Andrews – Just two weeks ago, Gayland Trull got to be part of a child’s special day. It was Timothy Raxter’s 8th birthday, and the airport manager got to teach him how to fly for the occasion.
Trull wants to share his love for flying with more local children, especially those closer in age to being able to earn their license. Usually, it costs $150 to fly for one hour, but Trull and the Western Carolina Youth Aviation Foundation are ready to let kids like Raxter fly for free.
The foundation started within the last two years, at first focussing on getting donations to pay for the flights. The board originated from a group in Hayesville that managed a large donation to Hayesville High School for its aviation program. They want to continue to support and encourage children interested in aviation careers, expanding their reach to Cherokee and Graham counties.
Foundation Chair David Hourdequin said aviation as a vocation is a deep subject with no point of exhaustion.
“It’s so much fun,” he said. “It’s a great career field. There’s just no feeling like flying.”
In fact, Boeing’s 2020 Pilot & Technician Outlook predicts that long-term needs of the industry will remain strong. The company projected that 763,000 new civil aviation pilots, 739,000 new aviation maintenance technicians and 903,000 new cabin crew members will be needed globally over the next 20 years.
The foundation has two kids right now taking advantage of the program, but Trull said there are many more local kids with an interest in aviation, many of whom he’s met through schools in Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties.
“We want to get them in the air,” he said.
Trull said there’s no lessons beforehand – they just get in the plane, and Trull talks the child through the controls for take off, flying and landing.
Trull said the foundation does plan to visit the schools and share that the opportunity to fly is available. It is also planning to have an information booth at the Welcome Home Tribute to Veterans event at the airport Saturday. The foundation is already working with teacher Bryan Byrne and the aviation program at Tri-County Early College High School.
Donations to Western Carolina Youth Aviation Foundation are tax-deductible. Besides flight training, funds raised will also go toward scholarships for high school and junior college students.
For details, visit wcyaf.com or call 421-6216. Donations may be made online or mailed to P.O. Box 1399, Hayesville, NC 28904.