2024 SOAR Into STEM Fall Session 2: Navigation and Communication

By Carmelo Turdo

High school students from St. Louis area districts, private schools and homeschools  participated in the second of four fall sessions of the Wings of Hope SOAR Into STEM Program on Saturday. SOAR Into STEM provides opportunities to apply science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills in the context of the Wings of Hope humanitarian aviation mission. Topics covered include Airplane Basics, Mechanics and Engineering, Navigation and Communication and Drone/Flight Opportunities.

In Session Two, led by Wings of Hope Education Programs Manager Lee Ann Nolte and a team of volunteer mentors, the students were introduced to aircraft navigation and communication methods directly applicable to general aviation aircraft. Throughout the day, the students worked together to learn new material and work through increasingly complex navigation tasks performed by pilots on every flight. They also practiced communicating with air traffic control during simulated traffic pattern work around Spirit of St. Louis Airport. The Aero Experience coverage continues with a look at the practical learning activities designed to reinforce the concepts introduced during Session Two.

Aeronautical charts present a vast amount of information using unique symbology, and attempting to interpret them can be intimidating at first glance. In one of the activity stations, the students were given a list of items to locate on a Missouri Aeronautical Chart and note on their worksheet. The chart legend was "key" to this exercise, though some expert guidance by the current and former pilot mentors was helpful in understanding the terminology associated with the symbols on the charts. 

Another activity during the session was a navigation exercise that involved plotting a course using scale maps. A flight scenario was proposed, and the students prepared a planning worksheet containing direction, distance and flight time to various destinations. The SOAR Into STEM mentors were again available to assist in the process.

The students also applied their new skills at the desktop flight simulator station. Using the classic Cessna 172 display, they practiced the flight techniques learned in the previous session on the forces of flight and flight controls while employing basic navigation using compass headings and landmarks. 

A unique activity was also included in this session - an Air Traffic Control exercise using a large airport diagram laid out on the hangar floor. The students took turns playing the parts of aircraft and air traffic control communicating during operations around the airport in a scripted scenario. The aircraft were represented by RC Spheros as they landed, taxied and took off from the airport. 

Before the end of the session, the students gathered in small groups to meet with their STEM mentors for a debrief and discussion of various topics, including higher education options and aviation career opportunities. These informal small group discussions provide a positive and affirming way to conclude each session.