Written by David Wright Friday, 21 March 2008
Michael Naughton tells the Teens-In-Flight selection committee members (pictures left to right: Bill Ortmayer and Jack Howell) why he wants to fly as mom, Debra, watches on proudly from the back of the room.
BUNNELL – Fourteen year old Michael Naughton was asked what his grades are like. The Flagler Palm Coast High School student looked down for a second, his long hair almost hiding his eyes, and he replied, “they’re okay.” The group of adults at the table then asked him for his grade point average. “4.0” he said, modestly.The adults were impressed. More impressed, when they learned that Naughton is dually enrolled, also a freshman at Daytona Beach Community College. During Spring Break, he will serve as a Senate Page.
Naughton is not your average high school kid, and doesn’t have average goals. He is hoping after Thursday’s meeting to be named one of five local high school students to be accepted into the Teens-in-Flight program, which teaches kids how to fly and earn a pilot’s license, all at no cost.
The program, which is now taking off in Flagler County, is the brainchild of retired United States Marine Corps Colonel and Flagler County Sheriff’s candidate Jack Howell.
Howell started the program as a partnership in 2006 with the Stephen M. Price Foundation in Jacksonville after he’d attended one too many military funerals. Something hit him then, something was wrong.
“I thought it was morally wrong that we forget the families (of military members) so fast,” Howell said.
Howell wanted to find a way to help the survivors. So he went with something he knew, aviation, which was a component of his teachings of at-risk students as an ROTC instructor.
Teens-In-Flight focuses on teaching teenagers of parents who died or were wounded and disabled in military action. Teens-In-Fight also instructs teens of police and firefighters who lost their lives on the job. At-risk and children from low income families are also eligible for the program.
On Thursday, the Teens-In-Flight selection board members met at the School Board offices in Bunnell where Naughton and eight other students were interviewed for one of the five open spots for this summer’s course.
Each of the students submitted 1,000 word essays explaining why they wanted to take part in the program. The interview process, Howell said, gives those who might not be great at writing a chance to verbally explain their desire to fly.
“I’m looking for the fire in the belly kind of deal,” Howell said, someone who wants to fly so much they can taste it.
Chosen students will be screened for drug use and asked to sign a contract which states that they will not drink, smoke, use drugs or get into trouble at school.
The training will take anywhere from nine months to a year, with students committed to one day per week of flight lessons. After they are trained, students will be eligible for a private pilot’s license, the first step towards getting a commercial license, Howell said. Normally, such training would cost students between $7,000 to $9,000.
“The sky is unlimited and this is your key,” Howell told Naughton. “But you have to be committed, otherwise you are wasting a slot that somebody else can use. This is the most demanding program you’ve ever done.”
“If I do get selected, I’ll really stick with it,” Naughton said in an interview after the meeting.
While he isn’t sure what career he will pursue yet, Naughton said he’s considering something which will involve flight and medical transportation.
Earlier in the evening, 18 year old FPC senior Olesya Vassilyeva hoped to have earned one of the five coveted slots.
Vassilyeva plans to attend DBCC for psychology this fall, she’d love to learn to fly. Vassilyeva said she’s always wanted to travel and that she is committed to investing the necessary time to learn to fly.
“If there is an opportunity,” Vassilyeva said, “I would be glad to do it.”
Howell reached out to Flagler County School Superintendent Bill Delbrugge to help find potential students. Delbrugge passed word on through both area high schools. Howell said he wants to offer kids something positive which can help shape the rest of their lives and provide a wide variety of job opportunities.
Jack Howell explains that he is seeking committed flight students.
"We appreciate Teens-In-Flight giving us this opportunity for our students," Delbrugge said, "We also appreciate Colonel Jack Howell for making this possible. For students wanting to go into the aviation field this is just an incredible opportunity."
“I have compassion for kids,” Howell said, “We don’t have anything in Flagler County that is truly proactive for kids to do.”
Howell is hoping to expand the program to Colorado next month and into Texas this summer. In time, he hopes to take it national. Should he be elected sheriff, Howell said he will pass the program to his board, but he will still have time to stay involved.
Howell said nobody in Teens-In-Flight draws a salary and that the program relies on private donations and the contribution of time and resources from those who help out. Three such contributors sat on the selection board Thursday including, Randall Patterson, chief pilot of Palm Coast Aviation, Sarah Jane Deal of HEH Corporation, who is the airplane holding company, and FPC teacher Bill Ortmayer, who is also a flight instructor.
If you’d like to learn more about or want to help Teens-In-Flight visit the Web site www.teens-in-flight.com or call Howell at 569-5685.
