Aviation

Solo soaring success: Four students take important step in aviation training

Nathan Kahl — Tue, 27 May 2025 19:29:34 +0000

Solo soaring success: Four students take important step in aviation training Nathan Kahl Tue, 05/27/2025 - 15:29

In This Story

Four �鶹��Ƶ students in the aviation flight training and management minor took to the skies recently for a solo flight, the final step in completing requirements for the program.

Zaki in the air. Photo provided.

Allyson Bautista, Laila Elbaddaly, Makary Meseha, and George Zaki each piloted a small plane for approximately 30 minutes with no one else in the craft with them, an accomplishment that is a significant step toward a career in aviation.

Three of the students had existing exposure to the industry prior to taking on the minor, which requires 15 additional credits and classes such as SYST 460 Introduction to Air Traffic Control, including the flight training leading up to the solo flight. Elbaddaly works for Lufthansa Cargo, handling import and export tracking for multiple airlines. Her workspace at Dulles Airport is near where Meseha, who told her about the program, works for Emirates Airline. Bautista works for Aero Elite, a flight training school, as a flight dispatcher.

Were the aspiring aviators antsy as they ascended? Elbaddaly said, somewhat jokingly, “The only thing in my mind was, ‘What if I can’t land right? Will I be stuck in the air forever?’”

Maseha readies for lift-off. Photo provided.

Despite a fear of heights, Meseha reported being confident in his attempt, while Bautista said, “The day before, I was absolutely shaking in my boots. I could not believe my instructor was trusting me with that plane.”

Zaki had a hiccup leading up to lift-off. “The day before I flew for six hours, so I was tired when we did our stage check (an evaluation a flight instructor does of a student) and then I did almost everything wrong, so I was hesitant about the solo. On the day of, my instructor said, 'Look, I want to see three consistent patterns (loops around the airport) and I will get out of the plane,’ and I did 14 consecutive patterns very well. That’s when I knew I was ready for my solo flight.”

Elbaddaly pilots the plane. Photo provided.

For many of the pilots, the interest in aviation began at a young age. Bautista became curious when she was in high school and said, “I'm a travel geek, so I travel a lot and I was flying to Japan in 2022. When I got onto the plane I looked up at the cockpit and I thought, ‘I want to be in the front of this plane, up there.'” She said that women pilots—and particularly Asian ones (she is Filipina)—represent a tiny portion of the total population, and she’d like to increase representation for her demographic.

Meseha also wanted to fly from a young age, but cited the cost of continuing with the training and education and the disruptive schedule as reasons he might choose to work as a mechanical engineer and not a pilot.

To continue their studies, the next step is to log more hours and complete what is called a “cross country” flight, which, unlike what the name suggests, is only required to cover 50 nautical miles.

"It is quite an accomplishment to complete the solo flight test," said Systems Engineering and Operations Resarch chair, John Shortle. "It takes dedication, discipline and perseverance. We are very proud of the students that have achieved this milestone. George �鶹��Ƶ is glad to address the nation-wide airline pilot and air traffic controller shortage through this excellent program."

Topics

Aviation

air travel

Systems Engineering and Operations Research

innovative classes

Students

Graduating systems engineering student is flying high

Shayla Brown — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 15:52:13 +0000

Graduating systems engineering student is flying high Shayla Brown Wed, 12/04/2024 - 10:52

Darius Jack came to �鶹��Ƶ with a passion for systems engineering and for flying. He’s been able to maintain his flight hours while earning a bachelor of science in systems engineering this May and an accelerated master's in systems engineering, his second degree from George �鶹��Ƶ, in December.

Darius Jack. Photo by Virginia Department of Aviation.

Jack, who grew up in Virginia, got his private pilot’s license at just 17 years old, his instrument rating at 19, his commercial pilot’s license at 20, and continues to fly himself and his family members across the state.

One of his favorite airports to fly from is Falwell Airport in Lynchburg, Virginia.

“This airport is really exciting because it's on a slope, so you have to take off going downhill and then land going uphill. If you go in person, or even look at it on Google Maps, you'll immediately see what I'm talking about,” he said.

He’s also a fan of flying on Tangier Island in the Chesapeake Bay.

“They have basically no cars there; it's golf carts,” said Jack. “Their economy is based on fishing and things like that, so it’s a small-town kind of vibe. I was lucky enough to be able to fly there with my mom. We spent the day there visiting some nice little mom and pop restaurants which was really exciting.”

Jack recently completed the Virginia Aviation Ambassador Program, traveling to all of Virginia’s 65 public use airports.

“The program was challenging but rewarding. I was able to meet new people, build experience flying different kinds of aircraft, and got to travel to the different corners of the state allowing me to explore and appreciate the hidden gems,” said Jack.

“Systems engineering gave me a holistic mindset, which is crucial in the cockpit. Instead of jumping to conclusions, systems engineering taught me to think [deeply] and ask underlying questions, like what factors are driving a certain output. I am very appreciative to have been in both systems engineering programs for undergraduate and graduate,” said Jack.

