Flying high
Cadet earns top award in power pilot course
A 17-year-old from Pictou County recently landed the Top Air Cadet Award during the Power Pilot Scholarship program in Gander, N.L.
Alicia Henderson, who is a warrant officer second class, was one of 15 people taking the course, which began in July, and she earned a private pilot licence in seven weeks.
“It was really tough competition. Everyone who was there deserved it, in my opinion,” said Henderson, of Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron 397 Trenton, during a recent phone interview.
She had no idea she was going to receive the award, which is given to the cadet with the highest average on the written exam and flight test.
She said she was really excited to hear she earned the award, finding out while on parade.
She joined cadets in September 2013, deciding to try it because she had good friends in the program.
Henderson, who is in the process of moving from New Glasgow to Fall River, completed the glider program last year and had a lot of fun, she said, prompting her to decide to upgrade.
She stayed on the military base in Gander this summer, spending her time between ground school and flying.
Henderson said she would recommend the program to other cadets.
“It’s not something a lot of people get to do,” she said, adding that private pilot licenses can take several months to earn.
The Power Pilot Scholarship program is offered at Moncton Flight College and Gander Flight Training, supervised by the Debert Cadet Flying Training Centre.