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NEW ABLE FLIGHT PILOTS HONORED AT EAA AIRVENTURE

Heather Schultz and Chris Spaur Get Their Pilot's Wings In Special Ceremony

osh wings 2010 newsletter

On Wednesday July 28th at 10:30 AM, Heather Schultz and Chris Spaur received their Able Flight Wings in a ceremony in AeroShell Square. Special guests at the ceremony included Bernie Wulle of Purdue's Department of Aviation Technology, Matt Brandon of  Bombardier, Bob Seidel of Jet Aviation  and Able Flight pilots Jessica Cox and Sean O'Donnell. Jessica's remarkable and inspiring story of learning to fly using only her feet is well known in the aviation community, and Sean was the second AF pilot to earn a license, and is the founder of Philly Sport Pilot, a flight school that provides training to students with and without disabilities.

For Able Flight's two newest pilots, five weeks of hard work at Purdue University have now paid off with pilot certificates. During June and July, Heather and Chris were trailblazers of the first Able Flight-Purdue joint training project. With flight lessons provided by instructors from Purdue's Department of Aviation Technology, the two participated in intensive training, often flying twice a day.  Between lessons, they either attended class or worked on ground school with their instructors before heading back to the dorm for the night. They passed their checkrides in July to become Able Flight newest pilots, and the first flight students at Purdue to have earned Sport Pilot certificates in a Light Sport Aircraft.h. schultz 28 sm 516 x 531

Heather sustained a C5 spinal cord injury in a diving accident in 2006. Since then, she has faced more than three years of physical therapy and has defied the predictions of doctors who had told her she would never walk again. Heather's training was made possible through her selection as the 2010 recipient of the "Jet Aviation Scholarship", and presenting Heather's wings was Bob Seidel of Jet Aviation.

chris_solo1564__211_x_158_Chris is a 20 year-old with muscular dystrophy. He's one of triplets, and shares the condition with a sister. He comes from a family with a tradition of flying as both his mother and his uncle are pilots. Chris was selected by Able Flight as the recipient of Able Flight's "Bombardier Scholarship" for 2010. Presenting Heather's wings was Matt Brandon of Bombardier, and Chris's mother Susan was there to pin pilot's wings on her son.

Also on hand to honor the new pilots were Able Flight supporters Jim Irwin of Aircraft Spruce, Bob Stangarone of Cessna, David Dunlap of Sennheiser, Mike Barker of AirChart Systems, Carey Mathis ofr King Schools and Jon Hansen of Hansen Air Group. Special thanks to Southwest Airlines for their support.
 

ABLE FLIGHT SEEKING MATCHING FUNDS FOR WOLF AVIATION FUND AWARD

Able Fligvideo production heather-1 876 x 584ht has been selected to receive a grant from the Wolf Aviation Fund for the production of a video to help share inspiring stories of how aviation has changed the lives of its scholarship winners. The $1500 grant has been provided with the request that Able Flight use this award to seek matching funds to cover the total cost of the video production, estimated at $5000. To date, an additional $1500 of in-kind services have been pledged in the form of donated professional production and equipment services, leaving only $2000 still to be raised. We're looking for companies or individuals who want to help us tell our story by making a tax deductible donation to support this effort.wolf fund logo

During the past several years, over 23,000 viewers have seen Stephany Glassing's story via YouTube, and hundreds of others have seen the video in forums and live presentations. Stephany's story has inspired others to apply for scholarships, or to volunteer to help us in our mission of using aviation to change the lives of people with disabilities.

Now, you can help us share new stories of the accomplishments of scholarship winners who refuse to be bound to the earth, and are meeting the challenge of becoming a pilot. To donate, just visit here and indicate that you want your gift to match the Wolf Aviation Award, or please call Able Flight's Executive Director Charles Stites at 919-942-4699.
 

ABLE FLIGHT'S FIRST CHAMPION FOR 2010

CHUCK SMITH

chuck portrait cropped 160 x 175

FEBRUARY 7, 1952- FEBRUARY 6, 2010

 

Organizations like Able Flight hear from a lot of people. Mostly they're interested in information; sometimes they have something they'd like to share about their own experience as a pilot with a disability. In 2009, I received an email message from Chuck Smith of New Braunfels, Texas. Chuck was very excited about Able Flight, and he wanted to share the story of how years ago he'd fought  through the thicket of regulations and medical requirements to earn his private pilot's license.  For months we exchanged messages about how others in wheelchairs could succeed as he had, and Chuck's passion for flying, and for encouraging others always came through loud and clear.

Later in the year, when Chuck saw that we were encouraging people to support the scholarship fund by becoming an Able Flight Champion, (a goal reached when a supporter raises $500 or more for the scholarship fund), he was one of the first to sign up. But as the year came to a close there were no more messages from Chuck.

Read more...
 

ANNOUNCING OUR NEW CAREER TRAINING SCHOLARSHIP!

 

With Able Flight's new Career Training scholarship, it's now possible for a person with a physical disability to earn an FAA-issued Repairman Certificate for Light Sport Aircraft in only three weeks, and use that certificate to work at an existing maintenance facility, skycatcher in flightor become an entrepreneur and create their own business. Over the past several years the number of approved models of Light Sport Aircraft has increased to well over one hundred, creating a growing need for licensed maintenance personnel.

"From the time Able Flight was founded, we've been looking for opportunities to help people with disabilities find a career in aviation, a career that will allow them to become self-sufficient", said Charles Stites, Executive Director.sky-a-a-a-2-4978 "Our new Career Training Scholarship is an outstanding way to make that possible. With a Repairman Certificate (LSA) with a Maintenance rating, a person can have a very rewarding career working with Light Sport Aircraft."

Providing the training will be Rainbow Aviation of Corning, California which offers their 120 Hour Repairman Course several times a year. As with all Able Flight full scholarships, the award covers training, travel and lodging and testing fees. For a scholarship application form click here.