The first 10 students, including Grenada’s Jacob Habig, from the Commercial Aviation Department at Delta State University to graduate with an Agricultural Aviation Operations Career Pathway Certification were recognized during a ceremony on Friday, June 2, in the DSU airport hangar at the Cleveland Municipal Airport.
The program was the result of DSU’s collaboration with area ag pilots, the Cleveland Airport Board, and many others. Ike Brunetti of Brunetti Flying Service in Shelby was instrumental in organizing the program, and guided the new pilots and their instructors as the program developed. He spoke to the pilots and the friends, family and supporters assembled in the hangar, saying, “Dreams have to have goals, without goals they are only dreams.”
The Agricultural Aviation Operations Career Pathway Certification attests to a student successfully completing hazmat training, FAA instrument flight certification, FAA commercial certification, tailwheel endorsement and a minimum of 100 hours, 25 hours of which consisting of light bar training in a Citibria, 25 hours of light bar aerial application In an AG Wagon (C-188) and 10-hour type-rating and aerial application in an Air Tractor 802.
The nine other students receiving certification included, Harden Belvedresi, Clarksdale; Mark Bryant, Raymond; Rob Heflin, Isola; Billy James, Charleston; Connor Lang, Inverness; Paxton McKnight, Cleveland; Ben Malloy, Shelby; Dustin Roncali, Inverness and Logan Showah, Indianola.
