logo
ENع
#

Latest news with #Aviation

WTA Aviation Class of 2025 called ‘future of aviation'
WTA Aviation Class of 2025 called ‘future of aviation'

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Health
  • Yahoo

WTA Aviation Class of 2025 called ‘future of aviation'

WESTFIELD — After welcoming everyone to the Aviation Maintenance Technology program graduation for the Class of 2025, department head Galen Wilson acknowledged fellow Aviation instructors Scott Hepburn, Christopher Chaves and Timothy Pfau and Aviation Advisory Board chair Kenneth Dromgold. 'Another great year, another great class. These students will have an impact on the aviation industry.' Wilson said the students had completed 1250 hours of training, tests, evaluations, projects, presentations and readings to make it through the only FAA-certified program in New England. 'It takes a special student to complete it. They have endured a lot. Bottom line, we did it!' Mayor Michael McCabe came to the podium, saying it was intimidating to speak with an F15 right in front of him. Hangar 2 at Westfield Barnes Airport had been mostly cleared of aircraft for the ceremony that were now parked on the landing strip along with a visiting F15 from the Air National Guard 104th. McCabe remarked on the 50% female composition of the Aviation Class of 2025 as he welcomed family and friends, representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration, Gulfstream, and Westfield State University who he said were checking out the program. He then presented certificates from the City of Westfield to each member of the Class of 2025. 'This is one of my favorite days of the year. Being able to celebrate our kids as they move into the future is a blast,' McCabe said. Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski told the graduates, 'Aviation needs people like you,' He said the field requires precision, accountability and an unwavering commitment to safety, skills which he called impressive and essential. 'Thank you for choosing this path. Your future is not only bright, it's airborne.' 'I feel so indebted to and proud of this program,' said keynote speaker Senator John Velis, who is co-chair of the state Aviation Caucus. He said it coincides with his time in office, and he remembers walking from the hangar to Westfield Technical Academy with a plane at 3 a.m. in 2016 for the grand opening of the program. Velis said in the beginning, people were amazed that the program was happening in Massachusetts. 'Now, when we have this conversation, they say 'we know all about it.' We are proud — you should be proud, and I hope you are.' Velis' speech then paused for an emergency response to a medical emergency in the hangar that had a successful outcome. When he resumed, his message to the graduates shifted. 'Far more important than what we're doing today is your well-being,' Velis told the graduates. He said one of the things he knows as chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, is that the numbers are scary on the impact of mental health on young adults, which he said isn't talked about enough. 'If you find yourself at any point in the future or a friend finds themselves struggling, remember these three most important words — 'I need help.' Please get it. You're going to find in the not-too-distant future circumstances where you're going to fail at something — not a single person who hasn't. What separates those who push forward and who don't is your response,' he said. 'You make us so proud. Thank you for going down this path. Remember, you've got a lot of people in this room who want to help out,' Velis said. Wilson then introduced the Class of 2025 Distinguished Graduate Mason Jacquier of Southwick. In describing Jacquier he said he was a soccer captain, class treasurer, on the Student Council, in the National Technical Honor Society, 4H Club, Key Club, captain of the Aviation Explorers Post, flying, and 'oh yeah, not bad at motocross either,' in which he said Jacquier has won numerous awards. Jacquier will be attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida to study aerospace engineering. 'It's an honor to speak at our graduation. When we started as freshmen, we were intimidated … We were met with unwavering support, constant encouragement and guidance,' Jacquier said. He said over the four years they developed confidence, patience and pride, and were pushed out of their comfort zone and are on their way to becoming pilots, air traffic controllers and in the Air National Guard. After he spoke, pilot Ray Robidoux of the Westfield Aviation Museum located in Hangar 3 joined Jacquier at the podium to present him with a $2,000 scholarship. 'We present this scholarship as our way of saying thank you. The graduates today are the future of aviation,' Robidoux said. Scott Hepburn, instructor of the Class of 2025, thanked the other instructors for bringing the class over the finish line. He said it was a pleasure to have them for 3.5 years, 1911 hours total. He then awarded certificates to the FAA Program graduates and the non-FAA Aviation Program graduate, telling stories about each one before presenting them. The FAA Program graduates of the Class of 2025 include Savannah Chapman of Granville, who will be entering the Air National Guard 104th; Rielynn Cigal of Westfield, who will be going to Springfield Technical Community College for medical studies, and Hailey Dubiel of Westfield, who will go to CT AeroTech. Hepburn said Dubiel entered WTA 'bound and determined to get into aviation,' adding that she was one of the smartest students to ever come through, having only one test score less than 100 at a 97. Also graduating were Emma Fernandes of Westfield, who will go to Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Jason Harris of Westfield, headed to CT Aero Tech, Mason Jacquier of Southwick, going to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Jason Jones of Westfield, who will be going to STCC. Thomas Knapik of Westfield will be the first graduate of the program to become an Air Traffic Controller through the FAA. In a presentation before the School Committee in November, Knapik said he first thought about becoming a pilot, but discovered through the program 'the infinite possibilities in aviation.' Hepburn said about Olivia Pease of Westhampton that she came in wanting to be a private pilot by graduation, and became one. She will be entering STCC in the fall, and has a goal of becoming a commercial pilot. Joshua Masse of Westfield will be going to work at Bombardier in Windsor Locks and Mark Poznyur and Maya Reyes will join Gulfstream at Westfield Barnes. Non-FAA Aviation Program graduate Andrew Reed of Southwick will be going to Atlantic Aviation as a line technician. Hepburn said you could ask him whatever you wanted to know about airplanes. 'He knew so much about our planes, and is an incredible photographer,' he said about Reed, whose extended family in Southwick and South Carolina came to the graduation to support him. 'It's time to push this program bigger,' Hepburn said. He said they can only accept 14 students per year out of the 80 to 100 that want aviation. 'I'd like to double this program in the next couple of years — some way, somehow.' Wilson also awarded numbers 21 and 22 of the 25 coins made to distinguish the first 25 students from the program to complete their FAA certification. Wilson, a 30-year veteran of the US Air Force called it a USAF tradition. 'It means that you are a member of an elite group of people.' Coin number 21 was presented to Brandon Laviolette and number 22 to Zachary Fedora. Read the original article on MassLive.

