Organization Teaches People With Disabilities That They, Too,
Can Fly
By David Juwel
Able Flight, a 501-C3 nonprofit organization who's stated
mission is to offer people with disabilities a unique way to
challenge themselves through flight training, and by doing so, to
gain greater self-confidence and self-reliance, has awarded 34
scholarships, and their scholarship winners include twelve people
who use wheelchairs, 5 women, and six wounded or disabled veterans.
One of the wheelchair bound graduates has started his own flight
school.
Started in 2006 by Charles and Sue Stites of Chapel Hill, NC.,
Able Flight is a national program, and the only one of its kind in
the United States. Stites pinned wings on three of the newly-minted
sports pilots.
I had the pleasure of meeting some of their graduates today. Let
me share their stories with you...
I met Eric Ingram, a wheelchair bound handicapped individual,
who has just received his Sport Pilot's license through the
scholarship program operated by ABLE Flight. I asked Eric what
being a pilot means to him. With a big grin, he said that it has
added incredible excitement to his life.
I met Kevin Crombie, another wheelchair bound handicapped
individual, and a close friend of Eric's. He just received his
Sport Pilots license and he says it means everything to him. He is
finally able to do what he loves.
Then I met Jermaine Strachan, a 2-time recipient of the Purple
Heart. His dream was to be an Army helicopter pilot but his war
wounds prevented that from ever happening. Thanks to the ABLE
Flight program, he has also received a Sport Pilots license.
Jermaine says flying is the most exciting thing he does, especially
solo flight, because solo flight gives him the greatest sense of
personal accomplishment.
Then I met Paul Lampasso. Paul has suffered through a number of
physical challenges including cancer. This cost him his fire
fighting career and prevented him from having the flying
opportunities that he desired. But he now has the satisfaction of
being in the aviation field because he is the first Able Flight
recipient of a Light Sport Repairman certificate. He has already
received job offers.
Purdue University, which has trained six of the pilots, advised
ABLE Flight that every one of the students they sent were excellent
in every academic way, and they all met the same flight standards
that every other pilot is required to meet.
It was pretty inspiring to meet these people and see how flying
has increased the quality of their life.
Front Row (L-R) Eric Ingram, Kevin Crombie
Back Row (L-R) Paul Lampasso, Jermaine Stachan