School of Aeronautics Academic Newsletter - Fall 2022

LUSOA PROFESSOR BREAKS WORLD RECORD

SCHOOL OF AERONAUTICS FACULTY:

• Rick Roof, Ph.D., Residential Dean

• Julie Speakes, Ph.D., Associate Dean

• Steven Brinly, M.C.A., Residential Associate Dean

• Tony Cihak, Av.D., Residential Chair

• Mitchell Morrison, Ph.D., Residential Chair

• Carter Manning, Online Chair

• Andrea Smith, Ph.D., Online Chair

• Dave Austin, M.A., Assistant Professor

• Bradley Blank, M.A., Assistant Professor

• Marc Buntin, Ph.D., Associate Professor

• Katie Gallagher, M.C.A., Assistant Professor

• Ki Guillen, M.S., Academic Instructor

• James Mashburn, M.C.A., Associate

• Walt Reichard, M.S., Associate Professor

• Wayne Tripp, M.C.A., Associate Professor

• Aaron Wilson, M.B.A.,

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FEB.

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Message from the Dean

A MESSAGE FROM THE DEANS

Greetings LUSOA Family,

As we embark on a new academic year and reflect on the recent past, I am amazed at what God has been doing here at the School of Aeronautics. Through trials and triumphs, His faithfulness has never been more evident. We have been blessed with abundant new resources, amazing technologies, expanded facilities, and a growing fleet of aircraft. But, more importantly, each season we see students, faculty, instructors, and staff who are committed to glorifying God. We Train Champions for Christ so we can send a new generation of Christian leaders out to impact the world.

Despite the health and economic challenges of the last few years, God’s goodness, faithfulness, sovereignty, and calling are ever more apparent, and we can be assured that by His grace and by His Spirit, we will continue our work. My prayer is that this year will be filled with even more amazing stories to add to our testimonies of God’s work in our midst. Thank you for your faithfulness and commitment to our mission.

Prayerfully, Dr. Rick Roof

Message from the Associate Dean

Greetings,

I can hardly believe this is my third academic year at Liberty University. To say it is a blessing is an understatement. I am so encouraged by our students. They have dedicated and invested so much time and effort into attending our programs online while juggling work, home, and family. I love hearing their stories of overcoming obstacles to pursue their education that might not be possible without an online program. As educators, we are grateful that we get to be a small part of our students’ lives as they become Champions for Christ in the field of aeronautics.

How can we serve our field while being the hands and feet of Jesus? By bringing our individual strengths and experiences together to tackle real-world issues. In a hurting world, our mission is more critical than ever before. We celebrate our students, supporting and watching with anticipation to see how God uses them in the future.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Blessings, Dr. Julie Speakes

WOMEN’S AIR RACE CLASSIC

On Friday, June 17, Liberty University’s Liberty Belles flight team flew Cessna Skyhawk 172SPs out of Lynchburg, Va., to join the field of 53 teams arriving in Lakeland, Fla., the starting point of the 45th Air Race Classic (ARC), the annual women’s cross-country airplane race. This marked the 10th time that members of Liberty’s team have participated in the historic race.

A total of 115 female pilots from across the United States and around the world charted their respective routes for the 4-day, 2,549-mile race with a total of 9 fly-bys and stops. Starting that Tuesday, they journeyed through 12 states, arriving at the race’s terminus in Terre Haute, Ind., on Friday.

The Liberty Belles I plane featured rising senior Olivia Smith as the pilot, Chloe Cady as co-pilot, and Gracie Johnson as their teammate. The Liberty Belles II plane featured Lindsey Steinmaus as the pilot, Emma Hazel serving as co-pilot, and Savannah Hughes as a teammate. The Air Race Classic creates different routes every single year. Pilot Lindsey Steinmaus said “[ARC organizers] pick the routes pretty specifically, and each route has its own unique challenges, flying through different airspace to airports we have never been to before.”

SOA Instructor Course Chief Megan Bradshaw, who is in her third season as the Liberty Belles’ head coach, oversaw both teams, meeting them in Florida and again in Indiana for the final banquet. Operating remotely from Lynchburg during the race, Bradshaw remained in communication with the teams’ navigators to help them monitor the weather and make wise decisions prior to takeoff and during flight.

