Auburn resident David Chesley completed his first successful solo recently as a student studying aviation flight operations (professional pilot) at Daniel Webster College in Nashua, N.H. A solo flight is considered a professional milestone in the aviation industry.

As a student in the college’s nationally recognized aviation program, Chesley studies flight aspects such as aerodynamics, micrometeorology, applied flight dynamics and integrated flight operations. In addition to earning a private pilot’s certificate upon graduation, he can earn up to three separate ratings – the first steps to earning a commercial pilot certificate.