Marion Military Institute (MMI) has partnered with AeroPro for an FAA-certified flight training program. AreoPro is a subsidiary of Resicum International, LLC, which operates operates flight training and aircraft maintenance at Jack Edwards Airport in Gulf Shores and Craig Field Airport in Selma, Alabama.

The partners will host flight education sessions titled “Aim High Flight Academy” in May and July, sponsored by the U.S. Air Force. The sessions will be open for 20 participants to complete ground school and "reach solo flight status in just three weeks," said a press release from MMI.

The academy is free and will be held at Vaiden Field, 10 miles from MMI.

During the 2023-2024 academic year, AreoPro will operate the existing MMI flight training program known as the Flying Tigers and use two Cessna 172s and one Cessna 150 owned by MMI.

Training will be done as two student profiles; the first being for those interested in commercial aviation who want to earn a private pilot's license and the second for those interested in becoming military pilots.

The extracurricular training for cadets will be done on afternoons and weekends and will cost approximately $3,500 per student to go to solo flight status. This will be based on completing an average of 15 flight hours and ground school.

MMI will provide flight scholarships for students who achieve solo status, which will help with out-of-pocket expenses.

“This partnership promises to take MMI’s flight program to a whole new level. AeroPro is a top-tier aviation company which will offer MMI cadets interested in military or civil aviation a quality training opportunity at a very affordable cost,” said Col. Ed Passmore, USA (Ret), MMI’s Senior Vice President.