Whether they are in the air or on the ground, the Liberty Belles conduct themselves professionally and make the most of opportunities for fellowship. They strive to shine God’s light on the other female aviators as ambassadors for both Liberty and the Lord.

Excerpts from an article by Ted Allen (liberty.edu/news/2022/06/18/female-aviators-set-off-for-45th-annualair-race-classic/)

CONTRAILS CLUB

CONTRAILS CLUB

MATTHEW CALLAHAN, PRESIDENT OF LIBERTY UNIVERSITY CONTRAILS CLUB

The Contrails Club is a Liberty University School of Aeronautics student-led club designed to expose students to all aspects of the aviation industry. Throughout the 2021-22 academic year, the club had an exciting lineup of guests from four different regional airlines speak to the members of the club. They host monthly meetings and events with guest speakers from various backgrounds in aviation. Types of events include hosting airline recruiters, meetings with current or former pilots sharing about their careers, field trips to aviation related locations, and more. The goal of the club is to help educate students on the different companies and career paths within aviation and help them network with future employers.

The club was restarted in Fall 2020 with the goal of improving and growing the former Contrails that had existed a few years prior. Under the leadership of Tim Dubose, Matt Callahan, and James Sanchez, the club has hosted 10 meetings in the last three semesters.

Hosting companies such as Endeavor, Ameriflight, Republic, Envoy, PSA, and Piedmont — and a field trip to Dynamic Aviation — has allowed students incredible exposure to the opportunities in professional aviation.

WASHBURN BREAKS WORLD RECORD

JONATHAN WASHBURN, ADJ. PROFESSOR

I am currently the flight operations manager and senior Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) pilot at Platform Aerospace. We fly the Vanilla UAS all over the world for various customers, including the U.S. Navy, NASA, and private companies. In the past year, we have flown the aircraft over the arctic ice shelf to measure snow and ice thickness for NASA. We spent 10 days flying out of Deadhorse, Alaska, in November with an average temperature of -15F. We have also operated out of NAS Key West, Florida, Yuma Proving Grounds, Arizona, and from the historic Edwards Air Force Base where the Air Force trains all their test pilots. Last fall, we were able to set a world record at Edwards for the longest unrefueled UAS flight at 8 days, 50 minutes. This flight has cemented the Vanilla UAS as a one-of-a-kind, ultra-long endurance, multimission UAS with some incredibly unique capabilities.

Working for Platform Aerospace has been a dream come true, and I’m grateful for the experience and education I have from Liberty University. My time with the School of Aeronautics, both as a student and as a professor, prepared me well for the exciting and challenging UAS industry. I am grateful to all of the professors, instructors, and peers who encouraged me, guided me, and taught me at Liberty. The School of Aeronautics prepared me to succeed not only professionally but also personally. They consistently helped me see that flying, although incredible, is a distant second to knowing Jesus. My success is not something that I crafted or built with hard work alone; it is only because of the incredible grace of Jesus and the effects of His people on my life that have led me to these incredible places. I owe Him and all the people who have poured into me over the years all the thanks for these achievements.

UAS

KI GUILLEN, ACADEMIC INSTRUCTOR

The LUSOA UAS program has been experiencing fantastic growth, and much like the UAS industry, that is not something we see changing any time soon. The world of unmanned systems allows for robotic systems to take over jobs that have been historically dull, dirty, and dangerous for human operators.

Our students are learning key information about these technologies that will help them succeed in this new and exciting industry. In Fall 2023, we will be introducing new projects, new drones, and new people to keep our program growing on a path that matches the industry. We are particularly thrilled to introduce a Skydio X2 and SkyRanger UAV to our fleet for flight training this semester!

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

SPRING VICK, ONLINE STUDENT IN THE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AERONAUTICS PROGRAM

Spring Vick is a single working mother progressing towards a master’s degree while also taking outside flight training. A student at Liberty, she is also a member of Women in Aviation and was one of four winners of a $2,500 scholarship from United Airlines. United Airlines Flight Operations provided the flight training scholarship for her CFI in the Horizon development program and the SkyWest pilot development program.

