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Hinds Community College unveils new training plane for students
Video: Hinds Community College unveils new training plane for students
By Nathan Lee
HINDS COUNTY, Miss. (WLBT) - Aspiring pilots at Hinds Community College now have a new plane for training that was unveiled at the college’s John Bell Williams Airport Wednesday.
The plane is a Cessna 172 which is a four-seat, single-engine, high-wing aircraft that is used by many flight schools for different phases of pilot development.
Many were in attendance at that airport for the announcement of this aircraft, with officials calling this a big step in pilot development in the state.
U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith played a big role in purchasing this plane by securing necessary federal funding.
Senator Hyde-Smith believes this was needed to give kids a chance to chase their dreams in aviation.
“Mississippi is a rural area, so I say all the time, the woods are full of kids that have never been on an airplane. I want them to have that kind of exposure because once you strike that cord, the bug bites them, the flying bug bites them. It just becomes a passion and our kids in Mississippi deserve the opportunity to follow their passion,” Senator Hyde-Smith said.
Senator Hyde-Smith also noted the importance of this training aircraft to bring in more pilots with the recent shortages over the last few years.
Investments go beyond just this plane though, with plans to enhance the college’s program titled “Plane Your Future.” The program will bring kids to the John Bell Williams Airport to expose them to aviation as a possible career path.