Freshman Griffin Phillips first became interested in flying when he saw a pilot land on a glacier in New Zealand.

“I lived in New Zealand from 2005 to 2007, and in my time there, I experienced a pilot land on a glacier. I thought it was an art, and I was amazed at the power and agility of the aircraft,” Phillips said.

Phillips takes flying lessons every week with a private instructor. He is learning to fly a 1971 Cessna 172 Skyhawk. He is planning to earn his single-engine aircraft license with this airplane. He also wants to gain a multiple engine certification by flying a Baron Beechcraft 58. He leases all of these planes.

He says taking flight training can sometimes be difficult, especially having it every week.

“Taking lessons weekly can cause conflicts in time as well as stress,” Phillips said. “There are many areas of knowledge required such as weather, geometry, maps and radio communication.”

Flying is an expensive hobby. For Phillips, it’s easier to lease planes than to just go out and buy them. If you lease one, you get to use the plane and the airfield whereas if you buy it, you need a place to fly it.

“Getting into aviation can be rewarding. However, it is important to get into aviation for the right reasons,” Phillips said.

Phillips says when he gets older he wants to get a job in aerospace because flying interests him so much. For right now he’ll just keep trying for his private pilot license and single engine certification along with a multiple engine certification.