Aviation students gain real world experience with TFO program
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 09/30/2009
Christian Clark | Staff Photographer
Matt Laakso, a Senior in the College of Technology is one of several Flight Technology students who Co-pilot for university business travel.
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One student returned this morning after flying to Athens, Ga., for a class.
Matthew Laakso, a senior in the School of Aviation Technology, started flying when he was 15 years old and is now applying his skills by co-piloting flights for University trustees and faculty.
“I like the freedom of it; the different environment,” Laakso said. “I like that I’m going to be in the sky instead of in an office working a nine-to-five job.”
Laakso left Monday morning to fly faculty to the University of Georgia through the Turbine Flight Operation program. TFO is a program within the School of Aviation which allows students to experience the business and professional aspects of aviation, while providing faculty and trustees with necessary air transportation to important meetings.
“We’re not training on these trips, we’re just applying our skills,” Laakso said. “They are safe and efficient ways of traveling for the University because students get more experience, while the University is not purchasing commercial airline tickets.”
Thomas Carney, a professor in the School of Aviation Technology, has been working with the TFO program since 1983.
“This is one of our signature areas in the professional pilot program,” he said.
Carney is the faculty captain that flew with Laakso to Georgia on Monday, and he will be leaving for another trip on Friday with a different student co-piloting. He said these trips are very beneficial to the students because they are often flying into high traffic airports, such as Washington or Chicago.
Matthew Stafford, a senior in the School of Aviation Technology, completed the TFO program over the summer and is currently a flight instructor in the department.
“The TFO program is not an everyday thing,” he said. “It’s the first time I actually got to experience being in a professional flight crew and actually got to see the business side of it.”