People With Disabilities Earn Pilot Wings

By Bruce Brandon

Able Flight presented eight new pilots their wings at AirVenture 2017. The recipients are men and women who have physical disabilities, but they refuse to allow their disability to prevent them from achieving their goal of becoming a pilot.

Able Flight, founded in 2006 by Charles Stites (pictured, below), is a nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing the thrill of being a pilot with those who otherwise would not due to a physical disability. The program has been wonderfully successful.

Able Flights leadership consists of a broad spectrum of people including a previous student, a veteran pilot who has a disability, and an AME as well as other aviation professionals and industry leaders. This leadership team has the expertise to ensure that the program is run so that participants are successful. And successful they are!

The flight lessons and ground school are given at Purdue University or Ohio State University during the summer months. Students are required to live in accessible dormitory rooms on campus. A normal day consist of a morning flight lesson followed by ground school. There is a second flight lesson in the afternoon. The entire training, including taking the Light Sport Pilot checkride, takes between 5-7 weeks depending on weather. Purdue has been involved with the program for many years and has trained 40 pilots with a 100% pass rate on checkrides. Ohio State just became an Able Flight training center this summer. It successfully trained both of its students to pass their checkrides. All told, sixty pilots have become light sport pilots.

Able Flight is always seeking applicants. To be a successful applicant there are only two absolutes: be a minimum of 17 years old and have the determination to complete the program. Applicants are interviewed to be sure that they are good fit for the program. Few, if any disabilities, are disqualifying. Successful applicants of the training have included multiple amputees, persons in wheelchairs, those who are quadriplegic, and individuals with diabetes or other disabilities.

In addition to pilot training, Able Flight also provides scholarships for dispatcher, repairman and A&P training. It is a portal for those with disabilities to enter the aviation profession. All expenses are covered by the scholarship except for meals.

Able Flight’s website answers most, if not all, questions a potential applicant might have. Anyone who is interested is encouraged to apply. It is quite inspiring to see these men and women from all segments of life succeed at joining the airman ranks. Indeed, they are inspiration to all as they demonstrate the will and determination, literally, to soar.

(Staff image)

FMI: www.ableflight.org