Flight training

Hi, my name is Tiffany. I am fundraising for my son Jaelyn (pictured) to help cover the cost of flight training. There is a pilot shortage and the disparity is expected to get worse. The cost of training is quite expensive-$300/hr to put it into perspective. The cost tends to be a deterrent for prospective pilots entering the field. Jaelyn is not yet eligible to apply for scholarships due to his age but regardless is devoting himself to training daily for his future career. Rather than sitting in limbo until age 17 we chose to capitalize on finding his passion at such a young age and feed it so it continues to grow. 

Jaelyn is 14 years old. He found his passion at the age of 7 and is asking for donations for flight time to obtain his private pilot license (PPL) and instrument training. He has been doing flight simulation since age 7 and teaching himself how to fly in his spare time after school, evenings, and weekends. He has over 2,200 simulation hours and over 700 sim flights in just the last 2 years. He has experience as an air traffic controller for VATSIM. Time in the simulator has transformed him into a US and world geography whiz despite not yet having taken this class. He began training in motor planes at age 12 as soon as his legs could reach the pedals. He has ~15 motor hours to date which will count towards his PPL. He does glider training on select weekends. He has been involved in Civil Air Patrol, Young Eagles, and Blueridge Soaring Society. He also plays the organ for the Sunday service and is also the equipment technician for the church. He has a 4.0 high school gpa and is taking college classes at a local community college for transfer credit into Liberty University (a Christian college) towards a BS in commercial aviation in addition to his regular high school load. He has completed ground training and participated in an aviation maintenance camp over the summer on the Liberty campus.

The cost of training is overwhelming when considering all of the following are out-of-pocket pay: college tuition for classes not offered as dual enrollment, dual enrollment classes, flight training (PPL- average 50hrs @$300/hr), and instrument training ($14,000).

He has shown his dedication and is giving 110%. One’s potential should not be limited by social status although often this is the case. He has had a 7+ year commitment to the same long-term goal which says a lot being that is half his lifetime thus far. Please help this aspiring pilot break barriers to achieve his dreams by funding flight time.

Timeline:

40 hours total w/ trainer, age 14-16 ($300/hr)

first solo flight, 16th bday

10 solo hours, age 16-17 ($250/hr)

checkride, 17th bday-obtain PPL

instrument training, senior year- age 17-18 ($14,000) w/ Liberty dual enrollment

Liberty admission- age 18 (will come in with PPL, instrument, and 2 years college transfer credit)