Kids with Sight Challenges
May be Able to Fly Too!

By: Dr. Jesse O. Bolinger, CNP, PhD

Have you ever dreamed of soaring through the sky, piloting your own plane? It’s a dream many have, but for someone like me, who has been legally blind my entire life, it seemed impossible—until one day, a simple question changed everything.

Several years ago, I was serving an AmeriCorps VISTA term for the Decatur County Development Corporation in Southern Iowa, working on career education. That’s when I met Jeff Jorgensen, a local pilot and founder of Open Air Flight Club who walked into my office and asked me, “Have you ever thought about learning to fly?” I immediately said no, thinking it was out of the question for someone who is legally blind. But then he asked, “Are you sure?” That question has been on my mind ever since, and it has completely transformed my perception of what’s possible.

We’ve all heard stories of the Wright Brothers, Amelia Earhart, and Charles Lindbergh, pioneers who overcame enormous challenges to make their mark in aviation history. More recently, many of us have heard about Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and the “Miracle on the Hudson,” where he safely landed a plane on the Hudson River after both engines failed. These pilots all faced challenges and left lessons to be learned, creating a future for aviation. But what if I told you that someone who is legally blind, or even totally blind, could also pilot an airplane? It might sound unbelievable, but thanks to advances in technology, the answer is yes!