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Title Sullivan teen pilot leads students into aviation at local airport

At 19 years old, Shelby Hall spends her time demonstrating her passion for aviation through her enthusiastic teaching on the ground and in the air.

Until two years ago, Hall had tentative plans to enter dermatology upon completion of high school. Those plans shifted when she began flying at Sullivan County Airport with her father. The flying bug bit and Hall was hooked.

Within 9 months, Hall became one of the youngest pilots to solo at Sullivan County Airport as well as earning her instrument rating, licenses for commercial pilot, Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) and Certified Flight Instructor - Instrument (CFII). She logs time as she guides others on their journey into the world of aviation as an instructor for Wings Incorporated, a flight school and aircraft maintenance service based at Sullivan County Airport.

“I have about four or five students right now who are flying every day,” says Hall.

For students pursuing a career in aviation, instructors at Wings Incorporated work to expedite their entrance into the field.

“If you’re doing daily homework and the flight time everyday it can take as little as five to six weeks,” says Hall when discussing a private pilot license.

While the age requirement to solo is 16 years old and the requirement to earn your license is 17 years old, Hall instructs some students as young as 14 years old.

With impending pilot shortages, Wings Incorporated has embraced Hall’s enthusiasm and plans major upgrades to the training environment and refining of their flight instruction syllabus.

Wings Incorporated offers introductory flights to anyone interested for fun or for those interested in aviation as a potential career field.

“They are just $100 flights that anybody can come out and just fly for about 45 minutes, learn about the airport, and learn about possible career options in aviation,” explains Hall.

Pilot jobs vary widely and include flight instruction, airlines, pipeline patrol, corporate, business, bush pilots, and parachute jump pilot. Hall plans on instructing for two to three years while logging time in small aircraft before earning her Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate and moving on to regional airlines.

“The minimum hours to get your ATP are 1500 hours, my goal is to double that and get 3000 hours so I can just be ahead of the game,” explains Hall.

Hall maintains student status herself and has earned an associates degree in general studies from Ivy Tech Community College and will finish a bachelor’s of science in aviation from Liberty University this October.