Challenge Air for Kids & Friends
Challenge Air for Kids & Friends offers motivational, inspirational, and life-changing experiences to physically challenged children and youth through aviation.
Description:
Children are initially introduced to Challenge Air through the well organized “Events” program. Challenge Air “Events” are usually held on a Saturday. The pre-registered children, ages 7-17, attend a mandatory ground school where they are given short presentations about the dynamics of flight, about other aviation studies, and about the aviation industry. Hands-on educational areas offer fun learning experiences surrounding the basic concepts the children learned at the ground school.
Generally, about 150 children plus their families will attend each event with about 100 ground crew volunteers. Typically 15-20 private planes owned by physically challenged or able-bodied volunteer pilots participate in the events. Weather, time and safety permitting, one of the goals of the event is to provide the opportunity for the children to participate in an actual flight in these small, privately owned aircraft operated by a licensed pilot. Many of the volunteer pilots are also physically challenged. They have overcome their own physical challenges to accomplish their dreams to fly. The young co-pilots are often encouraged to actually take the controls and fly the plane. The children are empowered by the flight experience – to look beyond any perceived physical or mental limitations, to demonstrate ability, to set personal goals, to experience achievement, and to look ahead to a more enriched and prosperous life.
Challenge Air recruits and trains volunteer pilots from many organizations including the International Wheelchair Aviators (IWA), the Flying Rotarians, Rotary International; the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA); Women in Aviation, the 99’s; veteran organizations, etc. Planning committees and ground crew volunteers are recruited from various service organizations such as Rotary International, and Lions Club International and also from corporate volunteer groups like those at Southwest Airlines, Washington Mutual, NOKIA, and many, many others.
Challenge Air’s unique perspective for rehabilitation and motivational therapy fulfills specific therapeutic and emotional needs of these special children and provides the participants and their families a worry-free environment in which to share a positive experience that results in family and community bonding. Each child who participates in a Challenge Air “Event” receives life-long benefits. They experience the freedom through flight and are encouraged to see beyond their perceived limitations. The program also helps youth to seek and understand various occupational roles available to them which disabled people have often been discouraged from pursuing.
History:
Challenge Air is based in Dallas, Texas. Since its founding in 1993, the organization has
reached out across the nation to serve children with special needs by providing unique and
exciting motivational opportunities involving the aviation industry. Over 150 of these
special events have been held in 26 states, in which over 23,500 special needs children and
their families have benefited.
Challenge Air was founded by Lt. Richard "Rick" O. Amber, USN (Ret.), a fighter pilot who lost the use of his legs when his jet crashed while returning from a combat mission over Vietnam. Following his accident, he became a private pilot/instructor, a teacher, a national wheelchair tennis champion, a member of the Prestonwood Rotary Club in Dallas, and an advocate for children with disabilities. Before his death to cancer in 1997, Rick Amber touched the lives of thousands of special children and their families through Challenge Air.
Contact people:
Office fax number: (214) 351-6002
Address:
 |
8008 Cedar Springs Rd.
LB24, N106Dallas, TX 75235(See a map) |
Web Site: http://www.challengeair.org
| Last updated on March 18, 2009 |
