Helicopter lands at Lost River; pilots discuss KCC Aviation program, flight careers

Lost River Jr/Sr High School students gazed up at the sky as the two-seat helicopter circled and then landed in the middle of the Raider’s football field.

The Sept. 26 visit from the pilots and flight instructors – James and Alex Wiganowsky of PureFlight Aviation – was part of the school’s ongoing efforts to introduce students to possible career fields after high school. PureFlight partners with the Klamath Community College Aviation program, which offers training for flight careers.

Seniors as well as other students in the 7th-12th junior/senior high school gathered on the field to watch the helicopter land, listen to the pilots, ask questions, and get a chance to look at the three-blade, Guimbal Cabri G2 flying machine, a two-seat helicopter used mostly for personal travel and training.

Lost River senior Gabe Estrada has always been interested in aircraft and has been researching careers in aviation. Until now, he thought he his vision limited his ability to be a pilot. After talking with the Wiganowskys, he discovered otherwise, opening up his options.

“I just learned I can fly even though I need glasses,” he said. “I need to do more research, but, yes, I am interested in being a pilot.”

Lost River’s Senior Seminar teacher and counselor Sarah Bandfield, who arranged the visit from the flight instructors, watched with interest as Gabe talked with chief flight instructor James Wiganowsky.

“Our goal is that every Lost River senior walks across the graduation stage in June with a solid plan for their next step, a plan they have thought about and already worked towards,” she said, noting that Gabe had expressed an interest in aviation.

Senior Seminar is a required class for all seniors. In the class, seniors work on their senior binders and oral boards, but also focus on getting ready and researching the steps they need to take to be ready for their futures after high school.

“We work on getting a lot of exposure to future careers by inviting recruiters to come and meet with seniors,” she said. In the past few years, this has included representatives from four-year and two-year colleges, trade schools, military branches, the Peace Corps, Job Corps and local businesses.

For more information on Klamath Community College’s Aviation program, go to www.klamathcc.edu/aviation. Information on PureFlight Aviation can be found at www.flypureflight.com.