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According to Sanders, flying full time is more than logging flight hours with her instructor, Logan Yoon, in the sky. Students also attend school on the ground through state-of-the-art flight simulations. With three main planes in the fleet of HFA that are almost identical, no matter which plane students fly, lessons are always consistent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On June 1, Sanders passed her instrument check ride. She passed the instrument rating exam two weeks earlier, which allowed her to file her own instrument flight plans with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The instrument panel exam tested her ability to operate an aircraft using only the instrument panels. During low visibility and poor weather conditions, this skill is vital, and it is a must for Sanders, whose ultimate goal is to earn her Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) rating, which is the equivalent of a doctorate degree for aviators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe instrument phase was fun for me because of the contrast from always looking outside to trusting instrumentation and developing a scan. Private pilot training focuses on the pilot\u2019s ability to control the aircraft in different configurations and phases of flight. Recently, I have enjoyed long cross-country flights, which are mini time-building adventures where I practiced more precise commercial maneuvers and landings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The FAA requires pilots in training to pass a commercial pilot airplane knowledge exam (CAX). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sanders said, \u201cWhen I passed my CAX with a 95%, I felt accomplished. My time and energy studying ground knowledge had paid off. After earning my instrument rating, I felt confident when I filed an instrument flight plan to fly as the safety pilot for another student. I also feel confident whenever I can explain the reasoning and execution of an instrument approach procedure, landing, maneuvers, etc.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Communication is key. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sanders said, \u201cEvery aspiring pilot should focus on communication skills inside the cockpit, with other pilots, and with air traffic controllers. Pilots are always learning, so willingness to ask questions is a must.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to her future, Sanders desires to become a flight instructor while she earns flight hours toward a restricted ATP license. This would allow her to become a co-pilot. She also likes the idea of becoming an aerial firefighter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn five years, I hope that I\u2019ve earned seniority at a regional jet carrier, and since I will be over the age of 23, I will have earned my ATP license. But more importantly, I hope I still love flying. Young pilots are changing the future of aviation through adaptability to new, more precise systems and inclusion in a 90% male-dominated field.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She advises future pilots to search for a flight school that works best for their lifestyle before starting their first lesson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAfter this, immerse yourself in aviation. I\u2019ve enjoyed Fly-Ins, Warbird Days, the \u2018Opposing Bases\u2019 podcast, and spending time in the maintenance hangar.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n From selling Girl Scout cookies and earning bronze and silver awards, to reaching greater heights, Clara Grace Sanders charts a path of her own. GN<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" WE\u2019VE ALL heard, \u201cThe sky\u2019s the limit,\u201d but for Clara Grace Sanders, the sky isn\u2019t the limit \u2014 it\u2019s home! From a young age, she attended several Girls in Aviation events with her Girl Scout troop, and each visit nurtured her growing fascination with airplanes and flying. Though she planned to attend law school and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":24184,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24182","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/shelbyville\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/09\/Story-1-photo1-2-1024x683.jpg\")