Nearly three years after a new partnership between Ascent Aviation and Lake Superior College was announced to revamp and grow the two-year professional pilot degree program offered in Duluth, students are not only successfully graduating the program but some have even gone on to be flight instructors in the program and are now helping support other aspiring pilots.

The first student to graduate from the new flight school arrangement was Derek Holte, a graduate of Duluth East High School.

Derek started attending Lake Superior College a few years ago to complete his general education courses but became increasingly intrigued about the aviation program as he heard more about it. He ended up enrolling in the program and knew immediately he had made the right choice. He has been hooked on aviation ever since, and is now making a career out of it.

 “I didn’t know I wanted to be a pilot at first,” said Derek Holte. “I enrolled in general courses at LSC and wasn’t sure what I wanted to do yet. I heard about the new partnership between Ascent and LSC and thought flight school sounded interesting. I learned more about it and ended up loving it.”

He added that many people go into aviation because of a family background, but that wasn’t the case for him. And he encourages others to give it a try.

After completing all requirements of the program and graduating, Derek was offered the opportunity to work for Ascent Aviation as a flight instructor. He started in January.

This allows him to continue to build his flight hours, as well as help mentor and guide current students in the program. Two of his fellow graduates from the first cohort to complete the program have gone on to become flight instructors as well.

Things will start ramping up in the summer months.

Derek says he is loving his new role and the opportunity to give back to the program he believes in. “It’s a really cool job. It doesn’t feel like work.” 

With more students set to graduate in May, Ascent Aviation continues to recruit more aspiring pilots into the program as the need for professional pilots continues to grow. According to Boeing’s 2024 Pilot and Technician Outlook, there continues to be a growing global workforce demand for pilots. Per their report, approximately 674,000 new pilots will be needed to meet growing worldwide demand over the next twenty years, with 123,000 needed in North America alone. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there will be approximately 18,500 openings for airline and commercial pilots each year for over the next decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace pilots who will retire

Ascent Aviation and Lake Superior Helicopters partner with Lake Superior College to offer a two-year pilot degree program for both fixed-wing and helicopter flight training.

Applications for fall enrollment are now being accepted. Anyone interested in learning more about becoming a pilot (airplane or helicopter) is encouraged to visit www.ascentaviation.com/fly and/or attend the upcoming Aviation Open House at LSC’s Center for Advanced Aviation, Hangar 103, 4960 Airport Road, 3-6 pm, on Friday, April 18.

Any prospective student interested in the professional pilot programs can also contact Ascent Aviation, info@ascentaviation.com, to arrange an individual tour of training facilities, both at LSC’s Center for Advanced Aviation and/or at Lake Superior Helicopters, as well as an opportunity to speak with an admissions representative to learn more.