Big River Aviation Provides Training Opportunity for St. Louis Area Student

By Carmelo Turdo

Big River Aviation continues to grow and enhance their reputation as the St. Louis area's comprehensive piston aircraft maintenance center, serving alongside STL Flight Training on the west ramp at St. Louis Downtown Airport. Big River Aviation is the longest-running, continuous sponsor of The Aero Experience, and they recently underwent a change of ownership that will ensure future success in the years to come. 

Big River Aviation is investing not just in their own business, but in the workforce that is desperately needed to sustain and grow the aviation industry. Earlier this year, The Aero Experience featured A&P Apprentice Noah Klein in our aviation maintenance topic series. Klein has worked at Big River Aviation since January, and he continues to acquire the practical experience needed to obtain his Airframe and Powerplant certificate. While at Big River Aviation, he has worked on a wide variety of aircraft types under the supervision of the area's most experienced A&P technicians and IAs. He has since also received his Private Pilot Certificate from STL Flight Training, and he plans to use his flying and aircraft maintenance skills in the mission field.

Big River Aviation also provides internship opportunities to area high school students. During a recent visit, we met with Isaac Keys, a junior at Saint John Paul II Preparatory School, who was assisting with a retouch paint treatment on a Cessna 172. His high school offers a unique hybrid schedule that gives students Wednesday and Friday for in-home study or on-site vocational training along with an in-school, classical education program on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Keys was homeschooled through fifth grade, and he learned about Saint John Paul II Preparatory School through recommendations from other homeschool families before attending there himself starting in the sixth grade. 

The hybrid learning model provides the time for Isaac Keys to work in the Big River Aviation hangar on Friday mornings, and he immediately began shadowing the A&P technicians as they received their job assignments. Along with general hangar organization duties, he has assisted with procedures such as brake repairs and sheet metal work. 

"I've loved engineering and I also love planes, so this looks like a pretty good place to get started with that," Keys told The Aero Experience. He is intrigued with aircraft structures and has been taking additional math and science classes to prepare him academically for college engineering courses after graduation. 

"If the opportunity arises, I'd say take it, especially something like this where you are on the ground actually doing this stuff," Keys advises other high school students looking for practical experience in their field of interest. He plans to spend the rest of the semester, if not longer, working on aircraft at Big River Aviation and setting himself up for success in the aviation industry.

Prior to his internship at Big River Aviation, Isaac Keys attended the Soar & Explore Summer Experience for high school and vocational students at Wings of Hope. He and a select group of his peers met at Wings of Hope for two half-days per week, for four weeks, to explore the world of aviation and the humanitarian mission of Wings of Hope. Along with introductory STEM education projects, the program provides a first-hand look at Spirit of St. Louis Airport operations, a practical application of aviation knowledge and skills through work in the Wings of Hope hangar and a course on non-profit organization management. Young Eagle flights were also provided by EAA Chapter 1675 on the final session of the program. The Soar & Explore program was a positive influence on his decision to pursue the internship at Big River Aviation. 

Isaac Keys was introduced to the Soar & Explore program by his Vice Principal, Dr. Richard Allington, who actively seeks out off-campus educational opportunities for his students. Dr. Allington recommended the Wings of Hope program after learning of his interest in aviation, and it was a great match. After he completed the Soar & Explore program, Keys was eager to continue working around aircraft. Wings of Hope forwarded some recommendations to Dr. Allington, and he suggested that Keys visit Big River Aviation for some hands-on experience in aircraft maintenance and repair. This was another excellent recommendation that has already put his student on the path to achieving his career goal.

The Aero Experience appreciates the roles that Big River Aviation and Wings of Hope have played in preparing students like Isaac Keys for success in the aviation and aerospace industries. We look forward to featuring more STEM and vocational programs in the year to come.