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AWA-Pennsylvania's
First Private Pilot!
Adventist World Aviation-Pennsylvania (AWA-PA) is excited about how God has blessed this aviation program. In June 2007, AWA-PA graduated its first private pilot. One of the main reasons that Anthony Marcellino came to Blue Mountain Academy (BMA) was the aviation program. He enrolled in ground school his freshman year, but when he realized that he would not be able to solo until the end of his sophomore year, he decided to wait until that time was closer to begin his training.
At the end of his junior year, Anthony participated in the Pennsylvania Conference Pathfinder Fair peanut drop. He rode in the back seat of AWA’s Hawk XP (which is now serving in Alaska) and dumped 50 pounds of peanuts onto the ball field, while Don Starlin (from the ground) gave commentary about the way missionaries sometimes have to make air drops of needed supplies in remote areas of the mission field.
At the beginning of his senior year at BMA, he took up flight training again with James Hilliard, a task force dean from Walla Walla College and AWA-PA’s flight instructor for the 2006-2007 school year. At the end of the year, all of the weather conditions, maintenance issues, and schedules came together, and Anthony passed his check ride to become AWA-PA’s first private pilot to complete the program at BMA! The examiner commented on Anthony’s excellent flying skills, especially on how well he demonstrated his soft-field and short-field landing techniques.
Anthony is planning to attend Andrews University, where he will major in Aviation Technology.
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| Anthony Marcellino | |
Recently, a newer model trailer was donated for the airport office at Blue Mountain Academy. This trailer is an added blessing to the aviation program. It will provide a small classroom, office, comfortable lounge, and bathroom.
Blue Mountain Academy is preparing to install a new Airport Lighting System that was donated by a local business to help keep the airport up-to-date for the aviation needs of AWA-PA and local pilots. This new lighting system will include all new runway lights, obstruction lights, rotating beacon, externally lighted windsock, and a pilot controlled lighting system. BMA maintenance department and local supporters will help with the installation process.
