Aviation academy in Abbeville, New Iberia prepares the future generation of pilots

Rodricka Taylor
·3 min read

(KLFY)– With a high demand for pilots coming in the next 20 years the Aviation Academy of Louisiana is offering training in two locations, now in Abbeville and New Iberia.

“I think the thing with aviation, I tell everybody this learning to fly is not much different than learning to drive a car,” Claire Posey, Commercial Airplane CFI, CFI-I, said. “If you’ve got determination, you’ve got some grit and you’re dedicated. I genuinely think that anybody can be a pilot.”

She wants people outside of the industry to know just how accessible aviation could be.

“It’s one of those careers I think, that a lot of people dream of,” she said. “You know, it’s a hobby for some people as well, but they never actually take that step and I think our school does a great job both in Abbeville and in New Iberia of really making it accessible for people not just in Abbeville, not just in New Iberia and Acadiana, but even across the country.”

“Boeing says that there’s going to be a shortage in the coming years about 649,000 pilots,” Ian Greene, Commercial Airplane CFI, CFI-I, MEI, said. “So here at Aviation Academy, that is what we’re here to do, is train the next generation of pilots.”

Alexander Radaelli who is a recent student from LA looking to get his fixed wings for a commercial license said he learned about the Aviation Academy of Louisiana from a friend who came and had a great experience.

“I looked up the place and it looked like everything I needed to do my last bit of training,” Radaelli said. “In L.A., it’s kind of hard to schedule check rides. There’s a shortage of DPEs and availability.”

Radaelli said he will continue his training in about a little over two weeks, for a single-engine commercial license followed by a multi-engine commercial license.

“My family wasn’t as supportive,” he told News 10. “They think flying is dangerous, but it can’t be more dangerous than driving a car. I love it. It’s amazing. It’s a great experience and I recommend anyone do it because it’s an out-of-body experience for sure. I know that there’s like a demand and that the supply of pilots isn’t going to meet the demand and I’m still young and I hope to pursue a career in aviation and, just wherever it takes me, wherever the skies take me.”

Another student, Troy Mistretta, who is working for a helicopter private license said he had a lifelong dream of learning to fly a helicopter. He said he put it off for approximately 30 years and then one day decided to chase his dream.

“It’s been a joy and it’s been a pleasure enjoying every second of it,” he said. “Within 15 minutes of taking off from here. My instructor, Bill, had given me the controls and said, Hey, you want to fly under direct supervision, of course, but I got to fly the helicopter 15 minutes into my intro flight.”

He started in November of 2023 and within the next couple of weeks, he will earn his private license.

“It’s been a challenge, of studying at night, 2 hours a night, learning everything from the air, the dynamics of the helicopter, the engine performance, and flight characteristics,” Mistretta said. “At my age 57 years old, I’m probably a little too old to go into the commercial sector to get a helicopter job, but eventually I’ll try and get my instructor rating and possibly pass on my knowledge to future generations of pilots.”

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