Air-training academy

Hovig YaRalian of Sands Unmanned Aviation and Unmanned Systems Inc. controls a Sandstorm trainer as Bob Schneller, the squadron commander of Civil Air Patrol Flathead Composite Squadron 053, watches on Thursday. The flight was part of a training academy at the Sands Concepts and Unmanned Systems Inc. facility near Columbia Falls. Twelve Civil Air Patrol cadets from 11 states attended the five-day academy. Yaralian and Justin Sands, an owner of Sands Unmanned Aviation and Unmanned Systems Inc., provided the training.