Upcoming Black Durham Teen Pilot is Rising The Ranks Quickly
Durham, NC: Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR) is giving teens a chance to take flight and learn what it’s like to be a pilot through an exciting new Aviation Flight Simulator Program at the Durham Teen Center, and one local teen is using this experience to move towards a career in aviation.
Jairus Mathieu, known to family and friends as “JB,” is a sophomore at Riverside High School and heard about this unique program with DPR through his Airforce JROTC instructor. He immediately took an interest and registered for the free program.
“I decided to sign up because I am an aspiring fighter pilot,” JB said. “From a very young age I wanted to learn a very specialized skill that would be helpful to propel me through a career path. This program really called out to me. I signed up for it as soon as I could.”
The Aviation Flight Simulator Program is a hands-on experience that allows teens aged 13 to 17 to take control of the cockpit and navigate the skies with professional-grade flight simulation equipment — the same technology that real pilots use. This free program teaches participants how math, science and focus work together from take-off to landing to make flight possible. Each weekly session teaches kids precision, discipline and real-world STEM skills through an “Earn Your Wings” Progress Card System, moving from Student Pilot to Navigator to Pilot in Command.
“What sets this apart from a video game is that it’s treated as a Flight Laboratory, emphasizing real aviation fundamentals, focus, and responsibility,” said Cimarron Reed, Recreation Coordinator at the Durham Teen Zone. “Ultimately, it’s about creating a pathway — from learning the basics to exploring pilot training and aviation careers.”
“I really love the program,” JB added. “The simulator is amazing for getting basic skills that’ll help me throughout the rest of the years that I plan to use aviation.” When asked what the most interesting thing he has learned so far in the program, he said, “How easy it is to fly. It’s not as hard as you may think. A lot of it is just knowing how to get out of a dangerous situation and understanding how the aircraft works. That’s been amazing to learn.”
The 12 registered teens that completed the course were presented with certificates of completion during the program’s recognition ceremony held at Lake Ridge Airport on Saturday, April 11. They were also able to experience a flight inside the cockpit of a real plane with a trained pilot through DPR’s collaboration with the Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) Young Eagles program! Representatives from Elizabeth City State University’s Aviation Program were also on hand with an information table and spoke with participants and families about aviation pathways, scholarships, and grants.
DPR previously had an aviation program in 2017 at W.D. Hill Recreation Center, led by Andre White with support from the Tuskegee Airmen under the late Leroy Walker, that served younger kids at the time. However, the program ended after COVID.
“We wanted to bring aviation back, but this time focused on teens closer to pilot-license age,” Reed added. “Our current coach, Frank White, helped us finally relaunch the program under the Durham Teen Zone.”
The Aviation Flight Simulator Program isn’t a fly-by-night program for DPR as the Teen Center will be hosting it again soon. Reed was able to procure three additional computer monitors, upgraded foot pedals to control the virtual plane’s speed and rudder, and a new throttle lever/yoke to provide participants with an even more immersive experience. Stay tuned for more information about the upcoming Aviation Flight Simulator Program!