Meadow Lake Airport “Take-offs”

By Dave Elliott, Airport Manager

Meadow Lake is excited to announce several new aviation education opportunities with the new school year.

Direct Connect Flight Academy is beginning an exciting new chapter at Meadow Lake Airport in the Rudy Welch Terminal at 13775 Judge Orr Road. The academy brings expanded professional aviation education and Fixed Base Operator (FBO) services to the Falcon, Peyton and greater Colorado Springs communities.

DCFA is an FAA Part 141 flight school focused on preparing students for careers in professional aviation. Students can begin with little or no flight experience and progress through private pilot, instrument rating, commercial pilot and multiengine training, as well as advanced professional pilot programs. Website: (https://www.flydcfa.com)

DCFA’s training philosophy goes beyond simply teaching students how to pass a checkride. Founded and led by professional pilots, the academy incorporates professional aviation practices throughout training, including checklist discipline, aeronautical decision-making, crew coordination, scenario-based training and safety-focused operating procedures.

A significant advantage available through DCFA is FAA examining authority for approved private pilot and instrument rating courses. DCFA can conduct the certification process internally rather than requiring students to rely on the availability of outside designated pilot examiners.

DCFA also provides training opportunities for eligible veterans utilizing approved educational and vocational benefits and works to create pathways for pursuing aviation through collegiate programs. Advanced training opportunities include multiengine training, professional time building and Airline Transport Pilot Certification Training Program (ATP-CTP).

Direct Connect Flight Academy will also serve as Meadow Lake’s Fixed Base Operator, allowing the organization to serve the broader aviation community. For DCFA students, having flight training and FBO operations under one organization creates another educational opportunity. Flight students will train in an active general aviation environment where they can see firsthand how an airport and aviation businesses operate beyond the cockpit.

DCFA President Benjamin “BJ” Dwyer says the opportunity at Meadow Lake fits the organization’s larger vision:

“We don’t want to simply teach someone how to fly an airplane. We want to create a pathway where someone can walk through our doors with a dream of becoming a pilot and have the education, training and support to turn that dream into a career. Operating the FBO also gives us the opportunity to become part of the everyday aviation community at Meadow Lake and contribute to the airport’s continued growth.”

DCFA hopes its presence will introduce more young people and families in the Falcon and Peyton communities to aviation and the career opportunities available within the industry. The goal is to create an environment where students can learn, pilots can be supported, the community can experience aviation and the next generation of aviation professionals can begin their careers.

As Dwyer explains: “Aviation has given many of us incredible careers. One of the most rewarding things we can do now is create those same opportunities for the next generation. We believe Meadow Lake is a great place to do that.”

Falcon FlightPath is another new opportunity for students exploring STEM-based curriculum through aviation programs. It meets at the MLAA Activities Hangar, 13550 Piper Lane. Website: [https://www.falconflightpath.org

Intro to Aerospace provides students with authentic exposure to aviation and space by building a strong foundation through highly engaging, hands-on projects. Students develop confidence in aviation, engineering, space science and STEM while discovering future pathways in these fields. The 24-week course — 12 weeks in the fall and 12 in the spring — begins Sept. 2 and meets Wednesdays at Meadow Lake Airport. It is ideal for students ages 9-14.
FT Powered Flight: This 24-week program is designed for students ready to begin developing real pilot skills. The course includes $1,250 of flight time with a certified flight instructor at one of the approved flight schools. Students participate in weekly ground school, either in person or virtually, monthly pilot mentoring and the Over the Horizon industry expert series. The program is best suited for students ages 14 and older.
Build a Plane: In this unique, project-based course, students work as a team to build a real airplane from the ground up. They learn aircraft construction, aviation mechanics and the discipline required to bring a full-scale project to life. Classes meet Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Meadow Lake Airport, with 12 weeks in the fall and 12 weeks in the spring. The program is best suited for students ages 13 and older.

Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 72: Ever watched your child stare up at a passing airplane and wondered what it would be like to give them a seat inside one? Thanks to the volunteers of EAA Chapter 72, local kids can do exactly that — for free.

On the second Saturday of every month, Chapter 72 hosts free Young Eagles flights out of the MLAA Activities Hangar, 13550 Piper Lane, offering youth ages 8 to 17 the chance to experience the thrill of flight firsthand. Each child gets a real 20-minute introductory flight with an experienced FAA-certified volunteer pilot, a view of their hometown from the air and a memory that lasts a lifetime.

The Young Eagles program has been introducing young people to aviation since 1992, and more than 2.5 million kids nationwide have taken to the skies through the program. Our chapter recently reached a proud milestone: recognition for flying more than 5,000 kids. That’s 5,000 first flights, 5,000 big smiles and quite possibly a few future pilots, engineers and astronauts among them.

There is no cost or obligation — just a wonderful morning at the airport and an experience your child won’t stop talking about. Flights depend on weather and pilot availability, so registering ahead is the best way to reserve a spot.

More information about the Young Eagles program: (https://www.eaa.org/eaa/youth/free-ye-flights)

Meadow Lake Airport is committed to remaining a community friendly “grassroots” general aviation airport.

Meadow Lake is excited to announce several new aviation education opportunities with the new school year.

DCFA President Benjamin “BJ” Dwyer says the opportunity at Meadow Lake fits the organization’s larger vision:

Intro to Aerospace provides students with authentic exposure to aviation and space by building a strong foundation through highly engaging, hands-on projects. Students develop confidence in aviation, engineering, space science and STEM while discovering future pathways in these fields. The 24-week course — 12 weeks in the fall and 12 in the spring — begins Sept. 2 and meets Wednesdays at Meadow Lake Airport. It is ideal for students ages 9-14.
FT Powered Flight: This 24-week program is designed for students ready to begin developing real pilot skills. The course includes $1,250 of flight time with a certified flight instructor at one of the approved flight schools. Students participate in weekly ground school, either in person or virtually, monthly pilot mentoring and the Over the Horizon industry expert series. The program is best suited for students ages 14 and older.
Build a Plane: In this unique, project-based course, students work as a team to build a real airplane from the ground up. They learn aircraft construction, aviation mechanics and the discipline required to bring a full-scale project to life. Classes meet Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Meadow Lake Airport, with 12 weeks in the fall and 12 weeks in the spring. The program is best suited for students ages 13 and older.