OCA Calendar | 12/16/2025 4:54:00 PM
Mt. Pleasant, SC – Oceanside Collegiate Academy, in conjunction with Pinnacle Charter Academies, Trident Technical College, Mt. Pleasant Flight Training and the Charleston Regional Airport Authority will launch the OCA AirSharks program in 2026 for students with an interest in careers in aviation and aeronautics.
"We are extremely excited to be able to offer students at Oceanside Collegiate Academy this opportunity to get hands-on experience in aviation and aeronautics, experience that will translate to career opportunities in a fast-growing and ever-changing industry,"
Mike D'Angelo, CEO of Pinnacle Charter Academies said. "The aviation industry is one of South Carolina's fastest growing sectors, contributing billions of dollars to the state's economy while supporting thousands of jobs."
Through the partnership with Trident Technical College, students will be able to complete their academic dual enrollment core courses at OCA and then advance into Trident Tech's Aeronautical Studies program. From there, opportunities will exist to transfer to four-year institutions to complete programming for a bachelor's degree or directly entire the work force.
"This is an amazing opportunity for the students at Oceanside Collegiate Academy," Interim Principal and Pinnacle Director of Academics and Accountability
Mike Lorenz said. "We are so grateful for all are partners who have worked so hard to make this program a reality for our students."
The goal of the AirSharks program is to expose students to aviation and aerospace career pathways including, but not limited to, piloting, aeronautical engineering, and aviation maintenance. The program will provide hands-on, skill-based learning through the partnership with Mt. Pleasant Flight Training, located at the Mt. Pleasant Regional Airport, as well as Trident Tech.
Martin McMullan, the owner of Mount Pleasant Flight Training, put together a program specifically for Oceanside Collegiate Academy students.
"This collaboration will provide Oceanside students access to structured ground and flight training programs leading to the FAA Private Pilot License," McMullan said. "The program will be conducted by certified instructors using modern Diamond DA40NG aircraft."
The initial flight training program will be limited to 12 students during the first year, with instruction beginning in mid-January and running though the end of July. The ground school curriculum is provided through the FAA compliant Private Pilot License syllabus and will be delivered by certified ground instructors while flight training will be conducted under Part 61 to meet FAA requirements.
All costs for the ground school portion of the course will be covered as part of the normal Oceanside Collegiate Academy dual-enrollment structure, with no costs for parents. That will be a savings of more than $2,200 per student and covers the course, books and materials, written and oral FAA exam fees, physicals and administrative costs.
The flight instruction portion of the program will be at the expense of the student and/or their parents. That cost will be at a discounted rate of $250 per hour of flight training, with a minimum of 50 hours required to complete the program. An additional one-time cost of $300 will cover insurance for the student during the program.
In addition to earning a private pilot's license, students who complete the program through Mount Pleasant Flight Training will receive as much as six hours of college credit toward their undergraduate degree in aviation, aeronautical engineering, or aerospace.
"The AirSharks program represents an opportunity for Oceanside Collegiate Academy to expand its mission of preparing students for success in college, career and life," D'Angelo said. "By building a pathway into one of South Carolina's fastest growing industries, OCA can provide its students with access to meaningful post-secondary opportunities while also strengthening the school's reputation as an innovative leader in education."
Students who are interested in being a part of the first class of AirSharks should contact Interim Principal
Mike Lorenz as soon as possible with a resume and short essay on why they should be included in the program and what they hope to achieve from their participation. Email Principal Lorenz at
principal@oceansidecollegiateacademy.org to express interest in becoming an AirShark.
About Oceanside Collegiate Academy: Oceanside Collegiate Academy (OCA), located in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., serves high school students in a safe, small and family-centered setting. Our students seek the opportunity and challenge of rigorous curriculum, high academic standards and elite athletics while earning up to two years of college credit. OCA serves students in grades 9-12 using an honors curriculum in 9th and 10 grades with a dual enrollment curriculum in 11th and 12th grades
Learn more about OCA by visiting our website at OceansideCollegiate.Academy and by following us on social media on Facebook, Instagram and X. For video content, visit our YouTube channel.
