FlyQuest has designed a comprehensive Aviation Fundamentals course, which is taught by FlyQuest personnel and designed for public and home-school high school students, from freshmen to seniors.

With offices located on-site at the Huntsville International Airport, FlyQuest has successfully conducted multiple 15-week Aviation Fundamentals classes at area high schools, as well as similar courses for home school groups in the Tennessee Valley. The organization has also established links with several community organizations, such as the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama.

Our Aviation Fundamentals course enables students to understand the wide variety of aviation opportunities by providing insights into pilot, maintenance, air traffic control and airport operations careers. “Our ultimate goal is for students to identify early on an aviation field that they would like to pursue, either as a career or a recreational hobby. This allows them to better understand what is required for a given field and take actions to pursue the necessary science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills to achieve their desires,” notes Russell Lewey, a member of FlyQuest's Advisory Committee.

The "Intro to Aviation" - Aviation Fundamentals - is typically spread over a semester, conducted as an after-school activity for a few hours each week. (This course can also be completed in 5 full days.) It provides students with first-hand exposure to aerodynamic principles and aircraft components, as well as what is required to pursue one of four aviation career fields: pilot, aircraft maintenance, air traffic control and airport operations.

The program typically culminates with an on-site experience including the opportunity to fly with an instructor in FlyQuest’s unique 6 Degrees of Freedom flight simulator. In some cases, the onsite experience may include visits to functional areas of the airport, such as maintenance operations, cargo facilities, etc. It is important to note that these visits are not guaranteed — since they visit active work areas — operational and security factors dictate feasibility.