March 2026

Greetings!

As we step into March, I’m reminded of what makes Challenge Air so special: the way the aviation community shows up with open hearts, steady hands, and a shared belief that every child deserves to feel confident, capable, and celebrated. Spring always brings a sense of renewal, but around here, it also brings momentum — the kind that builds with every volunteer who signs up, every donor who leans in, and every family who trusts us with their child’s first flight.

This month, we’re gearing up for an exciting season of Fly Days, celebrating the impact of recent events, and shining a light on the incredible people who make our mission soar. In this newsletter, you will read about an exciting award one of our amazing pilots will receive. In April, we will be bringing our Fly Day program to Frederick, MD for the first time. We are beyond thankful to AOPA and Signature Aviation for hosting the event and look forward to reuniting with long-time supporter, Jessica Cox.

Challenge Air has lots going on and we couldn’t do it without you! Thank you for being part of this journey and for helping us create moments that change lives — one flight, one smile, one brave kid at a time.



For the Kids,

April Culver

CEO/ Executive Director

Honoring a True Hero in the Sky:

Congratulations Jerry Hill

So proud to celebrate one of our own.

Challenge Air pilot Jerry Hill has been named a 2026 Honoree at the Endeavor Awards — a gala that recognizes community members and volunteer pilots whose commitment, compassion, and generosity make a profound impact of people and communities in need.

Jerry began flying in 1989 and joined Angel Flight Central in 2005, completing 164 missions to date. But in 2009, one Kansas City Challenge Air for Kids and Friends Fly Day changed everything. He flew seven missions that day — and was hooked.

Since then, Jerry has served as Chief Pilot for Kansas City, coordinating pilots, ATC, and operations to help create unforgettable moments for families. He’s now volunteered at 27 Challenge Air events across five cities, serving 161 families — and counting.

Married to Donna for 43 years, proud dad and grandpa, and a servant leader in every sense of the word — Jerry, we are beyond grateful for you.

Celebrate with us at the 12th Annual Endeavor Awards Gala on May 1st. Purchase your tickets today!

Get Ready to Take Flight!

We’re ready to take flight into a brand-new year of unforgettable Fly Days with Challenge Air! ✈️💙

Registration is officially open, and we can’t wait to welcome families, volunteers, and pilots back for another incredible season. This year brings a new city, new faces, and even more opportunities to help children with special needs experience courage, confidence, and pure joy—right from the cockpit.

Upcoming Fly Days:

• Dallas — 3/21 (closed to participants)
• Frederick, MD — 4/11
• Chattanooga — 5/2
• Sonoma County- 5/30
• Spokane 6/13

Spots fill quickly—tap below to register now!

Challenge Air Welcomes Inspirational Pilot Jessica Cox to Our April 11th Fly Day

We’re incredibly excited to welcome Jessica Cox to our April 11 Challenge Air for Kids & Friends Fly Day! ✈️ at the AOPA National Aviation Community Center at Frederick, Maryland Airport.

Jessica is an extraordinary inspiration as the world’s first licensed armless pilot. Born without arms, she has navigated life with determination and resilience, earning her Light Sport Pilot Certificate in 2008 and showing the world that limitations don’t define what’s possible. 

That is exactly the message we, at Challenge Air, want to convey to our Fly Day Co-Pilots.

✨ Participant registrations are still open, but spots are filling quickly!

If you’d like to be part of this unforgettable day, visit the website to register as a participant, volunteer, pilot, donor, or agency partner.

We can’t wait to share this incredible experience with our amazing community!

Denver Silent Auction Success!

Thank You for an Amazing Silent Auction! 💙

We’re thrilled to share that, thanks to your incredible support, our Denver Silent Auction raised $12,000 to help fly kids with special needs at the Denver Fly Day on October 3rd!

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who made this possible — our generous donors and sponsors who contributed amazing auction items, the enthusiastic bidders who showed up ready to support the mission, and the dedicated volunteers who helped bring it all together.

Moments like these are exactly what Challenge Air is all about.

We still have a few items and experiences left to bid on—don’t miss out! Bidding officially closes March 25th.

➡️Check it out: https://givebutter.com/c/denauction2026/auction

Southwest Employees:

Turn Your Volunteer Hours into Flights for Challenge Air

Southwest Employees — did you know your volunteer hours can help Challenge Air take flight?

Through the Tickets for Time program on SWALife, every 20 hours of logged volunteer time earns Challenge Air a free roundtrip ticket (up to 8 per year). These flights help us support Fly Days and the mission of bringing confidence-building experiences to kids with special needs.

Simply log your time on SWALife under Tickets for Time and select Challenge Air for Kids & Friends as the organization.

Every hour you log helps move our mission forward.