At ECSU, aviation students are breaking tradition to fill a growing need

119 years ago, the Wright Brothers' first flight took off from Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina in the Outer Banks and humans have been in the skies ever since.

Just an hour's drive away from that historic location, the next generation of aviators is training at Elizabeth City State University, and in true HBCU fashion, this generation is diversifying an industry that — at least traditionally — has had mostly one look.

The classroom? Elizabeth City Regional Airport, which ECSU shares with the United States Coast Guard.