Pilot Classes Will Continue
January 11, 1941
Notwithstanding new government regulations which practically eliminated the smaller high schools and junior colleges of the west from participating in the U.S. civil pilot training courses in which the government pays $365 for every private pilot licensed, Principal N. H. McCollom last night received word from C. T. Linenesch, supervisor in this area, to continue classes in Susanville, but to double the enrollment from 10 to 20.
McCollom believes that the order came as a result of the local high school’s record of passing every student enrolled in three classes already schooled under the pilot training program.
The new regulations require a paid mechanic at the flying school; special offices and specially constructed hangar; also to have available for ground school training a complete airplane for use in teaching construction and method of operating. The regulation does not require that the specimen plane be air-worthy, but it does require that it be complete.
These were impossible obstacles for the local high school to meet, and the faculty was about to abandon preparations for spring classes when the new order came from the Santa Monica headquarters.
There are already 14 applications for enrollment in the spring classes with McCollom seeking six more eligible.
Of the $365 paid by the government for each trained pilot licensed, the school gets $40 and the flying instructor $315.
