14 Yo Gets a Day on the (Simulated) Flight Deck to Live Out His Professional Dreams

The Allegiant Travel Company illustrated one of their Make-A-Wish cases, showing how they walk a 14-year-old wish kid through the experience of being the "airline's newest pilot".

The airline worked with Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada to fly out Ben and his family to their Reno, Nevada training center. The boy was shown the ropes in the carrier's full-motion simulator, given an abbreviated training regime in hand-flying the plane, and then put through a simulated flight into Reno, Nevada. The following day, Ben flew on an Allegiant flight, enlisted to aid in the walk-through preflight.

"We've been partners with Make-A-Wish since 2012 and have flown more than 2,000 kids and their families to their wish destinations, so we understand the transformational power of a wish," said Gregory Anderson, Allegiant president. "But this is the first time we've had the honor of actually granting a child's wish. Our team members wanted to create an unforgettable experience for Ben and I believe they succeeded."

"They say it takes a village to raise a child, but we know it takes a community to grant a wish," said Scott Rosenzweig, Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada president and CEO. "Allegiant Air continues to walk beside us in giving the prescription of hope for children with critical illnesses and provides us our home here at Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada [in an office share arrangement]. And when we found out Ben's wish, we only had one team in mind, Allegiant. They not only make our kids' wishes come true but ours too!"

FMI: www.allegiantair.com