Luke Miller, a junior at Park City High School, took Aviation I last year, is currently enrolled in Aviation II, and was Mr. Marshall’s teacher’s aide for the first semester of this school year.
Inside Mr. Marshall's classroom, students gain hands-on experience using flight simulators to practice flying.
“There are three simulators,” he said. “They’re kind of compact, just like the cockpit of a Cessna would be.”
The simulators are meant to feel as real as possible. Each has a screen in front of the pilot’s seat, and two more on each side that allow students to see their surroundings while in flight.
“They have really good visuals for flight readings, and the controls are very realistic,” he said about the simulators. “And this year Mr. Marshall introduced headsets and this AI program where you can talk to an air traffic controller in flight. It’s really groundbreaking because the AI talks faster than what another student would. So, it helps students think faster, learn how to talk faster, and pull all of the important information from what the AI air traffic controller communicates.”
Luke explained this new technology makes the experience more realistic because students need to respond quickly to instructions, just like they would in real flight communication. Previously, it was more predictable because scenarios were created by classmates. Now, with AI in the mix, students have no idea what flight scenario they might face.
According to Luke’s mom, Carrie, he’s always been fascinated by airplanes.
“Luke has been passionate about aviation since early childhood. ‘Aileron’ was one of his first big vocabulary words,” she said. “He began logging actual flight hours when he was 12 with the support of his grandfather.”
When it came to high school Carrie said, “Access to high-quality programming was the central reason we chose public education. As someone who attended an independent school, I initially thought Luke might follow a similar path. However, the combination of strong academics, AP offerings, and authentic, hands-on aviation coursework made PCHS the right fit.”
Luke has also benefitted from the structure of the aviation program and the mentorship of Mr. Marshall. “Having a teacher who brings deep expertise and high expectations, while also supporting students’ interests, has made a meaningful difference in Luke’s growth and academic confidence,” Carrie said.
As for future plans and where aviation might fit into the picture, Luke is exploring colleges where he can pursue mechanical engineering while continuing to fly.
Real-World Learning, including CTE programming at PCHS like aviation, is supported by generous PCEF donors. Registering for or donating to Running with Ed, helps fund Classroom Grants and innovative educator-inspired initiatives. Running with Ed is May 16th and early bird registration opens March 16th – visit RunningwithEd.com.
