C-NS Aviation and Aerospace Students Explore Opportunities at C&S Companies

	On Friday, December 3, the Cicero-North Syracuse High School Career Center and Technology Department teamed up to bring the school’s Aviation and Aerospace class to a local engineering firm to learn directly from experts in the field. The group of about 20 C-NS students traveled to C & S Companies, an engineering, architecture, planning, environmental, and construction services organization. While at C & S Companies, students had the opportunity to hear from speakers about aviation planning, aviation engineering and drone technology and were even paid a visit from the Federal Aviation Administration. The Aviation and Aerospace course is a new elective for students at C-NS created due to forecasts calling for a dramatic increase in the demand for drone pilots in the coming years. The course is designed to introduce students to basic aircraft and unmanned aerial systems, learn about the structures, their major components and principals or flight and teach the fundamental physical laws affecting flight. Marty Miner, a veteran technology teacher with more than 27 years at C-NS is teaching the course. Students who successfully complete it will be prepared to take the FAA Part One exam to receive their commercial drone license. Drones, or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), have experienced tremendous growth over the past several years. Companies are exploring UAS for various purposes including everything from the delivery of packages and medical supplies to support for search and rescue missions after natural disasters. Miner, who accompanied the students to C & S Companies along with Cameron Murray, a student technology teacher from SUNY Oswego and Erin Deaver, the Career Education Coordinator at C-NS High School, was grateful for the insight the visit provided. He said, “These students have learned a lot of concepts in class and have been able to apply those concepts on a limited basis using the tools available at the school. Having the chance to be in a setting where the technology is being used in real-time, real-life situations, gives them a chance to see how it could work with their own career goals.”
The trip was arranged in partnership with the C-NS Career Center, which managed by Erin Deaver. The center is designed to allow students to explore career interests and consider options including military and trades in addition to college and career. Students can spend time building their resumes and learning workforce preparation skills as well as getting financial aid and scholarship assistance. As part of her work in the Career Center, Deaver arranges career exploration visits such as the one to C & S Companies. Deaver has developed strong working relationships with many local companies and appreciates their willingness to accommodate and teach students. Of that she said, “I truly appreciate the many local organizations that have opened their doors to our students. By giving them a real look at their potential career path, they are helping these kids make the best decisions to explore their passion.”