When I first heard of Jessica, my feelings were made of disbelief and enthusiasm. If you do not know about her, Jessica is “simply” the first armless woman to get a pilot license. Her mind-state is deeply refreshing, and I would describe her message as… unique. Click here to visit RightFooted, her own website.

PlasticPilot: At first, congratulations for your sport pilot certificate. The first thing I’d like to know is how you came to aviation. Each pilot has a different story and background. I got the aviation virus via my job, for some friends of mine it was a life-long dream. What about you ?

Jessica Cox: On the playground in elementary school, I remember being limited to the swings because other equipment like the monkey bars was impossible for me to play on. This frustrated me and I remember envisioning myself flying over the playground like Superwoman while everyone watched in disbelief. In my imagination, I was everyone’s hero and took people up one at a time to experience my super power. I never realized how this childlike imagination would affect the years to come. In 2005, I was at a speaking engagement when a fighter pilot named Robin Stoddard, who represented a non-profit organization called Wright Flight, approached me and asked if I would like to fly an airplane. My gut instinct was disinterest due to a fear of flying commercial airplanes since childhood. However, I couldn’t pass it up. Wright Flight started me on my first few hours of flight training. I became addicted.

Seventy-four hours of flight training later, when I flew over the city of San Manuel for the first time solo (most of my flight training was over tailings ponds and Arizona desert), I fulfilled the childhood dream of being Superwoman!

Photo Bruce Schockett
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PlasticPilot: Now that you got it, what is the next step in your aviation activity ?

Jessica Cox: In my opinion, there is nothing more empowering than learning how to fly. Because I feel it is such a great privilege, it would only be right for me to share the same joy with others. I would like to become a sport pilot instructor for people with disabilities and I have already started looking into the process.

PlasticPilot: How complex was the administrative, regulatory part of getting your certificate ? Is is just a matter of getting a medical certificate, or had the FAA special hurdles for you ?

Jessica Cox: With the light sport license, all you need is a valid driver’s license. It acts as a medical. I have a valid driver’s license.

However, prior to solo it was required that I have a light sport student pilot certificate from an FAA examiner. I knew this might create a hurdle so before going into the examiner’s office everything had to be premeditated. I had to conceal my armlessness and just hope he wouldn’t notice. I walked into his office with a big puffy jacket with long sleeves. On a number of occasions people have not noticed that I don’t have arms when I am wearing a long sleeved jacket or sweater. I also planned for someone to be with me to simply hand over the previously filled out forms. All was successful. However a couple hours later the examiner called me and said he forgot to have me sign the certificate. Because of commitments the next day, I asked him if I could sign the certificate and have my dad bring it to him. He agreed. As my dad was leaving the office, the examiner asked him how did I fly the airplane without arms. Apparently he knew all along! The next day the examiner had second thoughts and decided to discuss the matter with other FSDO officials. I called my instructor Glen in the middle of this. Fortunately only weeks before, Glen had spoken with the lead of the light sport division from the FAA. He informed Glen that having a disability could not prevent a student from being issued a light sport student pilot certificate as long as the student had a valid driver’s license. Glen explained this to the examiner and it resolved the problem.

PlasticPilot: The three qualities your preach are “creativity, persistence, and fearlessness”. Can you give some examples about how they apply to aviation training ?

Jessica Cox: I have never known the true definition of determination and persistence until I started my flight training experience. Due to airplane logistics, it not only took me three years to do what some people could accomplish in 6 months but it also required four Ercoupes, three certified flight instructors, 89 hours of flight training in three different states (Florida, California, and Arizona) to accomplish earning the title of the first person to be certified to fly an airplane with only her feet!

Creativity is something I use every time I step foot in the airplane. The first challenge of flight training was learning how to buckle my seatbelt. Through creativity and recognizing there is more than one way to do something, I figured it would be best to buckle the seatbelt first before sitting down, then loosen the straps, stand on the seat and slip into the seatbelt. Once seated, I used my right foot to pull the seatbelt tight, securing it around my hips.

PlasticPilot: Let me play devil’s advocate a bit. Isn’t fearlessness a risk factor in aviation ? How do you manage to get the right dose of it ?

Jessica Cox: Absolutely! When I refer to fearlessness, I don’t mean “risk taking.” Rather, I am referring to overcoming our own personal fears. For me, taking my first flight in a single engine airplane was overcoming my greatest fear. When I talk of fearlessness, I refer to facing our fears head on and conquering them.

PlasticPilot: Quoting you: “What is most incredible about Able Flight is the relentless faith and support not only from the board but also from the other pilots who have succeeded in the program. The camaraderie is exceptional. Thank you Able Flight for helping me make history as the first licensed pilot to fly with only her feet!” Can you tell a bit more about what Able Flight made for you, and possibly a motivating example of this camaraderie ?

Jessica Cox: Able Flight gave me a scholarship in March of 2008 to fund the remainder of my training.

I remember at one point over the three years of flight training when it almost felt hopeless and I wasn’t going to be able to continue my training to earn the sport pilot’s certificate. My first instructor Glen Davis had already trained me in two Ercoupes in Florida and California. Due to the logistics of either the airplane not being the right model or the throttle ineffectively positioned on the control panel, I could not solo. It was so close I could almost taste it, yet still so far away. A year went by without any flight training. I wanted to continue training more than anything but realistically there was nothing else that could be done. I not only needed a “rudderless” light sport C model Ercoupe but I also needed a “rudderless” light sport C model Ercoupe that had the throttle low enough on the control panel to reach with my left foot. I cross my left leg under my right to reach the throttle. During this challenging time finding the right aircraft, I remember Charles Stites, founder of Able Flight, maintaining his support and “rooting” for me. We talked over the phone on a number of occasions and he reassured me that Able Flight was going to help me continue my flight training. Thanks Charles!

Regarding the Able Flight camaraderie, below is an email I received from Jessica Scharle, the only other woman scholarship winner who earned her sport pilot certificate only months before me:

Thank God! I’m no longer the only girl. . . *lol* All these guys are driving me nuts. Anyway I just wanted to shoot you an email to CONGRATULATE you on your AMAZING accomplishment. And I also want to thank you for persevering and showing the world once again that the only imitating factors in life are the ones we set on ourselves; because I may turn heads when I tell people I’m a pilot, but girl. . .you’re gonna break necks , which is GREAT!! Some people need a wakeup call.

Anyway Take care and Happy Flying!!
Jess

PlasticPilot: The number of general aviation pilots is seriously declining, for many reasons. In such hard times, where all pilots are needed, what is your message to those who hesitate to start flying, or to those who think about stopping ?

Jessica Cox: For those who hesitate to start flying, you are going to miss an experience of a lifetime! Nothing is more empowering than that moment when you are up in the air, you look to your right and you don’t see your instructor, and you are forced to accept that YOU are the very person flying that airplane! You are the pilot in command! At that moment, your life is in your own hands (or in my case, my own “feet”). Something about that changes you forever!

For those who are thinking about stopping, are you crazy?! Enough said.

If you liked this interview, don’t miss Joiwind Alexander: from PPL to Airline and Corporate flying within 2 years !

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