![\"Austin](\"http:\/\/www.clarksvilleonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Austin-Peay-State-University-APSU.jpg\" "\\"Austin")
Clarksville, TN<\/strong> – GOV 1 has landed. Austin Peay State University (APSU) officials on Wednesday, January 9th, 2019 unveiled the first of three helicopters in its new rotor-wing fleet. The helicopters bolster the state\u2019s first and only aviation science program with a rotor-wing concentration.<\/p>\n![\"Charlie](\"http:\/\/www.clarksvilleonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Austin-Peay-introduces-first-helicopter-in-its-rotor-wing-fleet-2.jpg\" "\\"Charlie")
<\/a>Charlie Weigandt lowers GOV 1 onto Austin Peay State University\u2019s campus.<\/p><\/div>\n
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Charlie Weigandt, the program\u2019s director and chief helicopter pilot, circled the plaza beside the APSU Art + Design building before lowering the Guimbal Cabri G2 \u2013 named GOV 1 \u2013 to the lawn.<\/p>\n
The landing was GOV 1\u2019s first on campus, touching down at 10:46am.<\/p>\n
About 150 people \u2013 including local lawmakers and Fort Campbell officials \u2013 braved Wednesday\u2019s chilly temperatures and gusting winds to witness the inaugural campus landing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a historic event, and it\u2019s one that has been in the planning stages for a long time,\u201d APSU President Alisa White said before GOV 1 landed.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Austin Peay State University President Alisa White sits in the cockpit of GOV 1, the University\u2019s first helicopter in its rotor-wing fleet.<\/p><\/div>\n
\u201cThis came as a result of faculty talking to industry. \u2018Where are the jobs? Where are the needs?\u2019 I don\u2019t even know how many conversations (they) had with industry leaders to find out what is needed in this area for our workforce to be at the ready,\u201d stated White.<\/p>\n
White cited the work of Dr. Karen Meisch, interim dean of the College of STEM, Dr. Jaime Taylor, previous STEM dean, and Dr. Kristine Nakutis, executive director of the Austin Peay Center @ Fort Campbell, for launching the program.<\/p>\n
Tennessee’s First Roter-Wing Program<\/h3>\n
Weigandt last week flew two Cabri G2\u2019s to Clarksville \u2013 during a three-day solo flight from Portland, Oregon, and a short flight from St. Louis, Missouri (about 1,900 miles and 21 hours of flight time) \u2013 before housing them at Clarksville Regional Airport. A Robinson R44 soon will join the University\u2019s helicopter fleet.<\/p>\n
[320left]The helicopters will be keystones in Austin Peay\u2019s aviation science degree with a concentration in rotor wing (helicopters) program, which launched in the fall. The degree requires more than 175 hours of flight time. The first flight lab will be this spring, Weigandt said.<\/p>\n
The program benefits Fort Campbell pilots transitioning from the military and civilians pursuing careers in flight instruction, aerial tourism, charter operations and other rotor-wing pilot careers.<\/p>\n
Retired Brig. Gen. Scott Brower, APSU\u2019s military adviser in residence and former deputy commanding general of the 101st<\/sup> Airborne Division, emphasized the University\u2019s role in serving those connected to the military.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause of living in such a great community, with such a large military presence, Austin Peay State University is afforded an opportunity with which comes a responsibility to care for and educate over 2,400 military-affiliated students, which includes our active-duty students, National Guard and Reserve service members, veterans from all services, along with spouses and children of all of those groups,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Rotor-wing students will learn flight skills and academics in a renovated, aviation-oriented facility at Clarksville Regional Airport, aka Outlaw Field.<\/p>\n Elliott Herzlich, APSU President Alisa White\u2019s husband; Dr. Karen Meisch, interim dean of the College of STEM; and Barry Jones, interim dean of the College of Arts and Letters, look inside GOV 1.<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cWithout Outlaw Field doing this, we couldn\u2019t do this,\u201d White said. \u201cThe partnerships that have been established with this program are just indicative of the kind of partnerships we want going forward. We want to be a part of the University\u2019s and the state\u2019s goals to support the economy and to support our families and to support our community.<\/p>\n \u201cWithout our entire community, without everybody at the table, this could not be possible.\u201d<\/p>\n Unlike other flight training facilities in the region, the APSU program is staffed by full-time faculty, well experienced in rotor-wing training.<\/p>\n [320right]Weigandt is a 24-year U.S. Army veteran and founding member of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. After his service, Weigandt spent an additional 14 years as a contract flight instructor.<\/p>\n \u201cI can speak from personal experience<\/a>, having my bachelor\u2019s degree before I went into the Army gave me an edge competitively when it came time for promotion and selection for programs,\u201d Weigandt said. \u201cThat\u2019s what we will give our students; it isn\u2019t just the certificates, but also that degree to make them more competitive in the job market.\u201d<\/p>\n Students will receive a well-rounded undergraduate education in addition to the ability to obtain the rotor-wing FAA private pilot\u2019s and commercial pilot\u2019s licenses, and commercial flight instructor and commercial flight instrument instructor certificates. The combination of FAA certification and a bachelor\u2019s degree will make APSU graduates more competitive in the aviation market.<\/p>\n The program will provide a foundation in FAA regulations, airmanship, rotary-wing aerodynamics and methods of instruction and will provide students the opportunity to pass required FAA knowledge tests required for each certificate or rating.<\/p>\n At Austin Peay, \u201cthe possibilities remain endless,\u201d Brower said. \u201cThis rotor-wing program is the next possibility, and it\u2019s going to help not only our military-affiliated students, but all students in the community we\u2019re so happy to be a part of.\u201d<\/p>\n For more about Austin Peay\u2019s aviation science program, visit www.apsu.edu\/programs\/undergraduate\/aviation-science-rotor-wing.php<\/a><\/p>\n For more about the Guimbal Cabri G2, visit www.guimbal.com.<\/a><\/p>\nSuccessful Students In A Competitive Market<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Rotor-Wing The Next Of Endless Possibilities<\/h3>\n
Learn More<\/h3>\n