Joshua Brock is one of six recipients of the CAE SimuFlite Scholarship.

Safety. Staying within your abilities. Building confidence.

Those are principles that Joshua Brock, a flight instructor within the Auburn University Harbert College of Business’ Professional Flight Management program, tries to instill in his students. Brock’s hard work has paid off. He is one of six national recipients of a $30,000 CAE SimuFlite Scholarship.

“I didn’t expect to get it,” said Brock, who has been flying for five years. “I sent in the application and hoped for the best.”

The scholarship, offered by a Dallas-based aviation training facility, provides the formal education and high-tech flight simulation experience required to earn an aircraft type-rating, which qualifies Brock to pilot regional jets or business jets. Brock said he expects the two-week training period to take place in September at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Brock said he is training to “be typed on the Cessna CJ3.”

“This can help me get a job in corporate flying and business flying,” said Brock, a 2008 Ranburne (Ala.) High School graduate who noted he would like to become a professional pilot. “It really opens up a lot of doors.”

Aside from Brock’s work as a flight instructor, he is a recent honors graduate in Aerospace Engineering and earned a 4.0 grade point average in his Aviation Management minor.

Brock received the endorsement of Dale Watson, Director of Aviation Education, who wrote a recommendation to the CAE SimuFlite Scholarship committee on Brock’s behalf.

“I will simply say I can think of no other student who would earn a higher recommendation from Auburn University than Josh,” Watson wrote. “As a principal in our aviation programs, I’ve observed Josh’s superior performance and leadership first-hand in numerous settings. With his nearly perfect academic grades in Aerospace Engineering, working two jobs – one as a CFI in our program with grueling hours, as well as leadership roles in two student organizations; I have no doubt he will rank at the top of your list as well.”

The six scholarships were made available through the University Aviation Association, an alliance of more than 100 accredited colleges and universities.