Completes first solo flight as part of Air Cadet scholarship program
Aug 26, 2008 - 08:21 AM
By Moya Dillon
OSHAWA -- While most people remember Apollo 13 for its infamous tag line -- "Houston, we have a problem" -- for one Oshawa teen it means something else entirely.
Matthew White was only four when he watched the Oscar-winning film, but it changed the course of his life, leaving him determined to become an astronaut.
"I always dreamed big," Matthew said with a laugh. "I really found a passion in flying, and Air Cadets encouraged it. It's something I can't really explain, I just love doing it."
Although his dreams have changed over the years, Matthew, 17, is still crazy about flying. He plans to become a commercial pilot in the future and has just obtained his pilot's licence after a gruelling summer-long course, part of the Air Cadet League of Canada flying scholarship program.
"Being in the air is a completely different experience than you could ever have on the ground," Matthew said. "It's nice to go up and not worry about following roads or traffic."
The seven-week power pilots course includes ground training, 45 hours of flight time with an instructor and a written Ministry of Transportation exam.
"It's an incredible experience," Matthew said of the program. "It's pretty much been the summer of my life."
The scholarship program is run by the Air Cadets in partnership with several flight training centres across Ontario. To complete a power pilots course individually at a local airport it could cost up to $8,000, said Gerald Joanisse, a public affairs officer for the cadet program.
"It's an intense program but it works well because the cadet doesn't have time to forget anything he learned; he's in the cockpit repeatedly," Mr. Joanisse said. "It's a free program, but it costs a lot of hard work."
Matthew has been a member of Oshawa's 151 Air Cadet Squadron for six years, and credits Air Cadets for more than just his passion for flying.
"Air Cadets gave me a great opportunity to develop my personal skills," Matthew said. "I've learned a lot about leadership and good citizenship. It's a great program that really helped me to be a great person."
Matthew will be attending Western University's commercial aviation management program in the fall.
Recommend :
Latest News
Oshawa couple charge with lottery fraudOSHAWA -- An Oshawa couple faces fraud charges after a police investigation into allegations of tampering with lottery tickets. Ontario Provincial Police laid charges ...
No deal for Durham cops after two days of talks
DURHAM REGION -- Two days of contract talks have ended without a deal for Durham Region cops and the stage is now set for an escalation of job action that includes officers ...
Woman assaulted during morning walk in OshawaOSHAWA -- Durham Regional Police investigators are asking the public to help identify a male who inappropriately touched a female walking past him recently.On the morning of ...
Orono bank robbedORONO -- Durham Region police are investigating a robbery that took place Friday afternoon at a bank in Orono.At approximately 2:30 p.m., a man entered the CIBC bank on Main ...
Local lottery winners all smiles
DURHAM -- Several local residents are singing '"We're in the money" today.They're among the winners announced this week by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming ...
Eight years for 'vicious' sex attack on childOSHAWA -- An Oshawa man has been given an eight-year prison sentence for the brutal sexual assault of a little boy who had come to regard him as a father figure. "(The) ...
Soaked suspect leads to grow op bustSCUGOG -- An alert cop, a soaking wet man and dark-clad suspects prowling in the darkness of a rural Scugog night added up to a drug and weapons bust for Durham police early ...
New garbage bylaw has more teethOSHAWA -- The City will soon have new tools to target garbage offenders who dump junk illegally or pile up too much trash at the curb. Council gave the green light Wednesday ...
Electricity bills to increaseDURHAM -- Residents will be seeing a price increase on their electricity bills next month. For a residential consumer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month, the new ...
Girls collecting teddy bears for Sick KidsAJAX -- Cassandra Pearce and Leanna Martin are hoping to make a stay in the hospital a little more bearable for children. The Ajax teens are hoping to collect about 500 teddy ...