Aviation View Jan 2023

34 AVIATION VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 2, ISSUE 4 least close to ready for their pilot exams. This means by the time they graduate they have a basic knowledge of aviation and probably even some flight time under their belt. They would be ready to begin a career in aviation. It is always on my mind to try and get it out there to the young people that you don’t have to own your own airplane to be in aviation. There are a ton of different routes you can go, and we are trying to make kids aware of that. They can be anything they want to be in aviation; they just have to apply themselves.” Thaxton goes on to discuss the lack of flight schools and the general lack of flight instructors in the industry and the impact this is having. This crucial part of promoting aviation has also been hit hard. He notes, “At every level, there is a need – if more young people knew that perhaps more would take it up.” This leads him to conclude that in the near future this is the main thing the airport needs to secure. “I still believe that with a flight school and a maintenance department we would be able to offer everything a pilot would want,” says Thaxton. “That is really my main goal for the next few years.” PREFERRED VENDORS/PARTNERS n Steubenville Visitor Center www.visitsteubenville.com