Students receive mechanical instruction as part of their course of study at Moody Aviation. Photo by Dave Boyd

Moody Aviation equipping pilots and mechanics for world missions

By Megan R. Harrell
Star Staff
mharrell@starhq.com

   Young men and women from around the world relocate to Elizabethton every year for the common purpose of attending one of the nation's most acclaimed aviation schools. Moody Aviation, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute, moved from its original location just two miles west of O'Hare International Airport to Elizabethton in 1967. Although the school has been in the community for several years few realize just how exhaustive a program it is.
   Moody Aviation originated after World War II when men returned from service and were looking for a way to use their newly learned aviation skills to further spread the gospel. Founding Director Paul F. Robinson began the aviation program as an extension of Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Ill., in 1945. The program remained in Chicago until its move to Elizabethton more than 35 years ago. Eastern Tennessee was chosen because of its mountainous topography and more moderate winter weather. The region's lack of large cities and its rural road system also made it an ideal place to train pilots for mission's aviation.
   Ron Royce, Manager of the Flight Training Program, made the move with the program from Chicago. A graduate of Moody Aviation, Royce has been an instructor with the school since 1964. "Our objective here at the school would be to graduate a solid commercial pilot, one who does not have any significant holes in their training," Royce said. "I feel that we are meeting that objective in that the missions that use our product like what they get. They will often refer pilots to us that have come from other schools and have found that their training has some holes in it."
   Students are evaluated before they are accepted into Moody's aviation program. Potential students and their spouses attend an evaluation camp prior to their enrollment where the staff observe and evaluate each prospective student. Aspiring aviators are watched to determine whether their goals match those of the school and whether they have the technical aptitude and teachability necessary to succeed in the program.
   After acceptance into the program, students begin their first year of classes with a summer session in general subjects then move into the Airframe and Powerplant curriculum. "The first year is a very intense program where the students attend classes every day from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and have projects and homework during the 12-month course of study," Maintenance Training Supervisor Roger Kuypers said.
   During the first year of the program, students move quickly from class to class and complete 45 individual courses. Students fulfill the 1,900 hours of training that are required by the Federal Aviation Administration. After the first year, students break into concentrations in either Pilot Mechanic or Maintenance Specialist programs. Those that take the Maintenance Specialist route are at Moody Aviation for a total of two years, while the Pilot Mechanic students complete a three-year curriculum. Students also come to the school just for certification in Airframe and Powerplant. "Our business is to produce a product that will be usable to missions organizations," Kuypers said. "When students leave here they understand the workings of the airplane so when they encounter problems they will be able to make a decision based on experience. Knowing the mechanics of the plane does make a better pilot."
   There are several things that set Moody Aviation apart from most flight schools. Its instructing staff, fleet and student body are a few aspects that rise to the top. "A major distinction here at Moody is that we have a flight instructor staff that is here instructing because that is what they want to do," Royce said. "They have the credentials and the experience to have long ago moved on to commercial aviation and to have been pulling down some pretty big paychecks."
   Moody's fleet of 21 Cessnas coupled with its four flight simulators keeps the school on the cutting edge of the industry. Royce believes Moody's fleet compares favorably against just about every flight school in the nation, even much larger ones. The planes are maintained at a very high standard and equipped with excellent instrumentation. Within the past five years the school has purchased all new Cessna 172s which is its primary trainer.
   Moody Aviation's ability to be selective in choosing its students has allowed it to see a quality student body each year. "There are generally more people standing in line waiting to get into this program than we can manage which gives us the opportunity to be selective in the process, so we come up with highly motivated students," Royce said.
   Royce noted that his students feel the call of God on their life to train at Moody so they are not easily swayed from the path. However, not every student that comes to Moody Aviation graduates. The school does have a system of attrition in which some students do not reach their goals.
   There are Moody trained pilots and mechanics serving on mission fields from places that vary in culture and climate as much as Alaska to remote tribes in Papa New Guinea. The traditional missionary aviator transports not only missionaries but also goods and materials to support them in remote areas. They bring the sick out and medical help in for both missionaries and the indigenous people. They also get involved in transporting government personnel and help promote community development.