Even with the transition from being a flight attendant of 24 years to professional pilot, she is first a mother of four who desires to train up the next generation.

“Spring is a perfect example of how our online programs and education provides an opportunity for so many to get an education outside of a brick-and-mortar institution.”

Dr. Julie Speakes, Associate Dean of School of Aeronautics

DAVID BLANTON, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF AEROSPACE TRAINING AND PARTNER DEVELOPMENT

CO-WRITTEN BY JOHN MCCANN, STUDENT

In 2009, I had a dream about “almost” flying an airplane. In the dream, I taxied to the runway and looked to my son who was in the co-pilot’s seat and said to him, “Son, I am not a pilot, and I can get into a lot of trouble if we take off.” So, I taxied back, and we made our escape. I woke up and thought how weird the dream was. The dream would not leave me for weeks. I finally told my wife I think God was calling me to become a pilot, and she was all in. After earning my Private Pilot Certificate, I soon realized that I was to become a missionary pilot. I then was told by many in the missionary aviation community that I would also need to become an A&P mechanic. Long story short, I enrolled in the LU AMTP program in 2013.

After graduation, my family and I moved to North Carolina for a few months where I received my Commercial Pilot’s Certificate. I then served with Missionary Maintenance Services as a pilot/mechanic for four years, and I served for three years as the director of maintenance for MIL2ATP Inc. The Liberty University Aviation Maintenance Technician Program (AMTP) overprepared me to assimilate quickly into the demands of aviation maintenance and to be able to continue the legacy of Training Champions for Christ.

I often thought that perhaps God would allow me to return to Liberty University. I am beyond grateful that God opened that door, and I feel privileged every day to be able to pour into the students what God has taught me during this past decade.

I am excited to join LUSOA, where God has led me be a mobilizer for the mission aviation community. Just hours before Dr. Falwell passed away, he sent an email to Ernie Rogers, then Dean of LUSOA. In that email, Dr. Falwell wrote, “Ernie, it is my vision that you will one day run the largest missionary aviation flight school in the country.” My purpose here is to continue to help LUSOA fulfill that vision.

AMT PROGRAM EXPANSION

ALYSSA STONE

AMP EVENT | We hosted an event in March of 2022 that provided local high school educators the opportunity to learn more about how they can help their students interested in aviation transition into pathways that would lead them to careers in the aviation maintenance industry. The event was a huge success with several high schools gathering valuable knowledge and resources on this exciting industry, including scholarships and programs with dual enrollment opportunities.

Industry representatives, including the CEO of Piedmont Airlines and the vice president of Pratt and Whitney, came out to share about what they can offer students at the collegiate level, while representatives from Dynamic Aviation and Aviation Technical Education Council offered resources that are available to students at the high school level.

We have been fortunate to expand our team of instructors with the hiring of a new faculty member, an associate director of aerospace training and partner development, an associate director of facilities and logistics, three new maintenance instructors, and a new lab technician to support program growth. We also added a fourth aviation maintenance cohort to increase our training capacity to 100 students with an FAA Mechanic certification in 12 months. To top it off, construction has begun and ground has broken on building a new 14,000-foot hangar next to our 939 Airport Rd. facility with completion scheduled for Spring 2023.

PIEDMONT AIRLINES TUITION PAYMENT PROGRAM

Liberty is among a small group of schools chosen to participate in a tuition assistance program that Piedmont Airlines is offering to students looking to pursue their FAA Mechanic Certificate.

This program allows students to attend our certification program free of charge (with the exception of housing and textbooks), including the provision of a fully stocked Sonic toolbox, and the conditional guarantee of employment with Piedmont after completion of the certification.

GRANTS

AVIATION MAINTENANCE COMPETITION

TED ALLEN

Five students from Liberty University’s School of Aeronautics AMC team, Matthew Deel, Victor Thennes, Joshua Schilinski, Ryan Berndt, and Cole Cameron, combined to place third out of 27 collegiate teams represented in the Overall School category of the Aerospace Maintenance Competition (AMC) event held in Dallas April 26-28. The team earned thousands of dollars in scholarships and gifts. This was the second time Liberty has placed third in an AMC event, and it previously earned the Professionalism Award, created in response to the way its members carried themselves at the competition. Next year’s AMC event is scheduled for April 18-20 in Atlanta.

