Saturday, June 15, 2013
The sun broke over the cloudless sky as I made my way to Dekalb-Peachtree Airport in Atlanta early Saturday morning. I was meeting Rohan Bhatia and Spencer Clark of the Centennial Aviation Academy. For the past nine year, Bhatia has been teaching children how to fly. We toured the airport and hangars as we waited for their first camper to arrive. Rob Trotter, a young man from Johns Creek, was going to have his first flying lesson in the academy’s single engine Cessna Skyhawk. Clark and Trotter performed the necessary pre-flight inspection of the aircraft as Tortter’s family watched their son. After the inspection Rob, Rohan and myself climbed into the cabin of the small plane and headed down the runway for a 30 or so minute jaunt above the city. During the three day camp, Bhatia gives his campers a presentation on air traffic control procedures, aerodynamics and ATC Communication, aircraft maintenance and multiple tours including a private tour of a Delta Boeing 767 as well as hangars at Dekalb-Peachtree, the airport fire station, Epps and the Atlanta SkyTrain.
The Epps Aviation hangar at Dekalb-Peachtree Airport in Atlanta on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Captain Rohan Bhatia (left) and junior counselor Spencer Clark ready a single engine Cessna Skyhawk for flight during aviation camp on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Rob Trotter (left) performs a pre-flight check of a single engine Cessna Skyhawk with the help of junior counselor Spencer Clark before taking off from Dekalb-Peachtree Airport in Atlanta during aviation camp on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Rob Trotter (left) performs a pre-flight check of a single engine Cessna Skyhawk with the help of junior counselor Spencer Clark before taking off from Dekalb-Peachtree Airport in Atlanta during aviation camp on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Rob Trotter performs a pre-flight check of a single engine Cessna Skyhawk before taking off from Dekalb-Peachtree Airport in Atlanta during aviation camp on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Planes line the runway at Dekalb-Peachtree Airport in Atlanta on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Rob Trotter (left) talks to the air traffic control tower at Dekalb-Peachtree Airport as he flies a single engine Cessna Skyhawk with the help of Captain Rohan Bhatia during aviation camp on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
An aerial view of the city of Atlanta from 4,500 feet on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Rob Trotter glances out of the window looking for other planes as he flies a single engine Cessna Skyhawk over Atlanta with the help of Captain Rohan Bhatia during aviation camp on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
An aerial view of the city of Atlanta from 4,500 feet on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Captain Rohan Bhatia (right) and 12 year old Rob Trotterpilot a single engine Cessna Skyhawk over Atlanta during aviation camp on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Rob Trotter (left) glances behind him as he flies a single engine Cessna Skyhawk over Atlanta with the help of Captain Rohan Bhatia during aviation camp on Saturday, June 15, 2013.