Aviation communication training has long been one of the hardest skills to teach. Even confident students can freeze the first time they hear their own voice through a headset. At Greenville Technical Charter High School, instructors have found a modern solution: the PlaneEnglish Aviation Radio Simulator (ARSim), an AI-powered aviation radio simulator trusted by the U.S. Air Force and flight academies around the world.
By integrating ARSim into its four-year aviation education program, Greenville Tech has created a model for how AI technology can elevate aviation training, improve confidence, and prepare students for real-world flight operations.
Aviation Communication Training in High School Programs
When students enroll in Greenville Tech’s aviation pathway, they’re preparing for careers across aerospace, engineering, air traffic control, and commercial flight. Regardless of their chosen path, radio communication is a universal skill and one of the toughest to master.
Instructor Doug Adomatis, a private pilot who leads the program, first discovered PlaneEnglish at FlightSimExpo 2025. He immediately recognized its potential to make radio communication more accessible and engaging for students of all levels.
“As a pilot, I know how intimidating it can be to key the mic,” Adomatis explains. “With PlaneEnglish, students can practice safely and build confidence before they ever talk to a real controller.”
How Greenville Tech Uses the PlaneEnglish App
Adomatis integrated PlaneEnglish directly into the school’s AOPA-aligned aviation curriculum, creating a seamless bridge between classroom learning and real-world communication practice. The AOPA framework, used in more than 1,400 schools and reaching over 20,000 students nationwide, provides a strong foundation for aviation programs across the U.S.
Greenville Tech’s success shows how other schools in this network can use AI-powered training tools to boost engagement and career readiness. Each phase of the four-year aviation pathway builds toward mastery, from foundational concepts and written exam prep to active flight training for seniors.
PlaneEnglish fits naturally into that progression, transforming textbook phraseology into hands-on communication skills aligned with FAA Airman Certification Standards (ACS).
AI-Powered Learning for Every Level
Every classroom faces the same challenge: meeting students where they are. PlaneEnglish’s AI-driven feedback and self-paced learning make that possible. Students can move at their own speed, advancing quickly through lessons they grasp or revisiting those that need extra practice.
The software’s instant feedback mimics the reward mechanics of gaming, turning training into a motivating loop of listen, speak, correct, repeat. Students hear their responses scored in real time, allowing them to build mastery through repetition and reflection.
This isn’t just educational tech, it’s career-relevant training that prepares future pilots, mechanics, and controllers to communicate clearly and confidently.
For additional practice, check out our guide on Getting the Most Out of ARSim.
Making Aviation Technology Work for Students
Greenville Tech designed its implementation around how students actually use technology. The ARSim app works across Chromebooks, iPads, and smartphones, so every learner can practice on the device they already use daily.
To reduce anxiety, instructors created “practice zones” where students can speak aloud without feeling self-conscious. At home, the app bridges technology gaps, enabling students with limited access to continue training safely and comfortably.
By meeting students where they are, PlaneEnglish makes aviation communication practice accessible anytime, anywhere.
Greenville Tech students practice realistic scenarios from the Airport and Trainer units in ARSim (Try the Trainer Unit →).
Rethinking Assessment: Practice Over Perfection
Greenville Tech’s “mastery learning” approach prioritizes progress and participation over perfection. Grades are based on completion and engagement rather than strict accuracy scores. This “grace and opportunity” model encourages consistent practice without penalizing early mistakes, helping students build confidence through experience.
The result is a steady progression toward real-world communication fluency that will serve them in advanced flight training and beyond.
For more on real-world communication, see our blog on VFR Flight Following 101: How, When, and Why to Use It and Understanding ATIS and METARs.
The Future of Aviation Education
As Greenville Tech continues to innovate, PlaneEnglish remains central to its AI-powered training ecosystem. The school’s upcoming aviation symposium will spotlight how adaptive learning tools like ARSim can transform technical education across the country.
By lowering costs, improving engagement, and aligning with real-world FAA standards, Greenville Tech demonstrates that AI isn’t replacing teachers; it’s helping them reach every student more effectively.
With PlaneEnglish in their toolkit, educators can design programs that are not only rigorous and career-aligned but also deeply human, empowering students to find their wings, their voice, and their path to the skies.
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