Setting his Sights – Sam Stallman Strives for Success
Sam Stallman will have two of the three career bases covered when his days at the WMU College of Aviation are behind him.
The Elkhart, Ind., native, now in his junior year, is focusing his studies both on aviation flight science as well as aviation management and operations.
Who knows! Maybe there will be time and the opportunity for Stallman to take a shot at the college's third major -- learning the ins and outs of the mechanical and electronic systems that allow aircraft to safely go up and -- even better -- come down.
Western's aviation program became more than a blip on Stallman's radar "because of the warmth and welcoming nature I experienced when visiting the campus. I considered similar universities," he says, "but Western was the one that really felt like home. The college's program really impressed me and made the most sense."
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He believes that his grandfather, who flew for the U. S. Coast Guard for 30 years, first pointed him toward a career path, enough so that Stallman started his flight training near his hometown in northern Indiana.
When not taking part in a Western semester, Stallman has worked as a ramp/ticket agent at the airport serving the South Bend area in his home state. "That's such a great way to learn another side of the aviation industry beyond the cockpit," he says. "It gives me a greater appreciation for just how much goes into getting a flight off the ground. Pilots, flight attendants, maintenance personnel and ticket/ramp agents all play important roles in doing so. I have been proud being a part of that."
He's not a lone ranger during his academic days either. Stallman claims membership in the Western chapters of both the National Gay Pilots Association and Alpha Eta Rho, the collegiate aviation fraternity that serves as a connection between the industry and higher education.
Stallman is greatly impressed with the college's learning and nurturing environment. "My favorite parts have been the friends I've made and the great education that has come my way so far. As I said, I had prior experience at a great flight school, but WMU has really helped me become much more confident in my skills and abilities."
Playing a major role in that, he says, is the curriculum, especially the course in advanced aircraft systems taught by faculty specialist Dr. Gail Rouscher, who brings into her classrooms aircraft maintenance experiences from the U.S. Navy and the aviation industry. "Her instruction was very beneficial in understanding how different systems operate," he says. "It was really interesting to go in depth about the CRJ and similar aircraft that many of us will be flying when starting out."
For aviation rookies, CRJ stands for Canadair Regional Jet. Usually regional airlines are flying CRJs or Embraers. The College of Aviation has a CRJ-200 flight-training device (simulator) that is used in the LOFT (line oriented flight training) course. Its purpose is to have students start thinking about flying in crew format. The LOFT course is a senior-level course, and is designed for students to expand their thinking from flying a single-pilot aircraft to a crew-operated aircraft (like the airlines). As part of this, the college also teaches CRM - crew resource management.
"I also wanted to get involved in campus activities," Stallman adds, "in order to get to better know others in the same program, and I highly recommend that future Western aviation students do the same. Even if it is not aviation-related, joining any RSO (Registered Student Organization) that pertains to your interests has great benefits." (At Western, there are more than 400 registered student organizations, over 10 of which are aviation specific.)
Stallman's career choice has also allowed him to pursue other interests, such as photography (especially the perspectives that are available up in the clouds) and traveling. One trip took him to the Dutch side of the Caribbean Island of St. Martin (Sint Maarten), which is home to the fabled Maho Beach. Maho is adjacent to the Princess Juliana International Airport and has become a great gathering spot for plane watchers as they experience these monsters of the airways approach and take off.
"It was so cool to see aircraft land and take off mere feet above my head," he recalls about what must be both a scary and awe-inspiring moment.
While Stallman may decide that aviation maintenance technology is not in his future, which is likely, he already has something of a future game plan. "I'd like to fly with one of the airlines after graduation," he says, "but I would also love to explore flying for corporate and cargo departments as well."
He also has a favorite aircraft. It's the McDonnell-Douglas 80. "It would definitely be my dream job being able to be at its controls."