Excerpts from an article by Ted Allen (liberty.edu/news/2022/05/03/aviation-maintenance-students-land-in-third-place-among-college-teams-at-dallas-competition/)

ILLUMINATE GRANTS

KEVIN MARTIN

The School of Aeronautics Technology and Innovation Team worked with the professors of multiple aeronautics classes to apply for the Illuminate Grant, which allows for technological innovations to be brought into the classroom to increase student interaction and correlation with flying concepts.

Advanced Avionics Correlation Trainer

Liberty University operates Technically Advanced Aircraft (TAA) that use the Garmin 1000 (G1000) avionics suite to properly prepare our students for their flying careers. These advanced avionics can be challenging to learn in the simulator and the aircraft. The Illuminate Grant is providing funds that will allow the School of Aeronautics Simulator Team to build a G1000 simulator that operates, looks, and feels like the actual avionics. Our students will experience, learn, and practice the system before they ever step into an aircraft.

Mixed Reality Headset for Aviation Training

Aviation is a hands-on technical skill that traditionally has been taught in the cockpit of an aircraft flying at over 100mph while trying to listen to the instructor. An airplane is a terrible classroom. Mixed reality brings virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) into the classroom to provide the experience of flight and enhance correlation for the students by allowing the professor and class to interact with the student who is flying in a virtual world.

The School of Aeronautics is excited to bring both technologies into the classroom to help our educators and students train safely and be better pilots. The Illuminate Grants have helped jump start this type of innovation to provide better training and learning experiences. As Jerry Falwell Sr. said, “If it is Christian, it should be better.”

ONLINE COURSE RESULTS IN A BIG DONATION DR.

ANDREA SMITH

The Liberty School of Aeronautics online program works with about 3,000 students. Each student who goes through the undergraduate online program is required to take AVIA 245, Aviation Leadership. In the course, they must submit a service project presentation assignment. This assignment is a practical way to develop and teach servant leadership skills. Students understand the purpose of the assignment is as follows: “Learning to work within and practice leadership in diverse teams is a major curriculum element in each of the School of Aeronautics’ degree programs. This assignment provides a unique opportunity to put leadership theory and principles into practice for selfless service of others.” (Service Project Presentation Assignment)

It was adjunct professor Stewart Newton’s first time teaching the course, and he had been impressed as he reviewed the student’s assignments, but one student stood out this past spring semester. Joseph Peek had the opportunity to lead an auction team to raise money for a Catholic school in his local community.

The school was facing possible closure due to a lack of funds, and Joseph and his team raised $62,540 for the children’s tuition and school supplies for the next year (52 children are enrolled in the school). His willingness to serve and his desire to show the spirit of charity and provision proved that this was more than just about raising money to him.

FTAs: THE AERONAUTICS ONLINE AFFILIATE OPERATIONS OFFICE

The online School of Aeronautics courses are for students working towards bachelor’s degrees in Aeronautics and partners with approximately 90 Flight Training Affiliates (FTA) all over the country to provide supplemental flight training with instructors.

In response to the growing global demand for pilots, the affiliate program allows students around the world to experience LUSOA.

Newest FTAs

• Clearwater Aviation – Florida

• Nexgen Aviation – Kentucky (First FTA in state of Kentucky)

• Sanders Aviation – Alabama

• Triad Aviation – North Carolina

ONLINE COURSE RESULTS IN A BIG DONATION | FTA

A REALITY IN THE CLASSROOM

ALSIM

A new multi-aircraft flight simulator, the ALX, manufactured by ALSIM, will take the Liberty University School of Aeronautics’ simulation center in DeMoss Hall to the next level. ALSIM has installed 400 of its devices in 50 countries worldwide, but Liberty is one of only a handful of flight schools in North America to offer the technologically advanced ALX device, a crewbased simulator that trains two pilots simultaneously.

