'Changing Lives Through The Challenge And Freedom Of Flight'

By Maxine Scheer

Able Flight provides scholarships that allow people with physical disabilities, including paraplegics and wounded veterans, to become pilots and provide scholarships to support careers in aviation. Able Flight returned to AirVenture to announce six new Able Flight pilots who earned their sport pilot certificates in 2014. Four of the six new pilots received their wings in a ceremony today at EAA AirVenture, on the main stage in Boeing Plaza, surrounded by Able Flight supporters, family, and friends.  The four new pilots announced by Executive Director Charles Sites include Ellen Howards, Tim Klemm, Curtis Stanley, and Sgt. Jason Gibson. Chris Sullivan and Daniel Clayton were the two other pilots, but not able to attend.

"Over the last seven years, 39 Able Flight pilots have received their sport pilot certificate, and two earned a private pilot certificate," said Sites. Able Flight pilots are trained in a five-to-six week course led by seven flight instructors at Purdue University's Department of Aviation Technology Program. "Able Flight pilots have achieved a 100% success rate," said Sites. He also recognized the excellent work of Purdue's young, talented flight instructors.

Brian Dillman, Associate Professor and check pilot from Purdue, noted, "we approach the test the same way and all of the Able Flight pilots are highly qualified. They are diligent and precise about planning how they will accomplish their tasks."

The training this year required relocating three suitably-equipped aircraft to Purdue, including two Sky Arrow LSAs, one from Hansen Air Group of Atlanta and Philly Sport Pilot of Philadelphia, and an adapted Flight Design CT from Peak Aviation Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Sean O'Donnell, one of the first two Able Flight Scholarship recipients earning a sport pilot certificate, went onto open Philly Sport Pilot.

Many Able Flight supporters such as AOPA President Mark Baker and Patty Wagstaff were there to pin wings on the scholarship recipients, announce new awards and provide gifts to the new pilots including Sennheiser, AOPA, Embraer, Bombardier, Jet Aviation, ForeFlight, Sandia, Hartzell Propeller, Aircraft Spruce and Specialty, TBMOPA Foundation and Signature Flight Support.  AeroShell awarded a new scholarship in 2014 in the name of paralyzed former AeroShell Aerobatic Team Leader Alan Henley, who also participated in today's ceremony.

New Able Flight Pilot Ellen Howards is excited about aviation and has quickly found other pilots to join on trips.  Before the ceremony, Ellen and Vanessa Blakeley of Terrafugia were talking about their women's flying group. "We started with three and now we have 17 women in the group," said Vanessa. The Boston-area group has dinner once a month, talk about airplanes, and go on trips together.

Able Flight's mission is to offer people with disabilities a unique way to challenge themselves through flight training, and by doing so, to gain greater self-confidence and self-reliance.

Able Flight was created by pilots who believe that the life-changing experience of learning to fly is best shared, and designed the Able Flight Scholarships to enable people with disabilities to pursue that experience.

FMI: www.ableflight.org, www.tech.purdue.edu/at/