FONTANA, CA – A.B. Miller High School students continue to reach new heights as they explore future career opportunities through the school’s Aviation Career Technical Education (CTE) pathway, with three students recently passing written exams in pursuit of their private pilot licenses.

Jesse Cuba, Xavier Gonzalez, and Christopher Hernandez became the most recent A.B. Miller students to pass the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Private Pilot Certificate written exam this school year, continuing a legacy of excellence in the school’s CTE program. The two-year pathway serves as a flight training school and includes a pilot training class, an airline mechanic class, and a flight simulator lab.

“Passing the written exam isn’t easy – it requires more than just studying and memorizing. You need a solid understanding to make it through, something that our students have excelled at,” said A.B. Miller aviation instructor Jeff McGlocklin of the 60-question test. “They’ve each shown a level of perseverance and enthusiasm for aviation that is frankly inspiring to me as an educator.”

Gonzalez, a junior, passed the written test with an 85% in his third year in A.B. Miller aviation, while Cuba and Hernandez passed with 90 and 93%, respectively, after two years in the program. All three plan to continue working toward their private pilot licenses after passing the written exam.

Cuba, a senior and president of A.B. Miller’s Aviation Club, credited the practice tests and simulator experience he gained through the program for instilling within himself the confidence needed to pass the test.

“I was honestly shaking before the test, but once I started, all the prep work I’d done made it feel familiar,” Cuba said. “Going through this experience really solidified my passion for aviation and I am excited to be pursuing something I love.”

There are several benchmarks to hit to obtain a private pilot license, including a minimum of 40 hours of flight training in a variety of scenarios, passing a practical flight exam with an FAA-approved examiner, and a securing valid medical certificate from the FAA.

“Coming into my senior year, I really started to get serious about flying and preparing for this exam,” Hernandez said. “With the help of our instructor, Mr. McGlocklin, guiding us through hands-on practice with sectional charts and maps, as well as classroom resources, we gained the confidence and knowledge we needed for this test.”

This marks the sixth school year the A.B. Miller aviation program has empowered students to pursue rewarding and fulfilling careers in the aerospace industry. Through the program, two A.B. Miller students – Nathan Aguilar and Johnny Hortua – secured their private pilot licenses while in high school through the program over the last two academic years. Both Aguilar and Hortua earned scholarships to further their education, along with several other program alumni.

McGlocklin has his sights on expanding A.B. Miller aviation and incorporating a pathway for students to secure their drone operator’s license in high school to enhance students’ career options further.

“This class has opened doors for all of us, we have a way to get a well-paying job early on that sets us up for success, but it’s more than that,” Gonzalez said. “Flying has given me a sense of freedom that I have never felt before. It’s not just about learning to fly – it’s helped me find a personal connection and a sense of belonging in the sky.”

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

FUSD_AVIATION1: From left: A.B. Miller High School students Christopher Hernandez, Xavier Gonzalez, and Jesse Cuba all recently passed the FAA Private Pilot Certificate written exam, continuing a legacy of excellence in the school’s aviation program.

FUSD_AVIATION2: A.B. Miller High School junior Xavier Gonzalez passed the FAA Private Pilot Certificate written exam with an 85%. The school’s two-year aviation pathway serves as a flight training school and includes a pilot training class, an airline mechanic class, and a flight simulator lab.

FUSD_AVIATION3: A.B. Miller High School senior Jesse Cuba, president of the school’s aviation club, celebrates passing the FAA Private Pilot Certificate written exam with a 90%. He plans to continue pursuing his private pilot license, along with two other classmates.