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demand (just like everyone else). Dynamic, too, feels the pressure to hire well-qualified and enthusiastic professionals to meet its customers’ ever-increasing requirements.
Michael Stoltzfus grew up around every kind of plane under the sun. But one f light in particular cemented his desire to pursue a career in avia- tion. He was in the right seat of a DC-3 cockpit while Ken, his uncle, was flying a spraying mission to combat Gypsy moths for a customer. Michael had been in lots of aircraft during his young life, but that flight made it all click for him.
Michael knows that not many kids get to have experiences like he had, and now he runs a business that relies on a skilled and enthusiastic work- force to support that business. Staff- ing becomes a matter of profitability and ensuring the ability to meet cus- tomer needs. Since most kids don’t get to experience aviation like he did, Michael has developed a mobile avia- tion experience to enlighten, enthuse and harness the next generation of aviation professionals. The program is called NEXTGEN Aviators, and through Dynamic Aviation’s various aviation resources, Michael is taking
this experience on the road. He’s not waiting for kids to figure out on their own they’re interested in aviation; he’s working to spark that interest.
The NEXTGEN Aviators experi- ence comprises two large mobile units. One houses flight simulators while the other contains various sta- tions introducing kids to the skills needed to keep aircraft in the air. These mobile units are well brand- ed, each pulled by an 18-wheeler- type tractor. They’re intended to go anywhere in the country to support any aviation business, not just Dy- namic Aviation.
Once kids complete the initial in- troductory learning stations, they’re given the opportunity to actualize the experience by flying in NEXTGEN’s dedicated Beechcraft King Air. Keep in mind that some of these kids may have never been on an aircraft and almost certainly never as a passenger in a high-performance King Air. This is a big deal. The entire experience takes about four hours, but it doesn’t stop there. If a kid shows an interest and wants to learn more, a NEXT- GEN staff member will follow up and provide them with avenues to higher education and careers.
The staff that makes all this com- plex aviation learning stuff run smoothly needs appropriate lead- ership. Michael chose an industry veteran with U.S. Air Force and ex- tensive corporate experience to lead the NEXTGEN initiative. NEXTGEN’s director Shane Combs is from Coal River, West Virginia. He stated, “I started as a USAF C-130 crew chief in 1993. After several years of military life, I transitioned to the corporate aviation world and managed vari- ous completions and customization centers for long-range aircraft like Gulfstream, Falcon and Bombardier.”
Shane has been with Dynamic Aviation for a little over a year. His near and long-term goals are highly focused on the success of NEXTGEN. “I want to find those in the industry with similar goals of inspiring youth into careers in aviation and providing those pathways as well. My long-term goal is to take NEXTGEN Aviators across the nation to 30,000 students, and eventually more, along with two full-time daily NEXTGEN experienc- es at various fixed base operators.”
As awareness increases, the de- mands on Shane’s time increase pro- portionally. “Travel has increased considerably as we see results and continue to provide students with this experience and the industry learns more about NEXTGEN and our mission. We are getting invited to lots of airports now and that requires a lot of relationship building.”
At this point, it’s best for local schools and organizations to plan about one semester in advance to have a NEXTGEN experience in Bridgewater. For off-site locations and those in other states, it’s best to plan six months or so ahead. And just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes partners and sponsors to bring a kid into aviation. “We rely on our incred- ible industry relationships to provide the continuing education aspects, like EAA’s AeroEducate program. Others have direct-to-workforce opportuni- ties. They’re all invaluable.”
Obviously, Shane can’t do this all by himself. He is bringing others who love the NEXTGEN concept and can
Students immersed in a station featuring computer-aided design.
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