By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

Those interested in learning more about flying and taking to the skies with a local pilot will have a chance to do so during an upcoming program at the Shelby County Airport.

The airport’s introduction to flying class will be held on four Saturdays this summer: July 7, July 14, July 21 and July 28 from 9-11 a.m. each day.

The introduction to flying class will be held in the Shelby County Airport terminal at 625 Weather Vane Road near the Alabaster-Calera line, and will include the following topics:

 

-Parts of an airplane

-What makes an airplane fly

-Aircraft instruments

-Aviation communications

-Aviation weather

-Navigation

-Runway headings and markings

-GPS and transponder

-Pilots’ license requirements

-Review

 

The cost of the four-week program is $40, and includes many handouts, according to event organizers.

At the end of the course, every student will be taken for a flight with local pilot and event organizer Johnny Ward to get a real-world look at what they learned during the course. Ward said he will be providing the free flights on a volunteer basis, and will not use any portion of the program’s registration cost to fund the flights.

Those interested in taking part in the program should contact Ward at johnnyward1@yahoo.com or call 914-5984.