Jairus Mathieu and his instructor.

DURHAM – Durham Parks and Recreation is giving teens a chance to take flight and learn what it’s like to be a pilot through a new Aviation Flight Simulator Program at the Durham Teen Center. 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 the Durham Parks and Recreation program 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,” Mathieu 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 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, Durham Teen Zone recreation coordinator. “Ultimately, it’s about creating a pathway — from learning the basics to exploring pilot training and aviation careers.”

The 12 registered teens that completed the course were presented with certificates during the program’s recognition ceremony last month at Lake Ridge Airport. 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 Young Eagles program. Representatives from Elizabeth City State University’s Aviation Program were also on hand and spoke with participants and families about aviation pathways, scholarships and grants.

“I really love the program,” Mathieu 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.”

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. 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.”

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