June 2012
Challenge Air inspires its passengers using the wonder and beauty of flight
At 5:30 a.m. on one particular Saturday last January, our alarm went off—something that doesn’t normally happen on the weekend—and I rolled out of bed and pulled up the weather forecast for Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (KFXE). Good weather was forecast, so off to the shower I tottered.
Today was the big day down south, Challenge Air’s annual Fly Day, whereby pilots from all over Florida arrived in their planes to take children and youths with special needs and their families for a flight up and around South Florida to inspire them with the wonder and beauty of flight.
My fiancée, Donna, and I live in Vero Beach, so we had a 40-minute flight ahead of us to get to FXE in time for the early morning pilot briefing. I would handle the flying portion and Donna would be my chief loader, assisting in getting the kids in and out of the planes and handling all the ground work necessary to keep the flights running smoothly. So it was a quick cup of coffee for each of us, and we were off to the airport to get N41208, our venerable Cherokee Six, headed south.
CHALLENGE AIR
Established in 1993, Challenge Air for Kids & Friends, is a nonprofit organization offering motivational, inspirational and life-changing experiences to special needs and seriously ill children and youth through aviation.
Its founder, Rick Amber, was a pilot injured during Vietnam; he returned from the war as a wheelchair-bound paraplegic. Over the course of several years and through much perseverance, Amber worked his way back into the cockpit. During his work with “kids on wheels,” he realized what a positive impact aviation could have on them and Challenge Air was born.
Although Rick Amber passed away from cancer in 1997, his legacy lives on through the board, staff, volunteers and thousands of volunteer pilots who continue the mission of building self-esteem and confidence in children with special needs.
One such program is the Fly Day, where the kids and their families are treated to a day of aviation fun, including a 30-minute flight around the local area.
ANNUAL FLY DAY
Usually a local hangar or FBO is commandeered for the event. Banyan Air Service supplied the facilities this year (as it has so generously in the past) and it seemed as though half the town came out to support us. Besides most of Banyan’s employees coming in on their day off, dozens of local volunteers assisted with the ground operations, including loading and unloading, checking in the kids and their families, preflight briefings, food preparation, setting up the hangar with seating, and providing continuous moral support.
The local Civil Air Patrol assisted with crowd control and marshalled airplanes in and out of the parking area. There were fire engines, clowns and face painting, ponies and puppies, pizza—and an adorable little pot-bellied pig name Isabellie—all for the kids to enjoy. Even some of the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders showed up to lend their energy and support.
A FLIGHT TO REMEMBER
After the pilot briefing, we headed out to start the day. Ninety-two kids were scheduled, and with an anticipated 10 to 15 percent cancellation rate, we assumed we had 80 flights in front of us. Only 12 planes showed up this year, so that would make for a long day. Steve Purello, the air boss for the day, asked how long we could stay and it was unanimous: no kid would be left without a ride. When all was said and done, we gave 110 kids and their families a flight to remember.
I thought I was going to have the hard job, continuously flying strangers in my plane, worried about who might get sick or out of control, while Donna stood around on the ground with nothing to do until my triumphant return.
Every day I realize more and more how little I know. While I had seven perfect flights without a mishap over the course of the day—with captive audiences forced to endure my aerial banter—the ground crews were scrambling to find their next passengers, register new arrivals, hold continual ground schools above the din of the energetic disc jockey, let families know what they were in for, not to mention track down the flight certificates pre-printed with the kids name on them, all whilst dodging the aforementioned pigs, puppies and ponies. I had it easy.
All I had to do was what I love to do most… fly. As most everyone was a volunteer and they only do this once a year, it was fair to say there were some administrative challenges throughout the day that taxed our fine support crews. At 4:30 p.m., an hour after the last flight was supposed to be over, the last group arrived with its excited passengers.
But at the end of the day, every kid that showed up got a ride, a certificate, and a pair of gold wings pinned to their chest, proving that even though they might be challenged that didn’t stop them from experiencing a view from above and maybe the chance to operate the controls of a flying machine.
A WARM WELCOME
The plan was that upon their return from the flight, the group would be helped out of the plane and photos taken and a certificate of flight presented to them by their captain. And lastly, we would unpin a set of wings from our chest and pin it on to theirs. (Typing this, I still get a little misty remembering the looks on their faces and the hugs I got.) Finally, we would all walk together back into the hangar, and down a red carpet where everyone would break into applause and whistles. We did this each time a new group returned.
Every single volunteer would stop for a moment and stand and clap. And the look on the kids’ faces? Well, let’s just say, you had to be there.
GOOD WORK
Because of the number of flights, I never really got a chance to stop and chat with the other pilots, never really got a chance to find out why they decided to volunteer their time and plane and gas. I did notice every plane was freshly washed and waxed and every pilot had a look of pride on their face when they walked out with their passengers.
I’m a firm believer in karma and the idea that when you do good things, good things happen. It’s my bet that every one of those pilots enjoyed tailwinds all the way home regardless of which way they were headed.
Because I spent so little time in the hangar, I’m sure I missed noting some of the volunteers’ participation, and for this I apologize. But I do want to go on record as stating this was one of the most fun days of flight I’ve ever experienced, and I can’t recommend it enough to others.
If you hear about a Challenge Air Fly Day coming to an airfield near you, or if you want to help organize one, I can’t begin to tell what a joy it brings to your heart. What better way to enjoy flying than to share it?
Mark Riordan has unswervingly been a VFR Pilot since 1992, learning to fly in Sanford, Fla. He’s spent his flight time traveling the Eastern Seaboard and the Bahamas in search of the perfect piña colada. Amassing over 1,500 hours of clear weather flying, he currently hangars his Cherokee Six directly across from Piper Aircraft, Inc. at Vero Beach Municipal (KVRB) where she can see the spot she was born. Send questions or comments to editor@www.piperflyer.com.
RESOURCES >>>>>
Challenge Air for Kids & Friends
7363 Cedar Springs Road
Dallas, TX 75235
(214) 351-3353
challengeair.com
