PCHS’s Aviation Program takes flight with community support

PARK CITY, Utah—Thanks in part to community funding and the Park City Education Foundation, Park City High School students are getting a head start on aviation careers through a robust program that offers real-world training.

“This isn’t just about exposing kids to aviation,” said Trip Marshall, an aviation instructor at Park City High School. “We’re helping them check off requirements for different aviation careers before graduation.”

The program includes a private pilot ground school, a flight simulator lab, and drone certification courses. Students can take Aviation 1 and 2 together, forming a yearlong private pilot ground school. Marshall, a flight instructor with 18 years of experience, ensures that students leave prepared for the next step in their aviation journey.

“In order to get a private pilot’s license, whether it’s for helicopters or airplanes, you have to complete ground school,” Marshall said. “We meet that requirement here. While students will still need to log actual flight hours and pass oral and practical exams, they’ll already have the foundational knowledge.”

Students also train in a flight simulator lab to bridge the gap between classroom instruction and real-world experience.

“We simulate a Cessna 172, one of the most popular training aircraft, using a G1000 system,” Marshall explained. “Students go through all the maneuvers—takeoffs, landings, flight maneuvers, emergency procedures—so that by the time they get to a real flight school, they’re not seeing these things for the first time. That saves them time and money.”

The program also includes an expanding drone certification pathway. “We have a drone certification course where students can earn a commercial drone license, and we also have a hands-on drone building lab,” Marshall said. “Students learn how to construct and repair drones, which is crucial because drone operators often need to troubleshoot in the field.”

A class within the Park City Center for Advanced Professional Studies (PC CAPS) allows students to apply their skills in real-world settings. “Right now, students are working on projects with Deer Valley Resort, Summit County, and the school district to analyze traffic flow and construction,” Marshall said. “These are real applications of what they’re learning.”

The aviation program benefits from strong community involvement, including a speaker series featuring industry professionals. Past guests have included commercial airline pilots, air traffic controllers, and military personnel, such as a former F-35 demo team member from Hill Air Force Base.

“We’re an aviation-rich community despite not having an airport,” Marshall said. “Park City has so many professionals in the field who are eager to give back.”

Marshall also highlighted the program’s potential for expansion, including a possible aircraft maintenance component. “The aviation industry isn’t just short on pilots—it also needs mechanics and air traffic controllers,” he said. “We’re looking at starting a maintenance training program and even exploring the possibility of building an airplane in-house.”

That project, if funded, could launch as soon as the next two years. “We’re looking at partnering with Tango Flight, a company that has helped high school students build more than 60 planes across the country,” Marshall said. “Students would handle nearly all the assembly in our construction lab. Once we complete the build, an FAA-certified inspector would finish the last steps, ensuring the aircraft is ready for flight.”

Marshall sees it as an opportunity to engage a broader range of students. “Not every kid wants to be a pilot, but some love working with their hands,” he said. “Aircraft mechanics are in high demand, and this project could introduce students to a whole new career path.”

Community support has been critical to the program’s growth. “Aviation training requires professional-grade equipment, and that’s expensive,” Marshall said. “The Park City Education Foundation has been instrumental in bridging the funding gap, allowing us to provide these opportunities for students.”

Jennifer Billow, vice president of advancement at the Park City Education Foundation, emphasized the collaborative effort behind the program’s success. “A few years ago, when Superintendent Huntsman was the CTE Director, she came to us with this incredible vision for the CTE department. One of the areas she was excited about possibly providing was aviation,” Billow said. “She had a teacher already doing great things with real-world learning classes, Trip Marshall, and he was a pilot, so he had the background to teach aviation. She asked if we could provide funding to get his drone class off the ground before the new building had even been started. We found a donor willing to support this program and were able to provide funding for the drones, and in the following years, real airplane simulators. Now we see students earning drone certifications and getting their ground school done to be pilots, all at no cost in classes offered during the school day. This is what we do at PCEF, help bring resources to support educator ideas and students reaching their academic and lifelong potential. This is a great example of public-private-philanthropic support!”

As the program continues to expand, Marshall sees limitless possibilities. “We’re preparing students for high-paying, in-demand careers,” he said. “Whether they go into piloting, drones, or maintenance, they’re leaving here with a competitive edge.”