By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

Locals looking to learn the basics of flying will be able to do so during an upcoming four-week class hosted by an area commercial pilot at the Shelby County Airport.

The intro to flying class will be held from 9 a.m.-noon on April 6, April 13, April 20 and April 27 in a private hangar at the airport off Interstate 65 near the Alabaster-Calera line.

The course will cover the following topics:

-Parts of an airplane

-Airplane controls

-Aircraft instruments

-Aviation weather

-What makes an airplane fly

-Runway heading and markings

-Navigation and chart reading

-GPS and transponders

-Pilot’s license requirements and a review session

The cost of the four-week program is $45, and includes many handouts, according to event organizers. At the end of the course, every student may be taken for a courtesy flight with local pilot Johnny Ward to get a real-world look at what they learned during the course.

Class sizes will be limited, advance registration is required and the course is open to those 13 and older.

To register for the class, contact Ward at johnnyward1@yahoo.com or call Ward at 914-5984. Calls should not be placed to the Shelby County Airport regarding this event.