Darius Jack. Photo provided.

What’s your best memory of George �鶹��Ƶ?

My master's degree experience is kind of flying by. In undergrad, I started with a lot of different people from different majors, and it’s been nice getting to see how everyone else has finished their degrees as well. I was able to go to their final capstones and senior design project presentations. Seeing how successful everyone turned out is really amazing.

How have you grown while at George �鶹��Ƶ?

Starting off, I didn't know exactly where I was going. I had the mindset that I go to class, get my degree, and work a job in that field for the rest of my life. But systems engineering is a very big field and I didn’t know what opportunities were out there. I think just evolving in that mindset.

I know now that getting a degree in one thing doesn't necessarily mean you're going to be doing that work for the rest of your life. Being at George �鶹��Ƶ opened my eyes to that. Now, it's more about actually learning the content from my classes and thinking about ways that knowledge could positively impact the world on a granular scale.

Best piece of advice for incoming students? 

I am a strong believer that the job market is all about supply and demand. So, if there's a lot of [graduates from] one type of major, it's going to be somewhat challenging to get a job. Give new and challenging things like systems engineering a chance because companies want systems engineers. If you have that demand, it is very easy to get something going for you.

What’s next for you?

I have accepted a job offer at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, and I'll be starting there after graduating in December. In this lab, they research things like prosthetic limbs, nanotechnology and all kinds of cutting-edge technology. What's in demand with my major specifically is model-based systems engineering, which is a sort of subset of systems engineering. I’m so excited to start there and be a part of that community because it will be my first real full-time job.

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College of Engineering and Computing

Winter Commencement

More George �鶹��Ƶ students set to earn wings

Nathan Kahl — Fri, 31 May 2024 13:05:00 +0000

More George �鶹��Ƶ students set to earn wings Nathan Kahl Fri, 05/31/2024 - 09:05

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Lance Sherry

Earn your pilot's license

“There was and remains an airline pilot shortage. This program was designed to enhance the pipeline of licensed pilots to address this.” Lance Sherry, associate professor Department of Systems Engineering and Operations Research

Matt Conroe is close to attaining a lofty lifelong goal: becoming a licensed pilot. For this recent �鶹��Ƶ graduate in mechanical engineering, however, something else was pressing this spring, and that wasn’t just getting his ducks in a row to graduate or preparing the final steps for his license. His son Kian was born in April, just nine days before he took part in Commencement.

Conroe graduated with a minor in Aviation Flight Training and Management. “When I was a kid, I was thinking of firefighter, policeman, doctor. But my dad is in the Air Force and has served for 36 years and I thought, ‘I’d like to be a pilot.’”

And will this new dad be grounded by family responsibilities before having the chance to explore the friendly skies? “My wife might have been scared in the beginning,” he said, “but they train you so much that by the time you do your solo flight, you know what to do.”

Conroe with a Cessna 172M Skyhawk. (Courtesy photo)

The minor combines a pilot’s license with aviation management experience, giving students a significant advantage in seeking work with airlines, airports, and in air traffic control.

Business major Hamza Al Tell, who is also just a few steps from obtaining his license, plans to use his experience directly with his family business. Growing up in Jordan, Al Tell’s family ran a skydiving company, and he earned a love of flying at an early age. “I was young, but the captain would let me go up and control the plane a little bit,” he said.

Al Tell loved that he could combine his core degree with his passion. “I was scrolling through minors and saw this one and it was perfect for me. I could do my university studies alongside getting my pilot’s license.”

Lance Sherry, a professor in the Systems Engineering and Operations Research Department, oversees the program. He has more than 30 years of experience in the aviation industry, serving as a flight test engineer, flight control engineer, and system engineer.

Al Tell grew up riding in planes. (Courtesy photo)

"The minor is unique,” he said. “Whether a student is seeking to become an airline or business jet pilot, or to work for an airport, or as an air traffic controller, the program provides a strong foundation of knowledge and skills to be employable anywhere in the industry. The program’s relevance is evident in the career success of our graduates who are shaping a safer, more climate-friendly, socially just air transport system."

Sherry has over 30 years of industry experience. (Creative Services)

The program is ranked 20th in the world, 11th in the United States, and first in the Washington, D.C. region. It began 10 years ago when the university recognized the significant demand for aviation programs in general and flight training specifically.

Sherry said, “There was and remains an airline pilot shortage. This program was designed to enhance the pipeline of licensed pilots to address this.”

“Professor Lance was a great help in all of this," Al Tell said. "When I would see him on the schedule, I would get very excited. Based on his personal experience, he shared with us how the industry works behind the scenes. This was incredible fascinating.”

Conroe added, “I had good professors and I felt like they really cared. They were very professional and knew what they were talking about. You can tell when someone comes in and is really excited.”

“We’ve been nothing but impressed with the caliber and dedication of students who train with us,” said flight instructor Kyle McDaniel, BS Public Administration '10. “As a �鶹��Ƶ alum myself, I’m thrilled to share my love of aviation with my alma mater.”