These issues are concerns now but John Beegle, '98 Mech. Engineering - Aerospace, is researching flying clubs at other schools such as Georgia Tech, Rensselaer, and Stanford University for information on reducing liabilities. He is finding these schools have formal constitutions written regarding student and instructor safety while flying and he hopes that the WPI Flying Club can do the same.
In addition, the club is seeking funding from alumni grants coming to the school and is possibly looking for outside corporate financial support in order to defray the cost of purchasing an airplane. Consortium college support is being looked into, also.
The flying club's initial priorities will be to gather financial and student support. A qualified Certified Flying Instructor is being looked for from various places including local approved flight schools, the Civil Air Patrol, and a new associate professor of Aerospace Studies who is an Air Force flying instructor. The club would like to begin forming in D-term of 1996 with a presentation to faculty and be a full fledged club for the 1996-1997 academic year.
The WPI Flying Club - not necessarily the club's official name - will offer reduced costs for obtaining a private pilot's license or a soaring license and possibly academic credit. It is aimed towards students in the Mechanical Engineering - Aerospace major, ROTC cadets, and anyone having an interest in flying. If you would like more information on the Flying Club, John Beegle can be contacted by e-mail at apri12@wpi.wpi.edu. The next meeting for the flying club will be Thursday, February 22, in Higgins lab. conference room.
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