Able Flight soars on
Almost 20 years later, the program charts a new course
One hundred and three pilots. That’s how many have earned their wings through Able Flight since its inception in 2006. Founded by executive director Charles Stites, the nonprofit gives scholarships and flight training to people with disabilities to help them pursue their goals of becoming pilots.
It started when, not long after the then-new light sport aircraft rules took effect, Stites came across a set of modified hand controls that could be put in an LSA.
“It just came to me that we had an incredible opportunity here in the United States with these two things coming together, and no one else was doing it,” Stites recalled.
The first flight scholarship was awarded in December 2006, and in 2007, the first pilot would receive his wings through Able Flight.
“When I saw [the new pilot] taxi in, he was just beaming. The DPE was smiling in the back seat of the airplane,” Stites said of that day. “That was the moment that I knew we had proven this, this will work.”
And it has worked. Some of the 103 Able Flight pilots have gone on to earn more than one certificate, and more than 25 wounded or disabled veterans have earned certificates through the program.
But Stites emphasized that “no one does something like this by themselves.” He “played a part,” but countless people have supported the organization and mission since its founding, from founding board member and treasurer Steve Merritt to Jon Hansen who initially introduced Stites to the hand controls and others who helped make the organization into what it is today.
And the group Stites always makes sure gets recognized: all the flight instructors who have trained Able Flight students. “Without them, it wouldn’t happen.”
But now, almost 20 years since he founded Able Flight, Stites announced that he would be stepping down from heading the program. Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU), which has worked with Able Flight to already train 10 pilots, will be taking over the program.
“I’m very confident that the program will not only just continue, but that it’ll actually get better and stronger,” Stites said. “[SIU] has their own ideas about carrying it forward that keep everything we’ve done in place, but they also would like to do some things to expand it.”
What really excites Stites is the eagerness with which SIU agreed to take over the program. The relationship started with a cold call a few years ago, and now Stites looks to continue to work with them as they set up an endowment for Able Flight so that the program can continue for “many, many years.”
Looking back, one of the most gratifying things that Stites has seen come out of all this has been how these pilots have been welcomed into the aviation community, “not as a pilot with a disability, but just a pilot. They earned it.” 
ableflight.org
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