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An aviation degree at PUC will prepare you to serve in some of the most challenging environments on earth. Whether God has called you to serve as a mission pilot in a remote jungle, or as a servant-leader within the aviation industry, you’ll gain excellent technical skills. Experienced mentors will be there to encourage you spiritually, challenge you academically, and personally guide you through every step of the process.
While aviation major James Yang flew over Angwin, dept. chair, Chris Cho captured this wonderful image of our College on the Mountain.
The flight program is great and rewarding. The program director is more than willing to help students meet their goals in the industry.
- Ryan Bigelow
February 19, 2025
Pacific Union College Flight Center Director Nathan Tasker had the idea to build a type-specific aircraft simulator for his students. Since flight training devices in general aviation tend to be generic, limiting their usefulness, Tasker questioned how he and the program could obtain a simulator to teach basic skills, such as visual ground reference maneuvers and landing techniques. This would allow students to progress efficiently, as these skills cannot be effectively taught in traditional simulators.
He shared his dream with Russell Laird, the former chair of PUC’s technology department, who would help bring this idea to life. Building the simulator started last summer, with dimensions mirroring PUC’s Piper Cherokee cockpit. Aviation major Micah Dymer drew an instrument panel that Laird would build and design. Taylor Webster consistently assisted Laird, with several other aviation students who volunteered to assemble parts and help calibrate the controls. From Hong Kong to Indonesia to Germany and Sacramento, different parts arrived in Angwin to build the simulator.
