Youth Development Programme

School Programme

St Johns College Hatfield Christian College

Wonderful news, a development programme has been created and is being implemented in schools. Currently St Johns College has adopted the programme.

Plenty of pilots get their first introduction to controlling an airplane via remote-control models, the aim of this programme is two fold.

Introduce flight to as many children as possible, of all creeds, and by doing this create awareness. This will lead to more children wanting to achieve their pilots licence, help highlight potential pilots, help reduce the huge drop out in pilot programmes run by large organisations by creating a selection platform.

Create awareness for the hobby AND sport. South African's who represent South Africa at World Championships do earn their South African Colours and can proudly wear their Protea Blazer.

The programe is designed to fit into the school year, two programmes are run a year, each being about 11 weeks long. During this programme the learners are given an introduction to the theory of flight, they construct a kit and learn to fly on a simulator. When the kits are completed, the learners are taken to a field that has been approved by SAMAA, where they are taught to fly the plane.

Come October, a competion is held where the different skills obtained during the programme can be assessed.

To create continuity and sustainability, it is encouraged that these graduates assist in the second year with the running of the programme. First year students are ideally Grades 8 & 9 learners. The second year students would be Grades 9 & 10. Finally we have the Third year learners, they have graduated from the programme in the first year, assisted with the running of the programme in the second year. They are now able to run the programme in the third year. By doing this the programme has become self sustainable, additional skills of leadership have been obtained.

In three years time, the aim is to achieve an annual Inter School Championship, where all graduates from the programme participate.