Aviation

Aviation Program - AOPA HS STEM Aviation Program 

Hoboken High School is offering a four year sequence of high school aviation STEM courses developed by the Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association (AOPA).  The purpose of this four year program is for students to learn aviation concepts, skills, and understandings, prepare students for written exams leading to industry credentials (FAA Private Pilot written exam or P107 Remote Pilot Certification written exam), and excite students with possible career options in the field of aviation.  

This academy offers students a unique and specialized program that prepares them for 21st century college and careers and in particular helps them develop an understanding of Aviation careers.  Students are exposed to a variety of global career opportunities in the world of manned and unmanned aviation all the while providing opportunities to apply what students learn in practical applications. In the spring of your Sophomore year, students choose either the Pilot track or UAS (drones) track.

Aviation and Aerospace will be offered to all students, with preferential seating given to 10th-grade students interested in pursuing the 3-year sequence of courses.  The second year course, Physics of Flight, is offered to sophomores (preferential seating) and interested juniors.  The Flying Environment and Flight Planning or UAS Operations , will be offered to students who have successfully completed the Physics of Flight course.  Twelfth grade pilot and UAS pathway capstone courses will be offered during the 2023-2024 school year, pending approval from AOPA and student enrollment in the program.  

For more information, please visit the AOPA’s You Can Fly! website for high schools and information about the High School Aviation STEM Curriculum.  

Courses

9th Grade -Introduction to Aviation

The ninth-grade course will provide the foundation for advanced exploration in the areas of flying, aerospace engineering, and unmanned aircraft systems. Students will learn about engineering practices, problem-solving, and the innovations and technological developments that have made today’s aviation and aerospace industries possible.

Students will look at the problem-solving practices and innovative leaps that transformed space exploration from the unimaginable to the common in a single generation. Students will also gain historical perspective, starting from the earliest flying machines and leading to the wide variety of modern aircraft and the integral role they play in making today’s world work.

10th/11th Grade- Forces of Flight

In the Introduction to Flight Course, students pursuing the pilot and UAS tracks will take a closer look at the aircraft they may one day operate. Students will begin with an exploration of the types of aircraft in use today before going on to learn how aircraft are made and how they fly. Students will understand how aircraft are categorized, be able to identify their parts and learn about aircraft construction techniques and materials. They will gain an in-depth understanding of the forces of flight—lift, weight, thrust, and drag—including how to make key calculations. They will then touch on aircraft design, looking at stability, aircraft controls, and maneuvering flight. The course will conclude with a focus on career skills related to these topics.

10th grade 2nd Semester – Aircraft Systems and Performance

In the Aircraft Systems and Performance course, students in the UAS and Pilot tracks will take an in-depth look at the systems that make manned and unmanned aircraft work as well as the instrumentation powered by those systems. Beginning with aircraft powerplants and fuel systems, students will learn about the different options available and how they affect aircraft design and performance. They will go on to explore other key aircraft systems, including electrical, pitot-static, and vacuum systems. Throughout, they will learn about the flight instruments associated with each system and how to identify and troubleshoot common problems. This unit also covers airplane flight manuals, the pilot's operating handbook, and required aircraft documents. Finally, students will learn about the factors that affect aircraft performance and how to determine critical operating data for aircraft.

11th Grade 1st Semester – The Flying Environment

This course is foundational for both manned and unmanned aviation and will prepare students to take either of two Federal Aviation Administration tests: the Private Pilot Knowledge Test or the Part 107 Remote Pilot Knowledge Test. Topics include pre-flight procedures, airspace, radio communications, aviation phraseology, regulations, airport operations, aviation safety, weather, cockpit management, and emergency procedures.

11th Grade 2nd Semester Pilot Pathway – Flight Planning

The Flight Planning course will cover the remaining topics necessary for students to take the Federal Aviation Administration's Private Pilot Knowledge Test. Students will learn pilot and aircraft qualifications, cross-country flight planning, weight and balance, performance and limitations, human factors, chart use, night operations, navigation systems, and aeronautical decision making. Students will be provided the opportunity to participate in multiple practice examinations. At the end of this course, a school may choose to arrange for students to be signed off to take the Federal Aviation Administration's Private Pilot written exam.

12th Grade 1st Semester UAS Pathway – UAS Operations

The UAS Operations course will cover small unmanned aircraft performance, ethics, human factors, aeronautical decision-making and judgment, safety protocols, weight and balance, maintenance, aviation weather sources and effects of weather (micro-meteorology) on small unmanned aircraft performance, small unmanned aircraft loading and performance, emergency procedures, crew resource management, and preflight inspection procedures. Students will be provided the opportunity to participate in multiple practice examinations. Students will be prepared to complete the Federal Aviation Administration’s Part 107 Remote Pilot Knowledge Test upon completion of this course.

Pilot/UAS Pathway 2nd Semester – The Capstone Experience

The capstone course is the culmination of the student learning experience. The students will work as individuals or in small groups to study and report on an approved aviation topic of their choosing. The goal of this capstone course is to allow students to demonstrate an understanding of a contemporary topic in aviation as it relates to flying. The curriculum will include presentations and activities to help guide student research and project development as well as suggestions for topics or projects that can be adapted to match available resources.