Ryanair's Michael O'Leary lands historic €100m bonus
Ryanair's Michael O'Leary lands historic €100m bonus

Telegraph

timea day ago

  • Business
  • Telegraph

Ryanair's Michael O'Leary lands historic €100m bonus

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has earned a bonus worth more than €100m (£84m) after the discount carrier's shares cleared a key performance target. The Irishman qualified for the mammoth payout on Thursday after Ryanair stock traded above the specified level of €21 for a 28th straight day, closing at €23.74. Mr O'Leary now stands to receive 10m shares for €11.12 apiece, or €111.2m in total. Based on Thursday's closing price, the stock would be worth €237m, bagging a paper profit of €126m. The Irishman is set for one of the biggest paydays in European corporate history despite Ryanair reporting a 16pc drop in annual profit in an earnings update last week. Mr O'Leary, a Manchester City fan, said at the time that the bonus was justified in light of the long-term performance of the airline, comparing it with the rewards on offer in the sporting world. He told analysts: 'I think we're delivering exceptional value for Ryanair shareholders in an era when Premiership footballers or the managers are getting paid €20m to €25m a year. 'I think Ryanair shareholders are getting a particular value out of our share options – both mine and the rest of the management team.' Mr O'Leary did not indicate how he might spend the money and has slimmed down the racehorse training operation into which he poured millions earlier in his career, winning three Grand Nationals and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in the process. The long-term incentive scheme was first set out in 2019 with an expiration date of 2024 as part of a deal that saw the Ryanair chief sign a new contract while accepting cuts to his salary and annual bonus. However, Covid intervened the following year, grounding flights, plunging airlines into the red and sending share prices tumbling, with Ryanair dropping to €8. Shareholders subsequently backed an extension to the expiry date. The carrier expanded rapidly in the wake of the pandemic, though struggled last summer after a row with online travel agents saw it deprived of some bookings. It was also unable to tap increasing demand for all-inclusive package breaks that boosted rivals easyJet, TUI and Jet2, having closed down its own holidays division some years ago. Regardless, Ryanair continues to rank as Europe's biggest airline by passenger numbers. Mr O'Leary is credited with transforming the Irish carrier from a regional also-ran into a goliath. He joined as finance chief in 1988 before becoming chief executive in 1994, importing a low-cost, no-frills business model copied from US discount giant Southwest Airlines. In order to receive the bonus award – to be paid in share options – Mr O'Leary must stay at Ryanair until July 2028, by which time he will be aged 67 and have been chief executive for almost 35 years. Ryanair did not respond to calls. It previously indicated earlier that it did not plan to comment on its chief executive's windfall since the share options would not vest for another three years.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store