Will Train Pilots With Or Without Disabilities

Less than a week after becoming the second Able Flight scholarship winner to earn his pilot’s certificate, Sean O’Donnell of Philadelphia was negotiating the purchase of a specially-adapted Sky Arrow, the same aircraft model used during his training.

That was during EAA AirVenture 2007 in Oshkosh, WI... the site of Sean’s month-long training that led to him passing his checkride on the opening day of aviation’s largest event.

O’Donnell's dream of flying began well before the motorcycle accident that caused his paralysis nearly 13 years ago. But it was a dream put on hold until he learned of Able Flight's scholarship program and the availability of the Italian-made Sky Arrow 600 LSA, an airplane that can be ordered with factory-installed controls (shown below) that enable it to be flown entirely by hand.

Buying a plane of his own would be a great story in itself... but it goes far beyond that. With his Sky Arrow, Sean is opening Philly Sport Pilot at historic Wings Field (LOM) just a few minutes north of Philadelphia.

"When I was awarded the Able Flight scholarship, I truly felt that it was a fantastic gift," said O'Donnell. "But I also felt that I was charged with a duty: That duty was to work as hard as I can to pass this gift onto others. The best way that I could do that was provide flying resources for people with disabilities in the Northeast, particularly, Philadelphia.

"My first hope is to provide safe, quality training for all those who can achieve it," he continued. "I don't want to see someone who is completely capable of being a good pilot, like I was, stopped by an issue like mobility - which we are smart enough to get around. My second hope is to see Able Flight thrive and help provide them with the resources they need to accomplish their mission. It is a team effort and something I believe in."

"Sean's decision to create his own flight school is an outstanding example of 'paying it forward,'" said Charles Stites of Able Flight. "He has created a second training location where we can send Able Flight scholarship winners, and in fact, we already have a young man who was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident a little over a year ago, scheduled to attend. Sean's been very successful in his own life, never allowing personal challenges to stand in the way of his many achievements. For years, he has served as a role model for others facing similar challenges, and he'll do the same for our scholarship winners who attend his school."

Sean ordered his Sky Arrow from Hansen Air Group of Kennesaw, GA, just north of Atlanta. Hansen is an Able Flight sponsor, and the East Coast distributor for the unique airplane.

Working in conjunction with Montgomery County Aviation, Philly Sport Pilot is scheduled to open this month, and will provide training for a Sport Pilot Certificate for student pilots with or without a disability -- as the Sky Arrow can be flown either way.

FMI: www.phillysportpilot.com, www.ableflight.org