WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — While most West Liberty University students are navigating midterms, searching for quiet study spots or stressing over 10 a.m. parking, a select group of students is navigating the skies.

The WLU Aviation program offers a college experience unlike any other, where passing a test means keeping an airplane in the air.

Many students on campus might not even realize the university has an Aviation program. However, for those enrolled in the major, the thrill begins early. Jeremiah Ratcliffe, a student pilot in the program, noted how quickly students get into the cockpit.

“The coolest thing I would tell an incoming freshman would be that they could be flying a plane, and possibly by themself, in their first semester of college,” Ratcliffe said.

Brady Bauer, a WLU student who recently earned his official license, emphasized the patience required to succeed in flight school. “You never know if your flight is going to get canceled and change your plans for the day, if you’re going to get scheduled for your next lesson or examination 12 hours before it happens, and when the next nice day to fly will be,” Bauer said. “It’s important to stay ready.”

Balancing flight school with normal college life demands strict time management. Ratcliffe explained that taking mostly online courses has helped him manage the workload, though he is preparing to take his first in-person class this upcoming fall. “As long as I keep to a strict schedule and do not get behind in any of my classes, I will be okay,” Ratcliffe said.

The ultimate test of a student pilot’s preparation is their first solo flight. Stepping into the plane without an instructor is a major, and sometimes nerve-wracking, milestone.

“It was a really weird experience,” Ratcliffe recalled. “One thing that was going through my head was that if my instructor trusted me

with the keys to the plane, I knew I could do it. Don’t get me wrong, I was definitely nervous, but once I took off I felt so much more confident in myself.”

For Bauer, the reality of his solo flight hit him while he was already in the air. “I knew I was by myself in the plane, but it didn’t sink in until I was scanning for traffic and saw the empty co-pilot seat,” Bauer said. “I laughed to myself. The whole experience felt surreal.”

Because the local airport is so close to WLU, student pilots often get a unique, bird’s-eye view of their own school. Ratcliffe described the campus as beautiful from the air, though he admitted he can’t admire the view for too long since he has to maintain control of the aircraft.

As these students look toward the future, the sky is quite literally the limit. Bauer plans to discover his ideal aviation career, eventually own his own plane, and take his first fun flight to an island in the Caribbean. Until then, West Liberty’s student pilots will continue balancing their time between the classroom and the clouds.