[ calm inspirational music ] - The program is focused on preparing students for careers in aviation that could include being professional pilot.

That could be air traffic controller, aviation managers, and even avionics technician.

Arietta Putnam - There's so many different like opportunities in aviation.

That's one thing I love, like you could do cargo, you could do corporate, you could do commercial.

You'd be a Bush pilot.

Like how cool was that?

You could go anywhere.

Like.

- [Deepak Rabat] Our professional pilot program has grown considerably in the last few years because the demand for pilots has increased as a lot of pilots are coming up with the age and they will be retiring very soon.

So what we are trying to do is we are partnering with industry aviation industry to make sure that we can supply a diverse aviation workforce.

We are focusing on the minorities and women to get into aviation workforce.

- [Arietta Putnam] Black females are rare in aviation, and rare in stem, just a rarity.

So if you actually see a black female pilot, you saw a unicorn.

It's the coolest thing ever.

Orestes Golden - [Orestes Golden] We call it the what is it?

The forever smile.

Once you get into the airplane and you're flying the aircraft, there's a, a permanent grin that's , that's that's plastered on your face.

That's just an exhilarating, happy feeling.

- Flying.

You see a sparkle in my eye when I talk about it, flying, it's just limitless.

It's boundless.

It's a, it's a new Liberty that you can't get here on the ground.

Everyone asks me if I'm scared when I go up and it's just a sense of calmness, like just looking down at the ground, I just can't explain it.

- It's 2 0 6, 5 sharp, only one, six foot, 615, run the right base or way to it, right?

Remember 2 0 zero whiskey though, Roger cross runway You're right.

It's actually a mini ramp via Delta in India.

Reginald Thomas - [Reginald Thomas] We're going to enter the land, and pattern here and enter on the downwind for this airport.

So we're just basically doing a slight descent here down to a thousand feet.

I chose to come back here because I graduated here.

It's just a way to give back to not just the students here, but to my community as well.

- [Arietta Putnam] Oh my gosh.

When I graduate, I just can't wait.

My mom's my biggest supporter through all of it.

If I need any inspiration, I call her.

So I just can't wait to see the look on her face.

When I could just take us all up.

I can get my job and my career set up.

I just can't wait.

Just pure bliss.

[ calm inspirational music ]