Cargill Aeronautical Academy and Service Center

We congratulate Jackson on passing his Private Pilot Checkride! Great work Jackson and Lou! #privatepilot

Another first solo! Great work, Steve!

Congratulations to Addy for completing his first solo flight this morning!

Last week, Wayne celebrated his 100th birthday. Wayne is a WWII veteran, and is very passionate about aviation, so his friends surprised him with a 1 hour flight lesson! We are thankful for the opportunity to have hosted a party for this wonderful group of people. Happy birthday, Wayne! #aviation

Alex and two of his students, Eric and Bran. They are both working together and well on their way to earning their Private Pilot Certificates! #flycargill #aviation

In May 2017 Cargill Aeronautical Academy and Service Center launched an apprentice program targeted at youth interested in pursuing a career in aviation maintenance. The program started with one apprentice, sixteen year old Axel Routh. Axel, a native of Jacksonville Florida, moved to Pennsylvania with his parents in 2012. At the age of 8, Axel participated in the EAA Young Eagles Program. The sole purpose of the Young Eagles Program is to introduce and inspire kids in the wor...ld of aviation by giving them their first free flight in an airplane. That certainly was the case for Axel, who recalls from then on I knew I wanted to work with planes. For more information about the Young Eagles, visit their website at https://www.eaa.org/eaa/youth/ free-ye-flights. When Axel turned sixteen, he contacted the Cargill Service Center hoping to job shadow with Daryl Plouse, the company’s Director of Maintenance, for several days. He considered himself lucky if he was able to sweep floors and observe the operations of an aircraft service center. Several days ended up being a full time 30-month apprenticeship, the time required to test for and be licensed as an A&P (Airframe and Powerplant) mechanic. On November 21, 2019, at the age of 18, Axel became one of the youngest apprentices to obtain an A&P license. Axle returned to Cargill Service Center on December 2, 2019 as an A&P where he prepared and signed his first logbook entry. Currently, Axel is enrolled in Liberty University’s aviation program. He is scheduled to graduate in the Spring of 2021 with a Bachelor's Degree in Aviation Maintenance Management. My experience has been amazing, nothing could’ve been done differently. I am very grateful for everything Daryl and Cargill, as a whole has done for me. - Axel Routh Congratulations Axel. Your Cargill family is proud of you!

We are proud to announce the hiring of Alex DuNunzio as a full time Certified Flight Instructor with Cargill Aeronautical Academy. Alex DiNunzio comes to us by way of Jacksonville, Florida. Although a native to the Hershey area, Alex just finished the Airline Career Pilot Program at ATP flight school. He holds CFI, CFI-I, MEI. Alex will teach students from private through commercial. Additionally, Alex has a degree from Penn State University. Prior to becoming a pilot, he worked at the Pennsylvania State Police. In his free time, Alex enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing ice hockey, fly fishing, camping, and riding his motorcycles. He and his fiancé Lahrsen reside in Hershey with their rescue pup, Marty.

2.5 years of hard work pays off! Join us in congratulating Axel Routh for earning his Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic Certificate!

Another solo in the books! 20 years after his first solo flight, Brian once again took to the skies by himself. Congratulations Brian! #flycargill

Join us in congratulating Nixon on his first solo this last weekend! #flycargill #firstsolo

Congratulations to Jackson on his first solo! #flycargill

Thank you to everyone who attended our Make-A-Wish fundraiser fly-in/drive-in on Saturday!