‘First flights, new perspectives, future possibilities:’ SLU Aviation Summer Academy highlights
2026 SLU Aviation Summer Academy participants pause for a photo during their visit to KCPS Fire House.
Students explored aviation careers through hands-on experiences at St. Louis Downtown Airport
From taking the controls of an aircraft for the first time to exploring airport operations and meeting aviation professionals, eighteen high school students from the St. Louis region and beyond gained a firsthand look at the aviation industry during Saint Louis University’s (SLU) Aviation Summer Academy.
The immersive week-long program, held June 22-26, showcased St. Louis’s strong aviation ties through classroom instruction, flight experiences and industry exposure at locations throughout the region, including St. Louis Downtown Airport (KCPS).
Camper Lhailonie Douglas (in red shirt), from Granite City, is seen here with Certified Flight Instructor Lucas Batson.
Several days of the summer academy took place at the Saint Louis University Oliver L. Parks Department of Aviation Science hangar at KCPS, which is home to the nation’s oldest federally certified flight school. There, campers moved from classroom lessons to simulators and aircraft while learning flight planning, navigation and piloting skills.
Students also toured nearby airport facilities and visited the airport fire station, gaining a broader understanding of the people and systems that keep airports operating safely and efficiently.
While behind-the-scenes experiences highlighted careers that support aviation, the opportunity to take to the skies became one of the week’s most memorable moments.
On their initial discovery flight, students took off from KCPS with certified flight instructors in Diamond DA20s, heading over the Mississippi River toward the Gateway Arch.
For many campers, it was their first time in a two-seat training aircraft, offering a new perspective of the St. Louis region from several thousand feet above the ground.
The experience left a lasting impression on many participants, including Kieran Matthews, from Chicago. “It’s really cool, how you can just go up a couple thousand feet in the air and see a whole new perspective that you would usually not ever be able to see,” Matthews said.
For others, the discovery flight helped transform an interest in aviation into a tangible career goal.
Certified Flight Instructor Kevin Park is seen here with camper Cade Prichard.
“My favorite part from the discovery flight was flying around and realizing that I had the authority to just do it myself,” reflected Cade Prichard, from St. Louis. “It’s very powerful, and I’m very grateful to have experiences like this. I feel like this is the first step into what could be an amazing career.”
As the week progressed, campers put their classroom learning into practice by planning and completing cross-country flights.
From reading sectional charts and mapping out a route to identifying waypoints – like large antenna towers and Six Flags – and calculating fuel usage, these longer flights to other Midwest airports offer a deeper understanding of what goes into piloting an aircraft beyond simply flying it.
Together, the discovery flights, cross-country exercises, airport tours and classroom instruction helped students gain a broader understanding of the aviation industry and the many roles that support it.
“This camp has really opened my eyes to a lot of different opportunities in aviation,” said Liam Ament, from Fenton, Mo. “I still have more learning to do before I settle on one thing, but it’s helped me see how many different career paths are out there.”
That broad exposure is exactly what program organizers hope students take away from the experience.
Camper Owen Mueth of Freeburg is seen getting familiar with the plane with information shared by Certified Flight Instructor Kevin Park.
“Our Aviation Summer Academy gives students a unique opportunity to experience aviation firsthand,” said Stephen Belt, chair of Saint Louis University Oliver L. Parks Department of Aviation Science. “By combining some classroom learning with time in simulators, aircraft and airport environments, we’re helping students discover how their interests and strengths can translate into careers in the aviation field while providing unique and memorable experiences.”
Sandra Shore, director of St. Louis Downtown Airport, said programs like SLU’s Aviation Summer Academy demonstrate the value of partnerships between educational institutions and industry leaders to introduce students to the aviation field.
“For many campers, the flights they completed at St. Louis Downtown Airport this week will be among the first entries in what may become lifelong aviation logbooks,” said Shore. “It’s rewarding to see students gain hands-on experience in a real airport environment and discover new possibilities for their future. Initiatives like SLU’s Aviation Summer Academy also remind us that when airports, universities and industry leaders work together, we create opportunities that benefit students while strengthening the region’s aviation industry.”
By the end of the academy, students left with new skills, industry connections and a deeper understanding of the opportunities available throughout aviation.
St. Louis Downtown Airport is owned and operated by Bi-State Development and is located just east of downtown St. Louis on more than 1,000 acres in Cahokia Heights and Sauget, Ill.
Provided photos.
