Tzvi Schectman
Resources
Website: www.challengeair.com
Location: Dallas, Texas
Contact: (214) 351-3353
Mission: "Challenge Air was created to change the perception of children with special needs through the gift [of] flight. Since 1993, we have been committed to making a difference in the lives of children with special needs. With a network of 3,500 volunteers nationwide, we continue to grow through events called Fly Days. By eliminating the belief that they are limited, the children can grow to their full potential. They are given the opportunity to find by eliminating the belief that they are limited, the children can grow to their full potential. They are given the opportunity to find courage within themselves and build in areas where they lack self-esteem.
Challenge Air provides an unforgettable growing experience that opens the door to possibilities while allowing the children to see if they can fly a plane they can do anything."
Requirements: To be considered for an event, a city, program, or organization has to be able to fulfill Challenge Air's goals to: "improve the quality of life for children/youth and families with special needs; arouse children/youth with special needs to be excited about learning and inspired about their future; educate children/youth about the aviation industry and encourage them to consider occupational roles other than the customary ones to which they are generally directed; involve and promote civic and community engagement; create an environment for peer interaction for children/youth with special needs; promote local organizational resources."
Get started: Download an application.
Website: http://www.dreamsandwings.us/index.html
Location: North Branch, Michigan
Contact: [email protected]
Misson: "Dreams and Wings, Inc. is a non-profit organization that offers motivational, inspirational, and life-changing experiences to special needs children and youth through aviation. ...
Seated beside an experienced pilot in a light airplane, each child and at least one family member and/or friend will gently escape gravity and soar with the clouds to take a bird's eye view of the beautiful Great Lakes countryside. ... A Dreams and Wings Fly Day includes a short ground school where the children learn about airplanes and how they fly, refreshments and a host of fun and educational activities and displays designed to introduce the children and their families to new and unique equipment, services, opportunities and experiences.
In addition to the 20 minute airplane ride, each special needs child receives a Dreams and Wings T-shirt, a set of gold aviator wings and a flight certificate commemorating his or her achievement."
Requirements: "'Fly Days' serve children from 8-18 years of age (as young as 5 and over 18 may be allowed) along with their families, at no cost to them. The children served at each event are supported exclusively by philanthropic support and donations." The Fly Day events are scheduled on specific Saturdays at 9 a.m. in different locations in Michigan, and participants must be pre-registered.
Get started: Contact Dreams and Wings.
Website: abovethecloudskids.org
Location: Norwood, Massachusetts
Contact: [email protected]
Mission: "Above the Clouds is a non-profit organization whose mission is to bring joy and hope, through the wonder of small aircraft flight, to children who are seriously ill, disabled, under served or facing other serious adversity. ... Above the Clouds delivers a unique kind of medicine — programming designed to build anticipation and excitement for a special, joyful experience flying (actually taking the controls!) in the co-pilot’s seat of a small airplane or helicopter."
Requirements: "A Dream Flyer applicant must: be from 6 to 18 years old; be seriously ill, underprivileged, disabled, or otherwise facing adversity." Children can be referred by "medical professionals treating the prospective Dream Flyer; parent or legal guardian of the potential Dream Flyer; social service agency working with potential Dream Flyer; the potential Dream Flyer himself/herself."
Get started: Fill out an application.
Website: http://www.stratusflying.com/charity-flights-little-wings/
Location: Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Contact: For US flights, [email protected]
Misson: "The Stratus flying lesson program currently operates in the UK, USA and Australia for disabled and disadvantaged young adults. It was founded with the sole aim of enabling those wanting to achieve their wings, the opportunity to do so. ... Our aim at Stratus is to make a difference through flight by enabling young adults to train towards their wings free of charge, an option unavailable before Stratus was formed."
Requirements: "Stratus works with young adults between 14-24 years old by delivering a flight training programme where they can receive the necessary flight requirements in order to obtain their Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL) in a plane or helicopter. The programme, which is spread over a number of years, will give young adults access to their dreams of wanting to fly and become a pilot."
Get started: Email [email protected] or call (410) 322-7302
Website: www.aerobility.com
Location: Camberley, Sussex, England
Contact: [email protected]
Mission: "Aerobility is a registered charity founded in 1993 offering disabled people, without exception, the opportunity to fly an aeroplane. ... Aerobility provides 'experience of a lifetime' trial flying lessons for as many terminally ill and disabled people as possible every year, also subsidised flying days for other disability charities and at-cost instruction and qualification flight training to disabled people."
Requirements: "Children under the age of 18 or vulnerable adults will require a parent's or guardian's written consent, and if under 16 must be accompanied by a guardian or parent while at the airfield. There is no upper age limit. Children under the age of 12 may be able to fly at the discretion of the instructor conducting the lesson. ... A charge of £60 is made for individual trial lessons."
Get started: Fill out a form.
5 Organizations That Put Kids with Special Needs in the Pilot's Seat
In a recent post, we shared a list of "11 Amazing Organizations Offering Private Flights for those with Medical Needs." In researching that list, we came upon five organizations that, rather than fly children with special needs for medical purposes, let them have the experience of flying a plane. If there's not one in your area, try calling these organizations to see if they ever schedule events in other places or know of someone providing these services near you. You might also contact a If there's not one in your area, try calling these organizations to see if they ever schedule events in other places or know of someone providing these services near you. You might also contact a flight club in your vicinity and suggest they look into taking on this mission.
