(Black PR Wire) “There is no other feeling like it,” Isaiah Hand recalls about the moment last week when he was granted his private pilot’s license at Moton Field. The 20-year-old Aviation Science major is the first student in nearly 80 years to earn this coveted credential at Tuskegee - as part of the university’s recently relaunched four-year Aviation Science Degree Program - joining the rare air of the Tuskegee Airmen legacy.

Alabama Senator Katie Britt provided $6.7 million in funding for the university to create the Aviation Science Degree Program and begin training a new generation of Tuskegee Airmen and Women.

“Our work to reintroduce aviation to our students would not be possible without the support we’ve received from Sen. Katie Britt,” said Dr. Mark A. Brown, President and CEO. “Her push for funding has helped provide our students with the resources they need to become the next generation of Tuskegee Airmen and Women.” As a result, the total enrollment in the Aviation Science Program is almost 50 and growing in student popularity, with most tracking to commercial pilot licenses for military and civil aviation careers.”

Isaiah, a senior from Tallahassee, Florida, began the aeronautical ratings part of the degree program in January and opted to forego vacation to continue training during the 12-week summer session with this goal always in sight. 16 other students are currently progressing toward their license certifications, the first of four aeronautical ratings that students earn in the program.

“This is exactly the kind of impact we want to have on our students,” said Dr. Brown. “I spoke to Isaiah this morning. He stopped on his motorcycle on the way to class. One only has to look into his eyes to be clear about our purpose. Confident, excited, poised and ready to tackle the most complex problems our world has to offer. Like Isaiah, our students are excited about our Aviation Science Degree Program and ready to continue the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen and serve our nation. To be clear, Tuskegee will continue to train and prepare our students to solve the world’s most complex problems and Isaiah is well on his way.”

Isaiah is already underway with his next milestone, the instrument rating, which will be followed by a commercial pilot’s license and a commercial multi-engine rating. “I am a first-generation college student in my family,” he shared, “so in many ways this feels like uncharted territory.”

“His enthusiasm and excitement for both aviation and Tuskegee were very clear from day one,” said Capt. Titus Sanders, Aviation Science program director. “I am not surprised that he is the first of this year’s cohort to get his check ride,” he added, referring to the flight a student must complete to demonstrate complete mastery of all required skills and maneuvers alongside a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Designated Pilot Examiner.

The Aviation Science Bachelor of Science curriculum is offered through Tuskegee’s Aerospace Science Engineering Department and is the second largest department in the engineering college. Led by Dr. Javed Khan, the department offers course work applicable to a wide variety of aviation industry careers in aerodynamics, aviation safety, meteorology, and flight operations management, in addition to FAA certified pilot training. There are currently 49 students enrolled in the Aviation Science degree program.

“It is a privilege to be a part of reigniting the aviation program and with Dr. Brown’s leadership, I am excited about what our program has to offer in all aspects of aviation,” said Dr. Khan. Our students gain exposure to hands-on experiential learning, they are building, designing and problem-solving in the ways aviation professionals must be able to do working with colleagues around the world as globalization continues to drive change in aviation. When they enter the workplace of the future, they know they are ready to compete and add value at the highest level,” he said.

Isaiah is a former student of Dr. Khan who remembers Isaiah fondly. “He was so focused and motivated,” he recalls.

For Isaiah, that motivation extends beyond the cockpit. A euphonium player in Tuskegee’s Crimson Pipers band, Isaiah is also the section leader. “Flight, class, band and then more flight, class, band” is how he describes his routine. He added that "It takes time to mature into this mindset and know your end goal--but it’s all paying off.”

For more on Tuskegee’s aviation renaissance, visit this site.

Source: Tuskegee University