Mid Island Air Service, started by General Manager Gail Mancuso’s parents in 1946, operates a flight school and is a member of the Flight School Association of North America. It was this connection that led them to Jessica Cox who shared her inspirational story at Mid Island’s facility near Islip MacArthur Airport last week.
According to Bob Rockmaker, FSANA president, the number of licensed pilots in the U.S. has dropped precipitously from 800,000 in the 1970s to less than 600,000. “Jessica Cox’s ‘Never say never’ message is important to get younger generations interested in aviation,” he noted.
For the last five summers, Mid Island has held a week-long Aerocamp for youngsters interested in flight and hosts an FSANA youth chapter, the first in the nation. In addition to Ronkonkoma, they also operate a facility at Brookhaven Calabro Airport in Shirley.
For more information on learning how to fly, contact Mid Island at 631-588-5400 or visit ww.midislandair.com.