Challenge Air Builds Confidence in Kids with Special Needs

Challenge Air helps children with special needs build confidence and self-esteem through the gift of flight. Over 3,500 volunteers support “Fly Days”, helping children with special needs realize their full potential.

Challenge Air hosted a very successful September Fly Day in Kansas City on September 10th at Charles B. Wheeler airport with almost 100 kids registered and 14 pilots donating their aircraft and time to fly the kids.

“We saw lots of happy faces and happy kids,” said April Culver, Challenge Air’s Executive Director.

Culver explained Challenge Air typically sees a number of returning pilots but in Kansas City this year, only had four returning pilots due to schedule conflicts and aircraft maintenance. However, the organization was thrilled to have 10 new pilots support the event.

Participating children receive a flight of about 30 minutes, which Challenge Air tries to route to include local landmarks.

Fly Days also help connect kids and families with services available in their communities. At the recent Kansas City event, Challenge Air partnered with KSDS Assistance Dogs Inc., an agency that helps place service dogs with kids with special needs; Angel Flight, which provides donated private air transportation for medical needs; and the Midwest Adaptive Sports Organization, which hosts wheelchair basketball, tennis, and other sports.

Culver relayed stories of Fly Day kids going on to study at aviation universities and then have careers in maintenance and other aviation fields but for a lot of children, the experience helps them understand their own possibilities, despite their special needs.

“There’s no cost to the families who participate in Fly Days, which makes sponsorship and donations of time and aircraft especially important,” said Culver.

Challenge Air thanks its sponsors Signature Flight Support; Hodes & Company; WildBlue Aircraft Sales; Restored Aircraft; Aeris Insurance Solutions; and Barbera & Watkins, LLC.

Challenge Air conducts dozens of Fly Days every year. Additional 2022 dates are planned for Denver, CO; Atlanta, GA; Tulsa, OK; and Conroe, TX.

Learn more about how to register for a Challenge Air event or support Challenge Air’s work at challengeair.com.