In an aviation industry that is in a constant state of flux, the benefit of this particular flight simulator is the ability to train students to fly multiple types of turbine aircraft. It will help to equip and send out student pilots pursuing various career paths.

“We are very grateful for the resources God has given us to be able to train awesome aviators to be Champions for Christ in the aviation industry,” said Kevin Martin, Liberty’s associate director of flight training innovations and operations technology.

Liberty is looking to maintain its competitive edge through partnerships with companies such as ALSIM.

“We want to innovate and push the bar higher in every aspect by utilizing technology for training. We’ve been working with ALSIM for about four years on different projects, so we’re excited to get the ALX in here to

continue that partnership.”

Twenty students will be trained using the new simulator in the AVIA 436 advanced jet training course next semester, but that number will double by next school year.

Jerrold Wangberg, Liberty’s executive director of training innovations and operations technology for the simulation center, said, “Our industry partners expressed a desire for our graduates to be equipped to operate simple to complex aircraft, operating from slow to fast speeds.”

Dr. Rick Roof, SOA dean, added, “The ALX will ensure that we meet those expectations.”

Excerpts from an article by Ted Allen (liberty.edu/news/2021/10/29/school-of-aeronautics-simulator-centerupgraded-with-high-tech-alsim-device/)

MAKING VR A REALITY IN THE CLASSROOM

PROFESSOR AARON WILSON AND ALYSSA STONE

It was immediately noticed by the professor of the airport management course that students who had little to no flying experience were at a significant disadvantage when it came to visualizing the various facilities and painted surface markings of a commercial service airport. The textbook offered images and examples but was not helpful in showing proximity and application. The solution to this issue for the past two years has been the incorporation of multiple virtual reality sessions using Google Earth and X-Plane 11. Students in the airport management course can virtually visit their case-study airport and analyze facilities, the flow of landside and airside traffic, and see painted markings up close. This effort has been a success and already the technology and innovation team is upgrading hardware and software so students can experience the workings of a large-hub commercial service airport this fall.

MISSIONS

JIM MOLLOY, ADJ. PROFESSOR AND INSTRUCTOR MENTOR

Jim Molloy was hired as chief pilot by Samaritan’s Purse Mission Aviation Services in East Africa in Eldoret, Kenya, to fly the Cessna 208 Grand Caravan and the DC-3. A majority of his missions will be supporting humanitarian relief and aid in South Sudan by delivering food and supplies, transporting people for surgeries, and evacuating people in the event of armed conflict.

Roads in these areas, if they exist at all, are rough during the dry season and impassable during the rainy season. In addition, significant security concerns — related to a bloody civil conflict — make some roads unsafe at any time, which is why aviation is vital to the mission.

The Eldoret staff is a mix of Kenyan nationals and expatriates: men and women who serve as pilots, mechanics, line crew, office workers, and directors. The group is committed to shining the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the region.

THIS IS HIS STORY.

We feel like the trip to Ecuador to build our Vans RV10 aircraft is the event that propelled us to Samaritan’s Purse and Africa. The day we returned from Ecuador in February 2020, I received the first call asking us to serve with Samaritan’s Purse in Kenya. During a tour of the Samaritan’s Purse campus in Boone, N.C., the following week, I noticed a very large picture on the wall of a man paddling a canoe loaded with Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes in an Amazon jungle river. Our tour guide asked us if we knew who that man was, and I said, “Yes, it is Mincaye, and we were in his house in the Amazon jungle just last week.”

After much prayer and council, we agreed to go with Samaritan’s Purse to Kenya with a planned departure in June, but then at the end of April and after much preparation, the position was canceled. Mincaye passed away about that same time, and all we could do was reflect on everything that had happened in the last couple months (including the beginning of the pandemic) and wonder why it had all happened the way it had. We had agreed to go to Kenya, leaving parents, children, and grandchildren, and were committed to whatever He had in store for us. We knew this wasn’t the end, and we continued to pray for God to use us as His instrument in any way.

Two years later I received the call again from Samaritan’s Purse to go to the same place in Kenya. I had left Liberty University in June 2019 to be able to spend time helping our parents, children, and five grandchildren who are spread all over the U.S. The two years between the first call and this call had enabled us to spend time with our family. It also enabled me to focus on flying proficiency, which will serve me well in my role as chief pilot, and enabled Kelly to fulfill a key leadership role in Lynchburg’s Community Bible Study during a very difficult pandemic period.

