Not every student has a commute quite like Austin Champine. The electrical engineering student is a certified pilot and flies a single engine plane to and from the Michigan Technological University campus every semester, continuing his flight training alongside his engineering coursework.
Traveling to and from campus can be a slog for some college students, even when your campus is located in Michigan's beautiful Upper Peninsula. But for Champine, it's one of his favorite times because he gets to do what he loves most: fly.
At the start of each semester, Champine flies a single engine plane owned by Kubick Aviation from his hometown of Midland, Michigan, up to Michigan Tech, approximately 275 nautical miles.
The decision to combine his engineering education with pilot training came naturally to Champine; his grandfather, a major influence in his life, was also an engineer and pilot.
"My grandpa taught me a lot about different kinds of engineering so I knew I wanted to be an engineer," said Champine. "And because of him, I've been around planes my whole life, since I was about a foot tall."
"Flying ended up being a good outlet for me, so I got more and more into it as I grew up. I took my first flight lesson when I was 14. I started flying before I had my driver's license."
That flight training from a young age would end up being an asset to the engineering student. "When you start flying, you have to do a lot of ground school before you fly, so I learned a lot about systems, voltages, but also a lot of physics, lift, drag, all that," said Champine. "A lot of that knowledge has a strong correlation with the engineering side of things."
Champine started off at Tech with a major in mechanical engineering. He grew up working on cars and planes and knew a fair amount about the field. But what he found most interesting were the things he didn't understand as clearly. As he became more interested in computers and the work his electrical and computer engineering friends were doing, he decided to switch his major to electrical engineering at the end of his first year.
"The main reason I switched to electrical engineering is because it was this big unknown to me," said Champine. "As I learned more about electrical engineering, those things I didn't know before really intrigued me. That was the spark for me."
Champine, who is set to graduate this spring, says his electrical engineering expertise makes him a better pilot. Aviation systems are largely electrical, and Champine feels he has a better understanding of those plane systems than he would if he were just a pilot.
"Having that engineering experience when you're in the air, if anything goes wrong, you have that knowledge right there, ready to go," said Champine. "I've talked to a lot of pilots and they say I'm 10 times safer because of that knowledge. If something goes wrong with an electrical system, I know what needs to happen and why because of my fundamental engineering knowledge."
In addition to his engineering education and flight training, Champine's schedule includes intramural hockey, skiing at Mont Ripley, and working out regularly with friends at the Student Development Complex. Some of his favorite memories include skiing at nearby Mount Bohemia Ski Resort from open to close.
As Champine continues his pilot training, working toward his commercial flight certificate, he routinely flies from the nearby Houghton County Memorial Airport.
His passion for flight also led to a new creative endeavor. Last fall, he started an Instagram account, @fly_with_austin, where he documents some of his flight experiences. Champine posts videos that combine breathtaking views from flying over Michigan and beyond with inspirational messages and trending music.
Champine says running the account is a fun side project and people seem to enjoy his posts.
"I run that account for people to see what's possible with flight, and I really enjoy doing it," says Champine. "I fly through so many different environments, up above the clouds. I've been flying for so long, I was taking it for granted. But I realized most people don't get to see this very often or know what the experience of being a pilot is like."
Champine's love for flying is clear. In his videos, he frequently refers to his time as a pilot as a dream come true.
Champine knows he's got a lot to juggle. His biggest piece of advice, for himself and others, is to persevere. "I have had some serious downfalls," he said. "I've had engineering scores that I was not very happy about. I've had times where I've worked all day and then go do six hours worth of flight lessons and wondered if it was really worth it. But my advice is never quit, no matter what."
That tenacity and passion led Champine to work for Cirrus Aircraft out of Duluth, Minnesota, as an avionics and electrical systems engineer last summer. He has continued to work for the company remotely throughout his senior year as a Husky.
"My role with Cirrus has been the perfect intersection of the engineering foundation I've built here at Tech and my passion for flying. The hands-on, rigorous education at Michigan Tech has equipped me with the technical skills and problem-solving mindset needed to thrive in such a dynamic industry. As I continue to work remotely with Cirrus, I frequently draw on the lessons and experiences gained here."
After graduating this spring, Champine hopes to continue his work toward his commercial flight certification, as well as his multi-engine flight certification, with the goal to work as a flight test engineer.
He's grateful for the support he's received on his journey, especially from his flight mentor, Tom Wachowski. Wachowski, a Gulfstream pilot for Dow, assists Champine with his flight plans.
"Behind every goal I've achieved is a team of people who never let me quit," says Champine. "Their belief in me has been the wind beneath my wings."
Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.
Comments