Mon, Dec 21, 2009
Injured Deputy Sherriff To Earn Sport Pilot License
Deputy Sheriff Dan Hodess was off duty and on his way to work
on April 5th, 1998 when he spotted a stranded motorist on I-95 in
Ft. Lauderdale, FL. He could have passed her by, but chose to
pull his cruiser over to help. Moments later, another car hit him
pinning him between the two vehicles, and the 61 mph impact
instantly cost him both legs. In that moment, Dan went from Good
Samaritan to a double amputee whose life was saved only by
emergency help from passing medical personnel also on their way to
work that morning.
The months following the accident were ones of therapy and
adjustment to life with two prosthetic legs. With his spirit of
never giving in, Dan Hodess has fought to live a normal life. Now,
with his scholarship, he will take on another challenge, that of
fulfilling his long-held ambition of becoming a pilot.
Dan has become the first person to be awarded the
Bombardier-Able Flight Scholarship, recognizing Bombardier’s
continued support of Able Flight’s mission. “We are
pleased to work with Bombardier to create this opportunity for Dan
as it recognizes his determination to continue to rebuild his life
and to inspire others by doing so,” said Charles Stites,
Executive Director of Able Flight. “And, it honors the
generous support and community service of Bombardier, one of Able
Flight’s valued collaborators in fulfilling its
mission.”
“Bombardier is proud to contribute to what we believe is a
very worthy cause,” said Brant Dahlfors, vice president, US
sales, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “As an aircraft
manufacturer we are passionate about aviation, and we are happy to
be working with an educational organization like Able Flight which
helps us share that passion with others. We commend Dan for his
bravery and perseverance and maybe one day we’ll see him
behind the yoke of a Bombardier aircraft.”
Able Flight, a national nonprofit that provides flight training
opportunities for people with physical disabilities, is the only
one of its kind in the United States. Since 2006 it has awarded 26
scholarships.
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