Donation protected
Operation: Defy The Skies Needs You
In 1929, Nellie Zabel Willhite made history by becoming the first Deaf person to earn her pilot’s license. In 2025, Zabel Aviation seeks to make history again—this time by championing the first Deaf pilot to train and complete a circumnavigation flight (with an ASL interpreter on board) in 2029 on the 100th anniversary of Nellie’s own milestone. And this time, you get to see history in the making.
With Operation: Defy the Skies, we will collaborate with pilots, engineers, and flight professionals around the world to bring you fun and innovative content from the Deaf lens in a series we call Defy. Our flight crew at home will explore the ins and outs of aviation from training to in-flight adventures, meet aerospace leaders, and learn their stories and how they are advancing the industry, and watch as we revolutionize visual learning and resources for the next generation of student pilots.
And of course, you get to witness one Deaf pilot as she embarks on her own journey to complete an around the world flight while advocating for Deaf and Hard of Hearing pilots in a safe and effective manner. From start to finish, you get to see what many believe to be impossible, but we just call it another flight hour.
The sky is not our limit but the beginning of a wonderful new destination. Together, we can fuel this mission and take flight to new horizons. Please consider joining our flight crew today. We’d love to have you!
Some Ways Your Donation Helps:
- Funds Training Hours, Educating Certified Flight Instructors (CFIs) on Aviation Sign Language (AvSL), & Developing Visual Safety Procedures
- Lays the Groundwork for the Around the World Flight Including Route and Logistical Planning, Extensive Flight Training, Open Water Survival Training, Team Recruiting & Training (Including An AvSL Interpreter Well Versed In ATC Communications)
- Securing the Proper Equipment For Flights & On the Ground Videography
- Assists with Advocacy for Accessibility within Aviation (Including But Not Limited To ASL Videos for Airlines & Airports, Open Captioning for Airport Announcements, & Further Opportunities For D/HH Pilots and Aviation Professionals)
- Helps Us Make Aviation Safer & More Accessible Through a Transparent, Creative, and Collaborative Community
Thank you for considering supporting our mission. Every person is a crucial part of our crew, and we’d love to have you as part of our community.
Organiser
Zabel Aviation
Organiser
Houston, TX