Rancho Mirage Students Take Flight for the First Time at Palm Springs Air Museum

Five of the nine students enrolled in Rancho Mirage High School's Aviation Pathway Program took to the skies for the first time Thursday, flying out of the Palm Springs Air Museum in a milestone moment for the program. Each student flew alongside a certified instructor and a school district administrator, giving them hands-on experience that the program's leaders say could lead directly to careers in aviation.

Karen Dimick, Director of Career Readiness for the district, says the flights represent more than a field trip. For these students, it marks a real entry point into an industry they've been studying in the classroom.

The program currently serves nine students, but that's set to change. Next school year, the Aviation Pathway Program will expand to every high school in the Palm Springs Unified School District, opening the opportunity to a much wider group of students.