Challenger Air
Website: www.challengeair.com
Location: Dallas, Texas
Contact: (214) 351-3353
Mission: "Challenge Air was created to change the perception of children with special needs through the gift [of] flight. Since 1993, we have been committed to making a difference in the lives of children with special needs. With a network of 3,500 volunteers nationwide, we continue to grow through events called Fly Days. By eliminating the belief that they are limited, the children can grow to their full potential. They are given the opportunity to find by eliminating the belief that they are limited, the children can grow to their full potential. They are given the opportunity to find courage within themselves and build in areas where they lack self-esteem.
Challenge Air provides an unforgettable growing experience that opens the door to possibilities while allowing the children to see if they can fly a plane they can do anything."
Requirements: To be considered for an event, a city, program, or organization has to be able to fulfill Challenge Air's goals to: "improve the quality of life for children/youth and families with special needs; arouse children/youth with special needs to be excited about learning and inspired about their future; educate children/youth about the aviation industry and encourage them to consider occupational roles other than the customary ones to which they are generally directed; involve and promote civic and community engagement; create an environment for peer interaction for children/youth with special needs; promote local organizational resources."
Get started: Download an application.
Dreams and Wings
Website: http://www.dreamsandwings.us/index.html
Location: North Branch, Michigan
Contact: [email protected]
Misson: "Dreams and Wings, Inc. is a non-profit organization that offers motivational, inspirational, and life-changing experiences to special needs children and youth through aviation. ...
Seated beside an experienced pilot in a light airplane, each child and at least one family member and/or friend will gently escape gravity and soar with the clouds to take a bird's eye view of the beautiful Great Lakes countryside. ... A Dreams and Wings Fly Day includes a short ground school where the children learn about airplanes and how they fly, refreshments and a host of fun and educational activities and displays designed to introduce the children and their families to new and unique equipment, services, opportunities and experiences.
In addition to the 20 minute airplane ride, each special needs child receives a Dreams and Wings T-shirt, a set of gold aviator wings and a flight certificate commemorating his or her achievement."
Requirements: "'Fly Days' serve children from 8-18 years of age (as young as 5 and over 18 may be allowed) along with their families, at no cost to them. The children served at each event are supported exclusively by philanthropic support and donations." The Fly Day events are scheduled on specific Saturdays at 9 a.m. in different locations in Michigan, and participants must be pre-registered.
Get started: Contact Dreams and Wings.
Above the Clouds
Website: abovethecloudskids.org
Location: Norwood, Massachusetts
Contact: [email protected]
Mission: "Above the Clouds is a non-profit organization whose mission is to bring joy and hope, through the wonder of small aircraft flight, to children who are seriously ill, disabled, under served or facing other serious adversity. ... Above the Clouds delivers a unique kind of medicine — programming designed to build anticipation and excitement for a special, joyful experience flying (actually taking the controls!) in the co-pilot’s seat of a small airplane or helicopter."
Requirements: "A Dream Flyer applicant must: be from 6 to 18 years old; be seriously ill, underprivileged, disabled, or otherwise facing adversity." Children can be referred by "medical professionals treating the prospective Dream Flyer; parent or legal guardian of the potential Dream Flyer; social service agency working with potential Dream Flyer; the potential Dream Flyer himself/herself."
Get started: Fill out an application.
Stratus
Website: http://www.stratusflying.com/charity-flights-little-wings/
Location: Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Contact: For US flights, [email protected]
Misson: "The Stratus flying lesson program currently operates in the UK, USA and Australia for disabled and disadvantaged young adults. It was founded with the sole aim of enabling those wanting to achieve their wings, the opportunity to do so. ... Our aim at Stratus is to make a difference through flight by enabling young adults to train towards their wings free of charge, an option unavailable before Stratus was formed."
Requirements: "Stratus works with young adults between 14-24 years old by delivering a flight training programme where they can receive the necessary flight requirements in order to obtain their Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL) in a plane or helicopter. The programme, which is spread over a number of years, will give young adults access to their dreams of wanting to fly and become a pilot."
Get started: Email [email protected] or call (410) 322-7302
Aerobility
Website: www.aerobility.com
Location: Camberley, Sussex, England
Contact: [email protected]
Mission: "Aerobility is a registered charity founded in 1993 offering disabled people, without exception, the opportunity to fly an aeroplane. ... Aerobility provides 'experience of a lifetime' trial flying lessons for as many terminally ill and disabled people as possible every year, also subsidised flying days for other disability charities and at-cost instruction and qualification flight training to disabled people."
Requirements: "Children under the age of 18 or vulnerable adults will require a parent's or guardian's written consent, and if under 16 must be accompanied by a guardian or parent while at the airfield. There is no upper age limit. Children under the age of 12 may be able to fly at the discretion of the instructor conducting the lesson. ... A charge of £60 is made for individual trial lessons."
Get started: Fill out a form. 
