Seven individuals with disabilities will earn pilot certificates or receive advanced training in 2015 thanks to Able Flight’s scholarship program. The nonprofit organization gives participants opportunities to challenge themselves through flight and aviation career training.
Six students will train for a sport pilot certificate through Able Flight’s joint program with Purdue University’s Department of Aviation Technology. They will spend six weeks at Purdue learning to fly a specially adapted light sport aircraft. The graduates will receive their wings at a special ceremony during EAA AirVenture 2015 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
The Purdue program participants are Scot Abrams, a former U.S. Marine who was paralyzed in an accident while on duty; Stephen Carrier, who became paralyzed in a motor vehicle accident; Bernard Dime, who was paralyzed in a skydiving accident; James Lowman, a retired U.S. Army veteran and helicopter pilot who was severely injured during combat operations in Iraq; John Robinson, a U.S. Navy veteran who was paralyzed in an auto accident; and Raymart Tinio, who is deaf.
Scholarship recipient Randy Green will train for an airline transport pilot certificate. Green was born without hands or feet. He has commercial pilot and flight instructor certificates. He will train at a facility in Texas.
Additionally, Sgt. Adam Kisielewski will train for a private pilot certificate. Kisielewski is a former U.S. Marine who lost his left arm and a portion of his right leg in combat in Iraq. He obtained a sport pilot certificate through Able Flight in 2012.
Able Flight was the recipient of a $8,000 AOPA Foundation grant in 2014.
For more information, see the website.
AOPA ePublishing staff
Related Articles
