Page 22 - AWM 26AUG2017

22 AWEMainta Diasabra, 26 Augustus 2017

Orguyoso di Arubiano cu ta cosecha

exito na Lexington, North Carolina!

afford it, I got into it myself.” Now with over
2,000 hours of air time, Winnett is a govern-
ment licensed certified flight instructor and
ground instructor having both tailwheel and
float plane ratings. “I just fell in love with it
and the love has continued. I like to share
that with other people.”
Winnett uses the two planes that he owns
for instructional purposes, a Cessna 150
and a Cessna 172—as well as one owned by
Van Der Linden, a Cessna 182. Typically,
he has a roster of between eight and twelve
MARI-ELENA Baldwin y Karel van of the airport is very important.” students at any given time.
der Linden di Aruba, ta cosecha exito cu In 2010, the couple founded Fly High “Some students will come and take lessons
Aeropuerto Davidson County. Un articulo Lexington—a fixed-base operator organiza- and then disappear. Others continue to go
a wordo publica den un revista yama David- tion that manages the airport. Since then, on and have careers in aviation. I’ve prob-
son County Magazine Fall/Winter Edition annual usage of the airport has more than ably launched five or six careers,” Winnett
2017. Esaki ta algo positivo pa comparti cu doubled. Baldwin cites its convenience to says. His youngest student was around
pueblo di Aruba. major highways and fairly light traffic as thirteen and the oldest was in his 80s. Win-
major drawing power. “We’re easy to fly into nett adds, “He was very good. A lot of the
With over 5,000 feet of runway and the abil- because you don’t have to worry about the time it’s an older student doing something
ity to handle everything from the smallest congestion you might find at PTI or Smith they’ve always wanted to do. Now they’re
hang glider to a 60,000-pound jet, the Da- Reynolds Airport. You don’t have to worry at a position in life where they finally do it.
vidson County airport is attracting increas- about waiting for clearance to take off.” It’s what I call the bucket list student.”
ingly more interest as an alternative to the Van Der Linden says customers are also
Triad’s busier airports. attracted by low fuel prices, minimal fees, As for who is most likely to succeed, Win-
Together, fixed-base operators Mari-Elena self-service gasoline, and two on-site rental nett says it’s hard to tell at the beginning.
Baldwin and Karel Van Der Linden have car companies. “We have all the services that “It’s not for everyone. Some people are very
worked to build the airport’s reputation as are offered at a larger airport.” nervous. Flying is extremely rewarding but
a top-notch facility that puts customer ser- can also be exceptionally unforgiving. I teach
vice and convenience first. Their business Flying lessons: $1—Landing lessons: $50 people to do it safely.”
model relies heavily on the idea that, as a So reads a sign in Tommy Winnett’s office. It takes forty to seventy-five hours in the air
small airport, they have to go the extra mile Over the last eight years, he has taught to qualify to take the exams for certification.
to keep pilots and passengers coming back. countless students how to taxi, climb, turn, Winnett says interested students should
“We start at a disadvantage so we always and descend safely. His sign is a humorous plan to spend between $5,000 and $10,000
have to be ahead of the customer,” says reference to the part of flying that tends to for instructional hours. But, he adds, “it’s
Van Der Linden. “We keep detailed notes be the most difficult to grasp for new pilots. worth it.”
about what the customers’ expectations are “Landing the plane is more difficult—it takes “I love to see that light come on in students’
for many things, such as transportation. more skill and a little longer to pick up,” eyes when they finally begin to relax and
We train our employees to know everything laughs Winnett. they finally get it. At that point, I know they
about the airport and what there is to do in His company, Blue Sky Aviation Adven- will continue.”
Lexington. We can recommend where to tures, operates out of the Davidson County
eat barbecue, where to get breakfast, and airport and offers pilot training as well as Big Toy Day 2017
where to stay.” discovery flights for those less inclined to A fly-in event scheduled for August 26 will
The grounds, which include seven acres take the controls. showcase the airport and coincide with the
of storage and parking space and a small “I just love flying. I’ve been plane crazy since annual Big Toy Day fundraiser hosted by
maintenance facility (operated by Superior I was a kid,” says Winnett. His father was Communities in Schools of Lexington/Da-
Aero Services), are kept pristine. Van Der in the air force so his childhood was spent vidson County.
Linden adds, “We’re very on top of all the traveling and going out to the air base to For more information, visit: FLYHIGHLEX-
equipment and the lights. The appearance look at planes. “As an adult, when I could INGTON.COM