Photo Gallery: Burbank student pilot

Nick Meyer, 16, and a student pilot, is preparing for a flight to Santa Barbara as part of his pilot training which will start at the Van Nuys Airport in Van Nuys on Wednesday, July 20, 2011. Meyer, a Burbank High School student, who recently got his driver’s license, has been flying since he was 13, and his goal a career in air traffic control.  (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)

Flying at about 1,000 feet, student pilot Nick Meyer, 16, of Burbank, looks over his shoulder to spot the runway at Van Nuys Airport for a landing during a short flight over and around the airport in Van Nuys on Wednesday, July 20, 2011. Meyer, a Burbank High School student, who recently got his driver’s license, has been flying since he was 13, and his goal is a career in air traffic control.  (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)

Nick Meyer, 16, of Burbank, with his pre-flight checklist on his lap, prepares the airplane he is about to fly, under the watchful eye of one of his co-instructors Stacie Vournas at the Van Nuys Airport in Van Nuys on Wednesday, July 20, 2011. Meyer, a Burbank High School student, who recently got his driver’s license, has been flying since he was 13, and his goal a career in air traffic control.  (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)

Co-instructor Stacie Vournas is proud of her young student Nick Meyer, 16, of Burbank, and gives a thumbs up just before take off for a short flight over and around the Van Nuys Airport in Van Nuys on Wednesday, July 20, 2011. Vournas was Meyer’s 6th grade school teacher and is coincidently teaching him how to fly. Meyer, a Burbank High School student, who recently got his driver’s license, has been flying since he was 13, and his goal a career in air traffic control.  (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)

Student pilot Nick Meyer looks over the wing moments before departing for a long flight to the Santa Barbara airport at the Van Nuys Airport in Van Nuys on Wednesday, July 20, 2011. Meyer, a Burbank High School student, who recently got his driver’s license, has been flying since he was 13, and his goal a career in air traffic control.  (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)

Student pilot Nick Meyer at the Van Nuys Airport in Van Nuys on Wednesday, July 20, 2011. Meyer, a Burbank High School student, who recently got his driver’s license, has been flying since he was 13, and his goal a career in air traffic control.  (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)

Student pilot Nick Meyer, in front of his trainer airplane the Piper Warrior, PA28-161, at the Van Nuys Airport in Van Nuys on Wednesday, July 20, 2011. Meyer, a Burbank High School student, who recently got his driver’s license, has been flying since he was 13, and his goal a career in air traffic control.  (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)

Student pilot Nick Meyer, 16, of Burbank, and his flight co-instructor Stacy Vournas, at the Van Nuys Airport in Van Nuys on Wednesday, July 20, 2011. Meyer, a Burbank High School student, who recently got his driver’s license, has been flying since he was 13, and his goal a career in air traffic control.  (Tim Berger/Staff Photographer)