We are the members of the Black Pilots of America, specifically, the Albert. E. Forsythe Chapter.Our objective is to advance youth and the general public's awareness of the importance of General aviation. To accomplish this goal, we use many methods. For example, we sponsor selected kids to an all expenses paid summer flight academy, where they can learn about aviation, have flights in a small plane, and receive instruction from skilled flight instructors. Also, we give presentations on the field of aviation to youth and provide flights flown by licensed pilots.
BACKGROUND
Black Pilots of America (BPA), Inc., is a nonprofit membership-controlled organization of more than 650 pilots. BPA, Inc. was organized in 1997 by a group of former members of another Black flying organization, Negro Airmen International (NAI). The objective of BPA is to promote the furtherance of minority and disadvantaged persons into all phases of the field of aviation. BPA is dedicated to the Aims and Purposes outlined below.
OUR AIMS & PURPOSES
To train youth to participate and advance in various types of
employment within the field of aviation.
To stimulate and encourage broader job opportunities for under privileged youth in
all phases of aviation.
To encourage youth to enter the field of aviation and to remain in
school by showing films and lecturing in schools on opportunities
in the field of aviation.
To organize and set up a school for such training.
To develop scholarships for youth who will partake in such
training and development.
To acquire, own, hold, sell, lease, pledge, mortgage or otherwise
dispose of any property, real or personal, necessary to the
operation of the Organization.
We are a Tax Exempt 501(c)(3) Organization
The National Organization of BPA has an internet website at: www.bpapilots.org
II. OPERATION SKYHOOK
Each year, on the Memorial Day Weekend, BPA holds its annual fly-in, "OPERATION SKYHOOK". OPERATION SKYHOOK comprises two days of various types of individual and team flying. Since 1997, it has been held at Pine Bluff Municipal Airport (Grider Field), Pine Bluff. Arkansas. Each year up to 30 aircraft, member-owned and member-flown, are parked on the field.
III. BPA LES MORRIS SUMMER FLIGHT ACADEMY
The BPA Les Morris Summer Flight Academy was inaugurated 1997. Volunteer members of BPA staff this two week program each year. These members are experienced in the field of aviation. Each summer, a maximum of 24 students, between the ages of 14 and 19, gather at Florida for training. They receive at least 70 hours of Private Pilot ground school instruction and 10 hours of flight training. For the past several years, better than 90% of the students that are of the proper age have soloed.
Candidates to the Flight Academy must be highly motivated toward flying, and must have at least a "B" academic average. Excellent character and good conduct are required of all the students. These students, as such, will be following in the footsteps of Black aviation pioneers like the late General Daniel "Chappie" James Jr., General Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., ... and, Charles A. "Chief" Anderson, chief civilian flight instructor for the famous Tuskegee Airmen.
IV. DR. ALBERT E. FORSYTHE CHAPTER OF NEW JERSEY
The chapter, formerly known as the "New Jersey Region Chapter", was renamed in 1987 in honor of a Black pioneer in the field of aviation, Dr. Albert E. Forsythe. Dr. Forsythe and Chief Anderson in the early 1900's flew from the East Coast to the West Coast, from Atlantic City, NJ to Montreal, Canada, and island hopped in the West Indies to Trinidad of the British West Indies
Our chapter is experiencing steady growth, and is actively pursuing the mission of BPA. Accordingly, we have carried out a variety of community service projects and activities, for example:
AVIATION CAREER EDUCATION ACADEMY AT MERCER COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, 1993, 1994, 1995
LOCAL FLIGHT TRAINING SCHOLARSHIPS, 1993, 1994, 1995 & 1999
AVIATION CAREER DAY SEMINAR AT GLASSBORO STATE COLLEGE
AVIATION SAFETY SEMINAR AT BURLINGTON COUNTY AIRPORT
INTRODUCTORY AIRPLANE RIDES FOR MINORITY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND YOUTH OF HOMELESS FAMILIES
EXPOSURE OF BLACK YOUTH TO CONTEMPORARY BLACKS THAT FLY AIRPLANES AND/OR WORK IN THE FIELD OF AVIATION
PARTICIPATION IN THE 1998/99 HISTORIC COMMEMORATION OF THE FORSYTHE AND ANDERSON TRANSCONTINENTAL FLIGHT
SPONSORSHIP OF ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES TO THE BPA SUMMER FLIGHT ACADEMY
Each year we try to sponsor, with a tuition scholarship, one or more candidates to the Summer Flight Academy, or to our local flight-training project. Periodically, we give talks in the schools on opportunities in the fields of aviation and aerospace. Because of our activities that focus on youth, we have been publicized in the New York Times and on the New Jersey Network TV.
Oh yes, we do fly and we do have social activities as well. As a chapter, we participate in Fly-ins (locally and with other BPA chapters), have a Christmas dinner, have a summer picnic, hold fundraisers for scholarship (e.g., Fish Fry and Pancake Breakfast), attend Operation Skyhook, and much more. During February 1999, we hosted the BPA National Commemorative Board meeting that was held in Mt Laurel, NJ.
The BOTTOM LINE is that we are looking for others with the same love for flying and community service. Who is better to fly with, than the Dr. Albert E. Forsythe Chapter of New Jersey?
We normally meet every third Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at the Old Bridge Airport in Englistown, NJ,.The location normally in the office building of the Fix Base Operator (FBO). (Enter at Gate 4 off of Pension Road)
Chapter Website: www.aefbpa.org
Hope to see you soon! Happy and Good Flying!!!