Students of Maranatha Christian Academy’s all-new Foundations of Aviation course recently stepped out of the classroom and onto Inspire Field to take the controls of a professional-grade drone. It was a hands-on preview of a future that MCA is actively building for its students.

Foundations of Aviation is the first course in MCA’s new Aviation program, which is built on curriculum designed by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).

The idea for this program started with one student’s—Tristan Gloeb's—passion for flying.

"I asked Mrs. Larson," Tristan shared, "and we set up a meeting. I shared my ideas, and they researched and eventually set it up, so I'm taking it right now. I've always been interested in planes and flying across the country to different places, but around middle school that interest spiked again and I started learning more about the industry."

What makes Maranatha distinctive is its commitment to listening to students and bringing their ideas to life. Offering a variety of programs helps students to identify their passions and pursue their calling.

MCA knew that for the program to be successful, a teacher who was not just knowledgeable in the content area but was truly passionate about aviation and sharing that with students was vital. That teacher is Tom Phelps, who leads this new aviation program.

Mr. Phelps was born and raised in Minnesota, got a degree in Music Education from St. Olaf, and also taught high school choir for a time! After teaching, Tom moved into the corporate sector for corporate training and communications. Tom's love for aviation, however, started way back when he was young.

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I have loved aviation and dreamed about becoming a pilot for as long as I can remember.

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"All of my flying is purely recreational," Mr. Phelps shared, "and I enjoy taking friends and family up flying with me. There's just nothing like it."

To bring aviation to life for his students, Mr. Phelps invited longtime friend Aaron Giese, a commercial drone pilot who flies drones for fun/occasionally for commercial purposes, to share his expertise with the class.

"I've known Aaron for 20 years," Mr. Phelps shared. "He and I just reconnected about a year and a half ago and I learned he was a drone pilot!”

Aaron first gave a classroom presentation on his career path, the rigorous Part 107 licensing process, and his aerial photography business. Then he and Mr. Phelps took the group out to Inspire Field for some hands-on experience with the drones.

"He did this whole set up,” Mr. Phelps said, motioning to the portable drone lab setup around them, “just to give the kids exposure to and interest in drone flying.”

Because this is the program’s inaugural semester, Mr. Phelps is combining the AOPA’s introductory ninth-grade curriculum with what he’s learned through his own flying experience and private pilot ground school training. The result is an intensive first semester that covers as much ground as possible, with everything from an overview of general/commercial/military aviation to space travel and exploration.

The class is currently learning about the origins of flight dating back all the way to ancient history as well as starting to learn some of the basics that actual pilots learn in their Private Pilot Ground School (eg: the dynamics of flight, the parts of an airplane, cockpit components, weather, etc.).

Tom also has a good friend who works for the US Aviation Academy that he plans to bring in to speak with the students. "We'll spend a bit of time learning about jet engines, airplane engines, and even take a tour of the facility."

Mr. Phelps' style is all about getting students hands-on experience with aviation, and it's that type of work that builds more than flight knowledge, leading to the exact portrait of a graduate MCA strives for. Students grow as critical thinkers who solve problems where precision matters while growing as impactful innovators who see the math and science they learn in class come to life in the air.

For Tom, aviation is about so much more than just learning about aerospace engineering or flying a plane, and he hopes to instill that into his students.

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The entire story of my aviation journey is filled with amazing things God has done for me, people He has connected me with, and opportunities He has provided for me. I want to share His goodness, love and faithfulness through the avenue of aviation, and this opportunity to teach at Maranatha is truly an Ephesians 3:20 testimony for me.

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Mr. Phelps sees "Foundations of Aviation" as the beginning of what could become quite a robust program.

"Our aim is to build and develop an aviation and aerospace program that will provide pathways for students to learn about all kinds of aviation, engineering, and aerospace that will position them well to pursue careers in those fields."

Tom's heart behind future plans is that students go from, "'I'm kind of interested in flying’ to ‘I want to become an aerospace engineer, airline pilot, and everything in between!’"

For Mr. Phelps, taking learning beyond the classroom walls is central to his vision for the program, whether that means piloting drones on Inspire Field or climbing into a cockpit.  

"In a couple weeks,” Mr. Phelps smiled, “we're gonna go to Thunderbird Aviation. The boys will get in an airplane and fly it with an instructor!"

Next, The school plans to add a professional flight simulator, complete with control mounts and pedals, to give students a simulated flying experience right here on campus.

Mr. Phelps also loves to bring the culture of aviation to his students in order to give them a glimpse into what life is like in the sky, sharing stories of things like navigating through sudden clouds in St. Cloud or the time he took up the legendary pilot tradition known as “the $100 hamburger.”

"In Minnesota,” Mr. Phelps explained, “there's about 150 public use airports, and most of them have a little courtesy car. So you show up to the airport, and then in a little pilot's lounge there's some car keys. You take the old, you know, 2006 Chevy Tahoe that used to belong to the Wadena fire department,” Tom laughed, “and you drive it into town, find a little local restaurant, have lunch, and fly home. They call it ‘the $100 hamburger’ because the hamburger itself doesn't cost 100 bucks, but you're paying, you know, aviation gas and taking a lot of money to get to that little hamburger.”

At Maranatha, we believe God has uniquely gifted each student and has a calling for their life. Sometimes that discovery begins in a Bible class or a conversation with a teacher. Other times, it begins with a drone controller in your hands on Inspire Field. Some students may pursue aeropace engineering like MCA alum Dallas Balentine (’22). Others may head to the cockpit discovering a lifelong love of flight.

Whatever path they take, the aim is the same: students who are loved by Christ above and equipped for life beyond.  

MCA mustangs are cleared for takeoff.  

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Current Families: Foundations of Aviation is open to students in grades 9–12. Talk with the CCC during course registration to apply.