Program offers opportunities to rise above
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 11/19/2009
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A Purdue program is giving Jill Grable the chance to turn her passion into a career.
The sophomore in the College of Technology has been interested in flying since she was in middle school. Now that she is in Purdue’s aviation technology program, her dream is becoming a reality.
“I wanted to do something I really enjoyed,” she said. “You get to travel, explore, see places, meet people – it’s a tough career to be gone all the time, but it’s my passion. If you enjoy something so much you make it work.”
When Grable came to Purdue she didn’t have any experience flying a plane; now, after her first year in the program, she has spent more than 80 hours in the air.
She has flown across Indiana, to Chicago and to Louisville. She said her most memorable trip was a night flight to Indianapolis International Airport.
“It was so cool to see a large airport at night,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve even been there on a commercial flight. The city was all lit up. It was a fun trip.”
As one of the few women in aviation, Grable said she doesn’t notice any stereotypes in Purdue’s program. She said all the professors make her feel comfortable and equal. With such a small department, she knows many of the people in her program and all are willing to help her at any time.
Instead of fighting stereotypes, Grable said the hardest part of being a flight student is the time commitment.
“It’s time consuming,” she said. “You have to be dedicated from 7:30 Sunday morning, until 7:30 the following Monday morning. It’s all the time, if your professor asks you to go on a night flight you just have to say, ‘OK.’”
Next year, Grable said she will be able to fly a number of administrators on Purdue’s KingAir planes. Because of the Turbine Flight Operations program, Grable will get experience that very few other flight students will learn while in college.
“If you’re looking for an internship or a job it’s good to have turbo prop time,” she said. “It’s good hands-on experience and will really help me be prepared to go into the airline industry.”
Brent Bowen, department head for aviation technology, said the TFO program is vital for students to stay ahead of the competition. Because students get to fly administrators across Indiana, they have the opportunity to gain professional experience. Bowen said Purdue is one of the top flight schools in the world because many other schools don’t have the same resources.
“The future is so much more advantageous,” he said. “Purdue keeps staying at the position of being the most prominent program in the world.”