Organization Teaches People With Disabilities That They, Too, Can Fly

By David Juwel

Able Flight, a 501-C3 nonprofit organization who's stated 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, has awarded 34 scholarships, and their scholarship winners include twelve people who use wheelchairs, 5 women, and six wounded or disabled veterans. One of the wheelchair bound graduates has started his own flight school.

Started in 2006 by Charles and Sue Stites of Chapel Hill, NC., Able Flight is a national program, and the only one of its kind in the United States. Stites pinned wings on three of the newly-minted sports pilots.

I had the pleasure of meeting some of their graduates today. Let me share their stories with you...

I met Eric Ingram, a wheelchair bound handicapped individual, who has just received his Sport Pilot's license through the scholarship program operated by ABLE Flight. I asked Eric what being a pilot means to him. With a big grin, he said that it has added incredible excitement to his life.

I met Kevin Crombie, another wheelchair bound handicapped individual, and a close friend of Eric's. He just received his Sport Pilots license and he says it means everything to him. He is finally able to do what he loves.

Then I met Jermaine Strachan, a 2-time recipient of the Purple Heart. His dream was to be an Army helicopter pilot but his war wounds prevented that from ever happening. Thanks to the ABLE Flight program, he has also received a Sport Pilots license. Jermaine says flying is the most exciting thing he does, especially solo flight, because solo flight gives him the greatest sense of personal accomplishment.

Then I met Paul Lampasso. Paul has suffered through a number of physical challenges including cancer. This cost him his fire fighting career and prevented him from having the flying opportunities that he desired. But he now has the satisfaction of being in the aviation field because he is the first Able Flight recipient of a Light Sport Repairman certificate. He has already received job offers.

Purdue University, which has trained six of the pilots, advised ABLE Flight that every one of the students they sent were excellent in every academic way, and they all met the same flight standards that every other pilot is required to meet.

It was pretty inspiring to meet these people and see how flying has increased the quality of their life.

FMI: www.ableflight.org

Front Row (L-R) Eric Ingram, Kevin Crombie
Back Row (L-R) Paul Lampasso, Jermaine Stachan