Post date: Dec 18, 2017 1:25:57 PM
While most students are focused on getting that A on their next test or winning the championship game, Junior Jordan Gyapong, has set his sights much higher.
Literally: in a few short years, he hopes to be flying through the air as a pilot.
This summer, he began his training at the ACE Program, JetBlue's youth summer camp. There, he was able to fly with a pilot from Farmingdale, Connecticut to Hartford, Connecticut. Additionally, he was exposed to air traffic control by exploring the TRACON, or Terminal Radar Approach Control.
Jordan’s love of aviation is nothing new.
“As a child I would mimic the flying sensation with a paper airplane,” says Jordan. “Seeing pilot uniforms was always a huge inspiration for me as well.”
During the second semester of his freshman year, Jordan decided to bring his love of aviation to Iona Prep and started the Gael Aviators with the help of Mr. Minio, a Spanish II and Latin I teacher, who himself is a pilot.
“I was tremendously excited with this idea,” says Mr. Minio. “I have been teaching now for 21 years, and I have never been able to bring my flying into the academic setting before.”
Although the club started out with 25 members using the lower school computer lab, it has grown into one of the largest and most unique clubs at the school. One of the biggest breaks for the club was when Mr. Poccia, an AP US history and astonomy teacher, donated his near authentic homemade flight simulator and technology.
Over the years, the Gael Aviators have put this equipment to good use. Additionally, they have had an impressive array of speakers come in, including a pilot for Republic and the recruiter from the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Dayton, Florida.
The club’s latest adventure was a simulated flight of the Westchester County Airport circuit under the instruction of Jordan and senior Patrick Burns. Ten students got to try the simulators and almost all of them successfully landed.
“It was a great day,” reflects Jordan. “Each time they fly, the get better and better.”
Jordan is excited to continue his adventure next year.
“For senior year, I want to see the people who I taught teach the incoming freshmen”, he says.
While Mr. Minio is excited for the future of the Gael Aviators as well, he is fearful of what will happen after Jordan graduates.
“Jordan has been fantastic. He has done 90% of the work. I’m truly fearful about who will fill his shoes,” says Mr. Minio
Whatever the future may hold for the Gael Aviators, Jordan believes that the club has helped prepare him to become a pilot.
“Through the club I have grown so much. I have gotten to know many mentors that I can seek for advice, and the flight simulators I have practiced on will definitely prepare me for real life.”