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Aviation Academy

Logo for Aviation Academy, Peninsula School District, featuring an airplane.

The Aviation Academy located at Henderson Bay

The Aeronautical Sciences Program will offer ALL PSD students an accelerated pathway to obtaining the foundational knowledge required for FAA certification. In partnership with the Museum of Flight's Aeronautical Science Pathway and with support from the Tacoma Narrows Airport, this program will provide immersive, hands-on learning experiences. Students will engage in classroom instruction, simulator training, and practical experiences through local flight schools. This program will prepare students for post-secondary aviation careers, and a unique opportunity for preparations for multiple aeronautical sciences certifications.

 

 

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • The Aviation Academy is designed to prepare students for careers in the aviation industry, from piloting planes to maintaining aircraft, and everything in between.  The program’s courses allow juniors and seniors the flexibility to take classes at a traditional high school or running start to complete their schedule.

  • We share a space with Henderson Bay High School.  This flexible model allows students to enroll in a combination of classes, including Running Start, traditional high school, and/or the Aviation Academy.  

  • Our curriculum consists of 12 classes over two years, as well as time in our flight-simulation lab, which includes multiple flight simulators and a simulated control tower.


    Year 1
    Private Pilot Ground School
    Aviation Weather 
    Aircraft Systems
    Aviation History & Careers
    Aviation Law
    Uncrewed Aerial Systems / Drone Operations

    Year 2
    Aviation Human Factors & Safety
    Aerodynamics
    Air Traffic Control
    Airport Planning & Management
    Airline Operations & Management
    Airline Dispatch & Operations
     

  • The program is open to any 11th and 12th grade students interested in exploring careers in aviation.  It includes everything from drone certification to private pilot ground school preparation to learning about airport management.  This current year, 2024-2025, admission is by lottery.

  • No, the Aviation Academy is open to all students within the Peninsula School District who attend any of our comprehensive high schools—Peninsula High School, Gig Harbor High School, or Henderson Bay High School. While the program's home location is in the lower level of Henderson Bay High School, it is not exclusive to students from that school.

    The Academy provides hands-on, immersive learning experiences that extend well beyond the classroom. Students will spend a significant portion of their time engaged in lab-based activities at the Vintage Airplane Museum at the Tacoma Narrows Airport, participating in field trips to the Museum of Flight, and more. These experiences are designed to create a dynamic and comprehensive aviation education for all enrolled students, regardless of their primary high school.

  • Students interested in enrolling in the Aviation Academy must participate in a lottery process. The lottery application window typically opens in the spring for the following academic year. Specific dates and detailed information about the application process are provided on the Peninsula School District's official website. For the most current details on enrollment procedures and timelines, please visit the program’s enrollment page.

  • The Aviation Academy is open to all students residing within the Peninsula School District and attending any of our comprehensive high schools: Peninsula High School, Gig Harbor High School, or Henderson Bay High School. To be eligible, students must be enrolled in Peninsula School District schools, either as full-time or part-time students. The program welcomes students from all backgrounds and encourages those with diverse academic or extracurricular interests to apply. Participants will maintain part-time enrollment at their primary high school while attending the Aviation Academy for three sections.

  • Transportation needs will be assessed during the registration process. Families can indicate if they require district-provided transportation, and the academy will work to accommodate these needs wherever possible.

  • This depends on scheduling and the student’s total full time enrollment. Students interested in combining these opportunities should work with their school counselor and the academy registrar to determine if it’s feasible within their schedule.

  • We are working on developing additional offerings for younger students, and will have more information about that in the next school year.

  • We’d love your support!  Email us at cte@psd401.net 

     

Program Updates:

Aviation Academy November Newsletter with a plane graphic.

November:

October was full of progress and hands-on learning at the Aviation Academy! Students explored Aircraft Systems and Aviation Weather, practiced takeoffs and landings in simulators, and connected classroom learning directly to flight.

The month wrapped up with Rainier Flight Service Family Night—aircraft tours, flight instructor meet-and-greets, and real-world insight from Alaska pilot Oliver Gordon Alvord. Students also visited the Vintage Aero Museum, hearing from a panel of professionals whose careers span the Air Force, Boeing, and commercial airlines.

Every experience brings our students closer to their dreams of flight.

Click to learn more and join our mailing list for future updates.

Aviation Academy newsletter with text and images, laid out on a desk.September:
The Aviation Academy is officially open! Students began classes with Mr. Williamson and are diving into Introduction to Aircraft Systems. This month, they’ll host their first guest speakers and field trips. Summer upgrades, including simulator labs, set the stage for launch—thanks to all who made it possible and joined us at Airport Day!