Only just a few days after graduating from high school and after two long years of the COVID pandemic, Wallkill graduate Dustin Colombo finally obtained his Private Pilot’s License from the Ulster County Board of Cooperative Educational Services [BOCES] Aviation program.

When he heard the instructor say congratulations after his final test flight, a wave of relief overcame Dustin, who has been in the aviation program for the past two years. It was during that time that the aviation program had been interrupted by the COVID pandemic, which made classes and flying even more difficult. Despite all the flight test delays and the on-going pandemic adjustments, Dustin was still able to achieve his dream and he officially graduated from Ulster BOCES on June 14.

Back in 2019, Dustin shared he had been interested in pursuing a path in music and aviation was an interest. It was during a tour of the facilities and program at Ulster BOCES that he took with his mother, April Colombo, that changed and sparked his full-time interest in aviation.

In just two years, Dustin shared he has learned a variety of aviation related topics from legal and federal aviation terminology, the maintenance and systems of an aircraft, the physics of flight, meteorology and the function of the ears when flying. Even during the course of the year, Dustin said that he would help with the instruction of students and was also focused on passing the Federal Aviation Administration [FAA] written exam.

According to Dustin, during the course of his junior year, most of the classroom work would be focused on learning the ground knowledge required. Then during senior year, the focus of that year would be on the application of the knowledge learned in the classroom to the aircraft. Dustin had the opportunity to practice flying using the Cessna 172 aircraft. Classes would last around two hours a day and there were about 15 students in total who were in the program who also needed ample time to apply the learned knowledge to flying.

When April found out her son had completed his test and achieved his private pilot’s license, she happily admitted that she almost burst into tears. “I’m beyond thrilled for him,” April said. “My mother, she’s been here since the beginning, she has been nothing but supportive through everything I’ve done,” Dustin said. “I made sure that she was the first that found out.”

Looking back on the last two years, April shared that it was difficult to see Dustin trying to navigate classes, waiting to fly in favorable conditions and work within the pandemic but she is so proud of this accomplishment. During that time, April said she kept pushing and encouraging Dustin to keep going during the difficult times because she knew he could achieve his dream.

April, her husband and other members of her family have all graduated from Ulster and Orange County BOCES programs and she is grateful to Ulster BOCES and the aviation program opportunity available for Dustin. “The future is at his fingertips,” April said. “Sky’s the limit for this kid, he’s going places and I couldn’t be more proud of him.”

Now with his pilot license, Dustin shared that if the opportunity presents itself, he would be interested in pursuing a career as a commercial pilot. For now, he is pursuing engineering and plans to further his education at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona, Florida and hopes to utilize his piloting skills for experimental flights or other related flight careers.