Randolph-Macon Academy’s flight program celebrated an unprecedented success this spring when four of the seniors enrolled in the program successfully earned their private pilot certifications. Taking into consideration the one senior who obtained a private pilot certification during the summer camp in July 2011, R-MA’s class of 2012 graduated five private pilots this year.
To become a private pilot, students have to complete a minimum of 40 hours of flight instruction, with 20 of that being with an instructor. They must fly three hours at night, three hours flying solely by reference to the flight instruments, ten hours solo, and five hours solo cross-country (this means flying to an airport over 50 nautical miles (57.5 miles) from Front Royal). The final requirement is to pass both an oral exam and check ride with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Designated Pilot Examiner. R-MA students usually complete their check rides in one of R-MA’s Cessna 172 Skyhawks at Front Royal-Warren County Airport.
The five members of the R-MA Class of 2012 who obtained their private pilot certification are: Seth Conners of Front Royal, VA, on June 6, 2012; John Christoph of Front Royal and Ryan Sanders of South Fayette, PA, both on June 3, 2012; Sean Knick of Washington, VA on May 25, 2012; and Will Camp of Raleigh, NC, on July 22, 2011.
Randolph-Macon Academy (R-MA), founded in 1892, is a college-preparatory, coeducational day and boarding school for students in grades 6 through 12. Students in grades 9-12 participate in R-MA’s 91st Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) and have the option to participate in a unique flight program. R-MA is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and is located in Front Royal, VA.
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