Sixth Grader, 12, Has Been Taking Lessons For A Year

There's no question that general aviation needs all the new pilots it can get... especially now. We're happy to report a Fort Myers, FL youth named Owen Nicely is doing his part.

The Fort Myers News-Press reports Nicely -- who's all of 12 years old -- is already well on his way to earning his PPL, despite the fact he won't even be able to solo for another four years. He's the youngest student now taking lessons at Paragon Flight Training School, located at Page Field (FMY).

"Cars are boring," Nicely explains. "All those traffic lights and stops."

Paragon general manager and CFI Justin Kelley says he has some reservations when Nicely approached him one year ago about taking flight lessons. It soon became clear to Kelley that Nicely's desire to learn how to fly wasn't a passing fancy for the sixth grader at North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts.

"Some kids who are 15 or 16 are too immature to learn," said Kelley. "But if the person can take direction and has the drive, that's what's important. If they won't listen to you then there's no reason for them to be up there."

So far, Nicely has over 50 hours in his logbook. That's only the time he's allowed to log, however; after a lesson, he goes home and re-"flies" the lesson on Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004. His father, Scott, says he and Owen's mother support their son's quest wholeheartedly, though lessons can be rather expensive.

"I figure it's better to keep him busy," said Scott, who's on full disability following service in the military. Scott Nicely was a paratrooper in Desert Storm... which gives him a shared bond with Kelley, who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Kelley says he learned to fly as a hobby while serving in the Marine Corps.

Owen says he "won't do anything else" when he grows up, but become a commercial airline pilot.

FMI: www.paragonflight.com