Special Needs Kids Step into Shoes of TransPac Pilots for Thrill and Challenge of Flight
PHOENIX, April 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — On Saturday, April 12th, at Goodyear Municipal Airport, three TransPac Aviation Academy pilots will participate in the Sky Kids' Third Annual Fly Day. The pilots – David Morse, Travis Trexler and Amanda Wright – will be taking 120 eager kids with special needs such as cancer and cerebral palsy up in the air as a part of a group of 20 volunteer pilots all in the spirit of Sky Kids' mission in "building esteem and confidence for special needs kids through flight."
Participating kids, ages 6 to 17, will be taken on a designated flight route in the Piper Archer III. "Sky Kids" who exhibit deft skill in the cockpit may even be allowed to handle the controls. Parents are encouraged to join their children in flight.
"This is a great opportunity for TransPac to provide a safe and joyful flight to these special kids who might not otherwise get that chance," said Senior Director of Training Quality and Chief Instructor David Morse. "It's a very fulfilling experience for us as well to see the excitement in each of them as they take the controls for the first time. By the smiles on their faces, you can see that they are able to forget about their individual challenges for a day and have memories that will last a lifetime."
Activities available in addition to flying include face painting and clowns. The Goodyear Police K9 Unit will be present as will the "Big Bear Cat" SWAT vehicle. A Goodyear Fire Engine will also be on display. Attendees will also have the opportunity to partake of a BBQ for lunch.
"We are very grateful to TransPac for their support since Sky Kids started," said Steve Snyder, chairman of air operations at Sky Kids. "They have been wonderful to provide kids with challenges the chance to fly and build their self-esteem and experience the joy of flying."
Sky Kids is a charity dedicated to giving special needs kids the joy of flight via general aviation aircraft. The experience is focused on building the self-esteem and confidence of the kids despite their special needs. The charity feeds upon the strong involvement of its volunteers, donors and sponsors who help make the dream of flight come true for participating children.
TransPac Aviation Academy offers a variety of programs, including the Career, VA, ATP, Self-Paced and Degrees. Financing is available through numerous means giving prospective students from around the world opportunities to pursue their aviation careers and dreams. Regional representatives from around the world are available to answer questions about the program. More information is available at www.transpacacademy.com.
The TransPac Aviation Academy pilots are available for interviews with interested media by contacting Rebecca Timmer who will be on the ground at the event at 602-334-3051 or via email. Media should arrive no later than 10:00 am on site for interviews.
CONTACT:
Kipp Lanham
202-449-9807
Kate Connors
202-449-9804