Pilot-in-training goes on first solo flight for 16th birthday

January 17, 2012

Tanner Fervida, of Nappanee, shakes hands with his flight instructor Harry Sheetz of Warsaw, before his first solo flight Dec. 26 — his 16th birthday. Photo provided

NAPPANEE — Dec. 26 was a big day for Tanner Fervida, of Nappanee. Not only was it his 16th birthday, but it was also the day of his first solo airplane flight. He had been practicing and taking flying lessons for three months, and was more than ready to go up on his own.
“He thought it was kind of neat to be able to fly an airplane by himself before he could actually drive by himself,” said Tanner’s father Jeff Fervida, who is also a pilot.
Tanner performed three take-offs and landings on his own at the Nappanee Municipal Airport, in his family’s Cessna 150 plane. Each flight was about 10 minutes long.
“He was pretty excited,” said Tanner’s mother, Beth Fervida. “He’s been wanting to do this for a long time. Flying alone is a big deal for anyone, but especially for a teenager!”
Tanner grew up around planes, flying with his family to vacations and events from the time he was 6 months old. He became interested in getting his private pilot’s license, however, after he and Jeff flew an antique plane to Alaska together in June on a father/son trip.
“That (trip) gave him the motivation to get his license,” said Jeff.
Now that he’s flown solo, Tanner has what Jeff calls “a license to learn.” He can fly on his own within a 30 mile radius of the Nappanee airport, and will continue lessons with his flight instructor. Tanner will be practicing different techniques and mastering night flying.
Beth said that she thinks Tanner might be interested in a career in flying. He expressed interest in flying for the United States Postal Service or FedEx. The Fervidas are farmers, so Beth said that Tanner might try to combine flying and farming. He has plenty of sources for advice — besides his father, other members of the family have their pilot’s licenses too.
“He likes to farm,” said Jeff, “but when he was a freshman I encouraged him to try flying.”
Tanner has plenty of time to decide on a career, however — he won’t be able to get his private pilot’s license until he turns 17 next December.