Altitude with a “Can Do” Attitude

What a life-changing travel experience for kids! At about 1,500 feet in the air they take the controls and fly the airplane themselves. For Challenge Air's passengers, children with disabilities or serious illnesses, these Fly Days make possibilities open up like the endless sky.

As Theron Wright explains, "Once we get up to altitude and turn the controls over to them we ask, 'If you can fly this plane what can't you do'?".

Held in locations across the United States, a typical event brings the local community together -- children, their parents and siblings, agencies serving people with disabilities, supporters, and volunteers. On the ground there is the all-important flight school that gets the kids ready. There are also hands-on projects that may involve experimenting with aerodynamics or becoming familiar with aviation equipment.

But it's in the air that the transformation takes place.

Challenge Air uses small, privately owned planes whose owners donate the use of their aircraft, fuel, and their own time as pilots. They give their passengers the intimate experience of flying that only a small aircraft can provide. Throughout the day-long event each child, accompanied by two guests of their choosing, takes to the air. Once up to altitude it is the time for the child spread their wings in ways most never thought possible. The volunteer Challenge Air pilot assumes co-pilot status while the youngster takes over piloting the aircraft.

Challenge was born of a dream to inspire and motivate physically and mentally challenged children and youth through aviation. Founded by disabled aviator Rick Amber, has a history of bringing Fly Days to communities throughout the U.S. Challenge Air hopes to deepen its impact by establishing an aviation career mentoring program for high school-aged youth. They want to enhance their presence in cities like Fort Lauderdale, where Challenge Air has an eight-year tradition of events, or Nashville and San Diego where community support is also strong. The organization is also open to advising pilots in other countries on how to replicate the Challenge Air experience.

Pilot Theron Wright measures success in smiles-per-mile. He and his colleagues at Challenge Air have logged more than 3,500 smiles with their unique approach to opening new vistas for children with disabilities.

Suddenly Theron's question becomes their own. "If I can fly this plane, what is there that can't I do?"