Beyond the Blue
From the Winter 2026 Issue
SHS is helping students gain their wings
From left to right: Kiana Klinginsmith, Calie Bailey, Noah Roark, Piper Roark, Alex David, and Via Vachon (Josie Buoy not pictured). Photo by Pam Webb
While most teens focus on getting their driver’s license, there are a handful of Sandpoint High School students who are focused on getting their private pilot’s license. An impressive goal in itself, what makes it more so is that these seven young women between the ages of 15 and 18 have earned, or are in the process of earning, their private pilot’s license and are defying aviation industry statistics since a mere four percent of commercial aviation is composed of women. Five of the seven students are now licensed pilots: Alex Davis, Noah Roark, Calie Bailey, Via Vachon and Josie Buoy, and it’s just a matter of hours for Piper Roark and Kiana Klinginsmith.
Reactions vary when people learn about their aspirations, or ability to fly a plane. “Most people seem impressed that I can control a flying vehicle with just a couple fingers at a young age,” said Noah Roark. “Some people are fairly surprised and even a little shocked when I tell them.”
“They wonder how I could have the guts to fly an airplane, which is very understandable,” added Bailey.
Before these young flyers made that solo flight into the wild blue yonder they all had to complete some crucial groundwork knowledge. One means of learning this essential information is the Career Pathway aerospace elective at Sandpoint High School. From there potential pilots then arrange for flight training through options such as those at the Bonner County airport.
The love of flying and of planes was already present even before these students began their journey to earn their license for the sky. For the Roarke sisters, aviation is a family interest since their father, grandfather and aunt are all pilots. Piper and Noah were flying almost as soon as they could walk. “I was about two when Dad took me up,” said Piper.
Kiana Klinginsmith also started young, going up in a plane at age 7. For Alex Davis it was the Discovery Flight (a free flight offered to qualifying students) in a Cessna when she was 16.
An end of day approach to the airport. Photo by Noah Roark
Committing to becoming a pilot takes a dedicated effort. One step is earning the pilot certificate, required for solo flight. Another major component is the pilot exam, which involves countless hours of studying since the 60-question, multiple choice test pulls from a bank of over 900 questions. The exam requires a passing score of 70 percent or better with students needing to prove their knowledge on topics such as weather, navigation and flight training. A shared laugh rang around the table when it was agreed there would be fewer people driving if the driving test was as difficult as the pilot test.
Paying for flying lessons and other related costs is expensive and part-time jobs help as does financial support from families. “I work two part-time jobs to save up in between ratings. I also apply for as many scholarships as possible. My grandpa helped pay for some but the rest is funded with my own hard work and scholarships,” said Via Vachon.
And scholarships do make a difference. “I have had a huge amount of support through scholarships, particularly from the Pinky Brier Foundation. Without scholarships and family support I don’t think I would have been able to do this,” said Davis.
Another skill gained from the aviation program is time management. “I made schedules for myself and prioritized some studies over others,” said Bailey. “I basically had to switch my priorities to school first, flying second and [then] family and friends,” added Vachon.
Noah Roark manages a unique selfie.
Having invested countless hours into the program these young aviators were quick to offer up words of advice for those interested in obtaining their pilot’s license. Klinginsmith believes a person should understand the reason why they want their license and should set a goal, while Davis emphasized looking for scholarships early on. Noah added that a person needs “to study a lot.”
When the topic of goals came up, most of the group expressed interest in the coveted commercial airline pilot license. “Flying is more than a hobby for me,” said Piper. “It’s a career goal. I want to make it my profession and carry on the family tradition.”
For other students there is the attraction to the adventurous side of flying. Vachon leans toward flying helicopters and Klinginsmith wants to give stunt planes a spin.
Combining post-secondary plans with flying is also part of the future for some of the students like Josie Buoy, already a licensed private pilot, who has been accepted into “Ascent” with Horizon Airlines, a fast track program to become an airline pilot.
It’s one day at a time for now, yet these young aviators are looking forward to a future spending time flying in that endless, challenging blue.
Comments are closed.
