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Aviation Academy

  • Enrollment Information

    The enrollment interest process for the Aviation Academy is open March 1 to March 14th, 2025. Interested students are encouraged to apply, as the waitlist will be used to fill vacancies throughout the year.

Thank You for Attending the Aviation Academy Information Night

Thank you to all the students, families, and supporters who attended the Aviation Academy Student & Family Information Night at the Gig Harbor Vintage Aero Museum. It was inspiring to see so many future aviators and their families engaging with the opportunities available at the Aviation Academy.
We appreciate the enthusiasm and curiosity shown by everyone who joined us. Whether you explored the Middle School Flight and Space classes, experienced the virtual reality flight simulations, or learned about aviation careers, we hope you left with valuable insights into the exciting world of aviation.

A special thank you to our program supporters, including Green River, Avian Flight Services, Young Eagles, Rainier Flight, the Museum of Flight, and Blue Origin’s Club for the Future, for providing students with hands-on experiences and future opportunities in aviation and aerospace. We are also grateful to the Gig Harbor Vintage Aero Museum for hosting this event in such a unique and historic setting.

For those who couldn’t attend or would like to revisit the highlights of the night, we have put together a video capturing some of the key moments and information. 


Thank you again for being part of this event.  The enrollment lottery closes on March 14th - if you are interested in enrolling in the Academy, please be sure to sign up.  We look forward to seeing many of you in the Aviation Academy and continuing to build pathways for students in Aviation and Aerospace.  


For more information about our program, please check out our website: http://www.psd401.net/aviationacademy

 

 
A graphic with the text 'Aviation Academy, Peninsula School District' and logos of supporting organizations, including Gig Harbor Vintage Aero Museum, The Museum of Flight, Rainier Flight Service, Avian Flight Center, Green River College, PLTW, and Young Eagles.
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Become a Mentor

Our Student Mentor Program is looking for passionate aviation professionals and enthusiasts to support high school students as they embark on their aviation journey. By becoming a mentor, you’ll play a critical role in empowering future pilots, aerospace engineers, and aviation professionals.

Click Here to Join!
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Be a Guest Speaker

Are you an aviation professional, pilot, engineer, air traffic controller, or aerospace expert? Your story can ignite a passion for aviation in students and help them explore exciting career paths! We are seeking guest speakers to share their expertise and insights with high school students in our Aviation Program.

Click Here to Join!
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Join our Aviation Advisory!

Share your expertise and help shape the next generation of aviation professionals by becoming an advisor for the Aviation Academy at Henderson Bay. As an advisor, you’ll guide students through real-world industry experiences, provide valuable mentorship, and help align the program with current aviation standards. Your insights can inspire students to pursue high-demand careers in aerospace, piloting, and aviation management. Join us in preparing future leaders for the skies and beyond!

Click HERE to Join!
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Host a Field Trip

Nothing sparks excitement for aviation like seeing it in action! We are looking for aviation professionals, businesses, and organizations to host career exploration field trips that allow students to experience the industry firsthand.

Click Here to Join!
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Interested in joining our program? Stay in the know!

Stay connected with the Aviation Academy at Henderson Bay by joining our mailing list! Receive the latest updates on how to register for upcoming programs, key details on start dates, and exclusive access to news about program events and opportunities. Whether you’re looking to enroll or simply stay informed, our mailing list will keep you in the loop on all important developments. Don’t miss out on essential registration info and exciting program launch updates—sign up today!

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A flyer for the Peninsula School District's Aviation Academy program, outlining prerequisites, enrollment requirements, and program details.

A chart outlining the coursework trajectory for the Aviation Academy program, with courses divided into Year 1 and Year 2.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The Aviation Academy is a program that runs in the afternoons, designed to prepare students for careers in the aviation industry, from piloting planes to maintaining aircraft, and everything in between.  The program’s afternoon courses allow juniors and seniors the flexibility to take classes at a traditional high school or running start in the morning to complete their schedule.

  • We share a space with Henderson Bay High School, with our classes running after the traditional school day.  This flexible model allows students to enroll in a combination of classes, including Running Start, traditional high school, and/or the Aviation Academy.  

  • Our curriculum consists of 12 classes over two years, as well as time in our flight-simulation lab, which includes multiple flight simulators and a simulated control tower.


    Year 1
    Private Pilot Ground School
    Aviation Weather 
    Aircraft Systems
    Aviation History & Careers
    Aviation Law
    Uncrewed Aerial Systems / Drone Operations

    Year 2
    Aviation Human Factors & Safety
    Aerodynamics
    Air Traffic Control
    Airport Planning & Management
    Airline Operations & Management
    Airline Dispatch & Operations
     

  • The Aviation Academy program runs daily from 3:00 to 6:00 PM, offering a consistent schedule that ensures students receive the full benefit of this hands-on, immersive experience. Operating after school hours allows flexibility for students outside the traditional comprehensive high school structure, including those enrolled in alternative programs or part-time schooling. Attendance is crucial for success in the program, as the curriculum is designed to build skills incrementally through active participation in daily activities. Students are expected to fully commit to this schedule to maximize their learning and development in aviation studies.

  • The program is open to any 11th and 12th grade students interested in exploring careers in aviation.  It includes everything from drone certification to private pilot ground school preparation to learning about airport management.  This current year, 2024-2025, admission is by lottery.

  • No, the Aviation Academy is open to all students within the Peninsula School District who attend any of our comprehensive high schools—Peninsula High School, Gig Harbor High School, or Henderson Bay High School. While the program's home location is in the lower level of Henderson Bay High School, it is not exclusive to students from that school.

    The Academy provides hands-on, immersive learning experiences that extend well beyond the classroom. Students will spend a significant portion of their time engaged in lab-based activities at the Vintage Airplane Museum at the Tacoma Narrows Airport, participating in field trips to the Museum of Flight, and more. These experiences are designed to create a dynamic and comprehensive aviation education for all enrolled students, regardless of their primary high school.

  • Students interested in enrolling in the Aviation Academy must participate in a lottery process. The lottery application window typically opens in the spring for the following academic year. Specific dates and detailed information about the application process are provided on the Peninsula School District's official website. For the most current details on enrollment procedures and timelines, please visit the program’s enrollment page.

  • The Aviation Academy is open to all students residing within the Peninsula School District and attending any of our comprehensive high schools: Peninsula High School, Gig Harbor High School, or Henderson Bay High School. To be eligible, students must be enrolled in Peninsula School District schools, either as full-time or part-time students. The program welcomes students from all backgrounds and encourages those with diverse academic or extracurricular interests to apply. Participants will maintain part-time enrollment at their primary high school while attending the Aviation Academy for three sections.

  • Transportation needs will be assessed during the registration process. Families can indicate if they require district-provided transportation, and the academy will work to accommodate these needs wherever possible.

  • This depends on scheduling and the student’s total full time enrollment. Students interested in combining these opportunities should work with their school counselor and the academy registrar to determine if it’s feasible within their schedule.

  • We are working on developing additional offerings for younger students, and will have more information about that in the next school year.

  • We’d love your support!  Click on this one pager to learn more about how you can be involved: hosting field trips, guest speaking, donating physical materials, participating as advisors, and/or mentoring students.