Photo by CAMERON MOLT

ION Country Flight Instructor Greg Kolt cutting Melodi Molt’s shirt tail after her first solo flight.

by Lauren Svejcar
for Burns Times-Herald

It’s a great time to take to the Eastern Oregon skies and celebrate the world of aviation! 

Many local folks have an aviation license; several new students are moving forward with ION Country’s certified flight instructor, Greg Kolt; and many more have expressed interested in getting their license or planes and flying in general. 

Burns Municipal Airport is situated in a prime area for flight training, due to the locale and its open and uncongested airspace. 

ION Country is a local flight school run by Greg Kolt, who said he loves teaching people to fly. Kolt recently had the distinct pleasure of leading local student, Melodi Molt, on her first solo flight!

Molt has been studying and training hard for her private pilot’s license, and her love of flying and planes is intoxicating.

After a student’s first solo flight, the certified flight instructor cuts off the student’s shirt tail. This is a tradition in aviation that demonstrates a flight instructor’s confidence in the student’s ability to fly solo. It signifies that the instructor no longer needs to pull on the student’s shirt to get them to do tasks correctly. 

Women are underrepresented in the world of aviation, but young women can look to Molt as proof that planes and flying aren’t just for the guys. Only about 6 percent of pilots in the United States are women. While these numbers are growing, it is great to demonstrate to our younger generations that aviation is a fantastic hobby and/or career path for all genders.

In fact, there are a lot of scholarships and opportunities available for young women who are interested in aviation. Ninety-Nines and the Women in Aviation International are examples of organizations that help cover the costs of student licensing for young women.

Aviation can seem like a cost-prohibitive endeavor, but many opportunities for people of all genders exist. It’s important to highlight these opportunities for people in Harney County, especially youth who may choose aviation as a career path.

Back in late August, Kolt teamed up with Boyce LaForest and Tanner Hoffman to provide an open day at the airport, which featured flights and a free pancake breakfast. 

The event was a great success, and it demonstrated an enthusiasm within our community for aviation. The success of the event inspired the formation of a Flight Club to bring together people with a passion for flying, planes, and aviation in general. The goal is to create a social club that partakes in and organizes local events, has coordinated involvement with the airport, helps spread information and opportunities for our younger generations, and brings an enthusiasm for aviation to the broader Harney County community. The first catch up will be held Oct. 22 from 4:30-6 p.m. at the Central Hotel. Please RSVP to Greg Kolt (kolt.greg@yahoo.com) or Lauren Svejcar (laurensvejcar@gmail.com) by Thursday, Oct. 21.