Grove High School gets new flight simulator for aviation class

GROVE, Okla. — Students at Grove High School can get part of their flying hours through a new flight simulator.

"I've been wanting to get a pilot’s license and this is a great tool to get it," said Amanda Slaton, Grove High School 10th grader.

Slaton said the new flight simulator in their aviation class is a game changer.

"It’s so exciting I love it. Everybody is really eager to get on it at the start of class" said Slaton.

Slaton said the simulator can get pretty tense.

"It can be very stressful, especially landing, taking off is the easiest part. Making sure you’re landing in the right field and on the runway is the hardest part," she said.

David Roberts, the aviation instructor at Grove Public Schools, said they began this program in august 2023.

They were able to get the simulator through a grant from the Eddy Gibbs Foundation.

"The reason Oklahoma has put so much emphasis on aviation is because it's the second largest industry in the state and we have a lot of homegrown talent," said Roberts.

He said training on the simulator will get students part of the flying hours needed for their license.

"W e hope we have a number of kids that want to go ahead and get their pilots and work their way in, because getting a pilot’s license on your own is very expensive," said Roberts.

Roberts said the goal of this program is to get the kids prepared for a life after high school.

"We want to keep these kids here, we want them to have good paying jobs. I think grove has got one of the best educational opportunities in the area,” he said.

So far, they have had 13 students come through the aviation program and go to work in the aerospace field.

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