Flying High Coffee Comes To Oshkosh To Generate Significant
Lift To Aviation
By Maxine Scheer
Rob Riggen, a CFII and President of Flying High Coffee,
estimates that if just 5 cents from every cup of coffee consumed by
avid coffee-drinking pilots were used to fund aviation scholarships
and non-profits, more than $20 Million could be raised annually to
fund initiatives that introduce new ways of engaging people to
aviation.
Rob Riggen
After “market testing” 7,000 cups of Flying High
coffee with EAA volunteers and exhibitors last year, Rob has come
to Oshkosh to introduce AirVenture attendees to his products and
vision for how to make aviation more accessible to potential new
enthusiasts. Rob is committing 30% of Flying High Coffee’s
profits to fund flight training and unique aviation education
programs provided by non-profits that engage new interest in
aviation. This first year he has chosen two EAA participants, Able
Flight and Girls with Wings. Flying High will present these
first donations at 8:30am on Wednesday at the EAA Media HQ.
Rob’s story is similar to many people who come to
AirVenture – he invested in an aviation education, having
graduated from Daniel Webster College, and pursued a career in
aviation – his passion was flight instruction. “Life
happened,” said Rob. “Burlington, Vermont was not a
mecca for flight training. For 15 years I found a career in
the Internet world, making a good living, but missing
aviation”. “My Flying High Coffee business
concept allows me to combine my technology skills, my passion for
coffee, and my passion for aviation. I’ve come back to do
something positive for aviation with drive and dedication.
Like most everyone in this industry, I’m concerned about the
dwindling pilot population and want to do something about it."
Rob and his crew are setting up booths at AirVenture that will
provide attendees with free samples of his coffee and opportunities
to discuss his concept. The three sites include one at the
main entry gate, the Tram Stop at the FAA Control Tower, and at his
“main brewing tent” along the path between Hangars A
and C. His crew will start at 0530 and will brew throughout
the day. Flying High Coffee is also supporting the Home
Builders and with co-sponsor Wicks Aircraft Supply is providing
coffee to the EAA Home Builders headquarters and camping area.
In asking about how he chose the award recipients, he described
how Flying High received interest from a number of non-profits.
“I chose Girls With Wings after meeting Lynda Meeks at an
aviation event and was impressed at her efforts to inspire girls at
an early age.” The other recipient is Able Flight, which
provides scholarships for flight training to enable people with
disabilities the life-changing experience of learning to fly.
“Both organizations have a real passion for bringing a new
dimension to aviation.”
Rob described how this idea actually started after coming to a
number of aviation events and having a hard time finding a decent
cup of coffee. “If we as aviators could tap into a fraction
of the revenues we generate from consumer products and direct them
to inspiring kids, this could be a significant in financially
supporting the aviation industry.
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