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| Students from the International Education Exchange Association (IEEA) Global Campus pose in front of an aircraft during a one week summer camp at Southern Utah University which took place from July 20 to July 28. / Courtesy of IEEA Global Campus |
SUU summer camp offers students peek into pilot training
By You Soo-sun
Students studying aviation at the IEEA Global Campus gained hands-on experience at the Southern Utah University (SUU) flight summer camp from July 20 to July 28. The 13 students ― including the University's enrollees and early admitted high school students ― had the opportunity to visit the school and experience its flight curriculum.
The week-long summer camp offered students a campus tour, a chance to experience fixed wing and rotor wing training, flight simulation and other flight classes. It also included a tour of SkyWest Airlines, the school's partner airline supporting aspiring professional pilots. The program aimed to give students a peek inside the formal training they will receive as they prepare to become professional pilots.
For many, it was a chance to experience flying. Lee Ju-hyun, 19, especially enjoyed the ride in a smaller, light aircraft: "The rocky bumps made me feel like I was rocking in the air," he said. Lee ― like other first-year students who visited the campus _ has been admitted to SUU's aviation program but is now attending classes in Seoul at its IEEA Global Campus before going to SUU next year.
"I have wanted to be a pilot since I was a child, but this experience strengthened my aspiration," Lee said. "The opportunity to fly as a student was something I would have not been able to do in Korea."
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| A student braces for a flight as an instructor prepares to take off. / Courtesy of IEEA Global Campus |
For most students, flying was the most memorable part of the summer camp. Students were especially impressed by the facilities at the school and the programs they offered through its partnership with SkyWest Airlines.
"It was surreal. I even flew in a new type of airplane the school brought in. It's amazing to think that I'll be trained in these aircrafts starting next year," Park Kyu-young, 18, said, referring to a Cirrus, a new type of aircraft the school procured this year to advance its flight program. He especially enjoyed the view, as while flying, he also got to see Bryce Canyon National Park, one of the main attractions in southern Utah.
"Through the camp, I was able to see the school was well equipped with facilities for flying," Park said. "This makes me feel safe while assuring me that I can become a professional pilot with the necessary hard work."
Park also believes the campus is a perfect place for him to grow and have better job opportunities upon graduation: "I can improve my English and build a solid network of people in this profession, including the professors and instructors here as well as fellow students at the school."
For Jo Young-uk, 19, his dream of becoming a pilot sprung from a book he read in high school. The book written by a Korean pilot, he said, described the profession as a competition with oneself ― an idea that drew him to it.
Jo aspires to be a pilot who can be able to act wisely in emergencies. The environment at SUU will help him achieve this goal.
"The environment is perfect for training, as it has a higher altitude for flying and is less crowded than in Korea. It was a huge learning experience for me to do simulation here, because it's not easy to do back home," Jo explained.
The camp was also a chance for them to meet the school dean, professors and instructors. The dean even cooked burger patties for the students himself, he recalled. "For five days, the dean showed us around, telling us about the school and the culture of the district," Jo said.
He said that the experience better prepared him for a life as a student abroad. "It was unfamiliar to me as it was my first time studying abroad. Learning about how students study here and manage their grades makes me feel better prepared. It also motivates me to study hard when I go back to Korea."
Through the partnership with SUU, the IEEA Global Campus has provided its students with opportunities to prepare for a successful career in the airline industry.
SUU will hold an orientation for its aviation program enrollees for September at the school's Asia Center on Sept. 2 and Sept 7. Details can be found on the school website.
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