God’s timing is the best timing.

SUN ’ N FUN AEROSPACE EXPO – LAKELAND, FLA., MARCH 2022

EAA AIRVENTURE – OSHKOSH, WIS., JULY 2022

We love being in community with other aviation enthusiasts! An air show is the prefect venue. We enjoy visiting with alumni, friends, perspective students, and people who share our passion for aviation. You can find us annually at Sun ’N Fun in Lakeland, Florida and EAA/AIRVENTURE in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Make plans to come see us March 28-April 2, 2023 at Sun ’N Fun. We will be at EAA/AIRVENTURE July 24-July 30, 2023. We hope to see you there!

LUSOA ALUMNI IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA

NEW GUINEA

LUSOA ALUMNI IN PAPUA

“You don’t need a runway when you have a floatplane.”

This is the phrase that Luke Hamer (LUSOA Alumnus ’13) said God used to redirect him and his wife, Tracy (’13), on their path to Papua New Guinea. After graduation, the couple — who met while pursuing their B.S. in Aeronautics and Associate in Aviation Maintenance Technology — first settled in Florida, where they worked teaching people how to fly floatplanes (planes that land on water).

A Liberty alumnus told them about Samaritan Aviation, a nonprofit organization that provides emergency flights to the nearly 220,000 people living along the Sepik River in Papua New Guinea. Because the river is surrounded by jungle, it can take up to a week for someone to receive medical attention. With floatplanes, pilots can fly patients to the hospital within an hour.

“God really blessed us with the ability to fly floatplanes, and there was a need there,” Luke said. “If that was all there was, then that was enough for us (to move there).”

The Hamers have transported patients coping with everything from pregnancy complications to snake bites

and spear wounds. All patients are flown to the hospital for free. The flight crew spends time with them and, ultimately, shares the Gospel.

“A lot of times, they haven’t heard of Jesus, or they haven’t heard about grace or love,” Luke said. “In their languages, there’s a very limited vocabulary when it comes to those subjects, and you have to constantly paint a picture of what that looks like.”

The Hamers have also made history in Papua New Guinea. Tracy Hamer is the only recorded female floatplane pilot in the country’s history, which is a huge milestone in a culture where women are viewed as second-class citizens. According to Tracy Hamer, “The aviation professors are dedicated to training students to be their very best. Though aviation is still a man’s world, I always felt and was treated like an equal in the aviation department at Liberty.”

Excerpts from an article by Tobi Walsh Laukaitis (liberty.edu/journal/article/aviation-graduates-serve-the-tribesof-papua-new-guinea/)

MISSIONS AVIATION

JERRY WANGBERG, ADJ. PROFESSOR AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JONNY HEWITT, ADJ. PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR OF FLIGHT TRAINING

The Alaska Mission Aviation trip exposes aeronautics students to service opportunities and God’s creative beauty. The team visits multiple locations in Central Alaska, including Anchorage, Chickloon, Palmer, Soldotna, Seward, Homer, and Kenai. Through partnerships with Covenant Youth of Alaska (CYAK), Alaska Christian College (ACC), and Missionary Aviation Repair Center (MARC), students complete Christian Service (CSER) work projects, learn about the Alaskan native culture, and experience high performance and mountain flight training with Alaska based missionary pilots. While participating in this trip, students also receive orientation tours from collaborative ministries including Kingdom Air Corps, Samaritan’s Purse, Arctic Barnabas, United International Ministries, and the Amundson Education Center. We intend to continue growing these relationships and establishing internships in the coming years.

During a recent trip, students were able to learn from alumnus Brittian Prevo.

“We are offering on-site high-performance training with JAARS beginning Fall 2022. Students seeking to serve the Lord on the mission field will have an opportunity to continue their flight training in a Cessna 206 mission aviation aircraft with a world renown mission aviation organization.”

Alaska Mission Aviation Intensive: July 7-23, 2023

Upcoming

Training Champions for Christ since 1971