Pilot, professor finds right fit in education

Over the years his birthday gifts have sent him parasailing, on hot air balloons rides, and zip-lining through canyons. They are the kinds of activities that help former U.S. Air Force pilot to maintain a sky-high lifestyle.

Add to that a love for teaching, and it’s no wonder he landed at Metro State’s Aviation and Aerospace Science Department in 1995, not long after he retired from 25 years in the military. His last assignment was leading Detachment 105, the ROTC unit at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Balazs says being a pilot is not a lifestyle for everyone. But for those are in the industry, it’s almost as if they have no choice.

“Those students who are successful in the flying industry are those who have the determination to stay with this program, which means committing the hours and pay for the flying time,” says Balazs, co-chair and professor of aviation and aerospace science. "There’s something intrinsic about them [students] that says 'I have to be around airplanes. I have to smell JP-4 (jet propellant).’”

Balazs would know. He grew up hanging out with his dad at this job, which happened to be in the maintenance hangars at Willow Run Airport, seven miles outside of Ypsilanti, Mich. "I used to go out with him. Before 9/11 you could do that," says Balazs, who feels at home in commercial airports to this day, especially since he finds many Roadrunners in uniform when walking through the terminal.

“Every now and then I’ll look into the cockpit and see a graduate of the program,” says Balazs. "I'm sure we have graduates in just about all of the airlines.”

One of the top programs in the country, the department has accomplished a lot over the years. Most recently, in May 2011, the flight team won the Loening Trophy, which recognizes the most outstanding all-around collegiate aviation program in the country.

When asked about department highlights over the years, Balazs mentions the "Formulation of National Aerospace Policy," a class that for 10 years was centered around a trip to Washington D.C. For several years, he led the class, which met with Congress and learned about policies facing the aviation industry.

More than 15 years into his career at Metro State, Balazs’ enthusiasm for the program is only growing. He’s excited about teaching lower-level and higher-level classes including a number of simulator courses, ground school courses and aerodynamics. It allows him to see the growth in the students.

Life after the military could have gone a bit differently for Balazs, who has a bachelor’s in mathematics from the U.S. Air Force Academy and master’s in applied math from North Carolina State University. For one semester during the year after he retired, he taught math at a charter school to fifth to 10th grade students.

He says it was really hard with that age group, "I have incredible admiration for middle school teachers,” says Balazs. “Teaching college was much easier.”