of students in

the class of 2014, with 62 residential and 30 online students earning their degrees. Guest speaker Lt. Gen. Mark Schissler challenged students to excel wherever God leads them in their aviation careers. General Schissler’s son, Mark Schissler, was a member of the graduating class and will start USAF flight training this fall. Pictured are Dean Dave Young, administrative assistant Natalie Waters, student workers Elizabeth Hauk and Jonathan Hewitt, and Associate Dean Ernie Rogers.

GRADUATION 2014

ZACH FLOTO NATIONAL TOP PILOT 2014Zach Floto, a 2014 graduate from Denver, Colorado, won the Top Pilot award at the 2014 National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) competition hosted by The Ohio State University in May. Floto was also selected by Cessna Aircraft Corporation to be a Discover Flying Challenge pilot this summer, flying a new Cessna 172 to various aviation activities around the East Coast promoting aviation. Upon completion of this job, he will return to Liberty as a full-time flight instructor.

Dean Dave Young and Aviation Adventures President Bob Hepp recently met to welcome Aviation Adventures as a new SOA flight training affiliate (FTA). Now students can take their flight training from Aviation Adventures while working toward their Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics online. Aviation Adventures has flight schools in Manassas, Leesburg, Warrenton, and Stafford, Virginia.

AVIATION ADVENTURES NEW FLIGHT TRAINING AFFILIATE